The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-10-10
AGRICULTURE, OUR ONLY HOPE.

AGRICULTURE uUk UNLf huPea
EDITOR GAzETTE-Dedr Ser: We
have neither the time nor inclination
to annoy your readers by offering
them captions nonsense for argument,
but desire to say, in word, that to
look at the policy of protection, to
understand its bearings upon all In
terests, two qualifications are neces-
.sary, viz common senserand honesty.
Under this egotism weremark: There
are few important landmarks which
stand out prominently in our history
the past fifteen or twenty years, and
which will force attention in the ad-
justment of this question. First, that
lin the financial crash of 1878 neither
agriculture or labor had anything to
do with bringing the crash about.
Second, that Notwithstanding the
burdens placed upon agriculture, it
was the only golden spot visible in
those times, and, continuing its faith
full toll to this day, has forced the
business interests of the country to a
position so marked, as to attract the
attention of the civilized world.
The reasons which may be assigned
for this advent of new prosperity are,
the industry and self denial of those
engaged in agriculture, and the boun-
tifal crops secured. To this may be
added the misfortunes of those coun.
tries which have failed to secure the
customary harvests, necessitating the
purchasing from US what the seasons
have denied them. Here, then, are
important facts to be noticed our
return to prosperity cannot be laid
to the superior legislation of saga
cious statesmen )" not to protection,
not to monied institutions, nor to the
iron interest, which has received mil.
lions of bounty the past fifteen years,
but to the hard working and ever
toiling farmer, and kindred pursuits.
If then agriculture is the saving in
terest Of the country? If all other
interests had to wait till the farmer
dragged them out of the troubles
they had brought about, is it rea-
sonable that, with this great benefit,
it should also be called upon to pay
unjust tribute to either the iron or
any other interest
When the party which passed high
protective tariffs appeared before the
people and asked to he entrusted
with the government of the country,
among the promises pledged was,
that in the encouragement of the
business interests of the country, the
laboring man and agriculture are
especially mentioned; yet, in the
face of this, not mile of railroad
has been built in the country under
this tariff but has cost some $1,000
per mile more than was necessary,
and this amount has gone into the
pockets OF iron men, bankers, bond
holders, &C., and this interest (agri-
culture) which, without protection,
though promised it, has not only
pulled the country through its finan-
cial embarrassments, but has had to
pay the tribute congress placed upon
it for the benefit of the iron interests.
We should not be doing justice to
our farmer friends, nor to the princi-
Piles we advocate, if we should rest
here; and suggest, that In the period
of history we have named, neither
agriculture nor free trade are respon-
sible for black Fridays, for Jay Cooke
disasters, for the existence of Molly
Maguires, or Pittsburgh riots, nor
for the kindred disturbances occur
ring recently in a neighboring State.
It is through such dark days of gloom
and disaster, agriculture has sustained
and ever rescued the country. Shall
her shackles remain? r.