Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-07-18
REMARKS.

REMARKS.
We are most HAPPY in the receipt of
the above communication and shall
receive with pleasure each and every
suggestion en- this important subject
whether it is in accordance with our
views or not. We did not intend in
the editorial referred to, to express any
feeling other than pride in, and hope
for the continuance Of the prosperity
of New England farmers. We stated
the bright side in full view of the
fact which We had then just no
ticed, that the population of
New England in 1900 was 1,233,011
and in 1870 it was 3,477,024,
and that in 1870 there were 49,
children at school exclusive of those in
colleges, academies and higher insti-
tutes. We spoke of this bright feature
as well as of our superior social and re-
ligious advantages. and our abundant
comforts of life. But believing that to
be useful it is essential for us that we
point out the shoals and quicksands,
as well as the pleasant sailing. There
fore we ventured the inquiry whether
something could not be done by legis-
lation or otherwise to make this great
New England interest upon which all
Others are based, still more prosperous.
This much for what has seemed to our
correspondent to be a gloomy view.
Now as to his specific suggestions OF
enquiries. We say first as we have said
before, that where circumstances exist
which expose the carrying trade to the
full and fair effect OF competition, that
will probably regulate the tariff better
than any legislation. Suppose, for in
stance that from any point in New
England several carrying lines extend
ed to q large market like Boston,
competition would probably exist
which would compel each one to carry
farm produce as cheap as it could af-
ford to, and each farmer in that vicini-
ty would be put upon a just and fair
competition with every other farmer
there. But suppose farmer in New
England was located on a long line,
passing from Chicago, for instance, by
him to his market, and the competition
was way back to Chicago. And by rea-
son of the Western competition, the
farmer there could get freights for his
produce as cheap or cheaper to Boston
than the New England farmer could
for his, while the Western farmer could
produce for half the expense that ours
could. Where, then, does our cores
pondent find jlst protection from a
monopoly or an unjust and arbitrary
arrangement of freights? Can any
man tell us where our farmers can be
protected except it be done by legisla-
ton? Why does this rule of competi-
ton not compel our farmers to contrib
ute the same or more to support the
carrying institution than the Western
farmer does? and why is he not COM
PEELED in fact under it to pay q portion
OF the expense of transporting produce
from the West to over supply his own
market? OF course the carrying insti-
tutions must be paid and why don't
this competition see to it and compel the
Western man to pay as much for trans
porting produce 1000 miles, as our far
mlers do for a like transportation not
over 200 miles Of the same line. The
same may be said Of the law of demand
and supply. That would be sufficient
if the circumstances always were favor
able to the just application of that
law, and if all men could judge so as
TO bring all interests fairly under the
operation of that law. For instance,
why should there be any law against
ssury? Will not the demand for, and
supply of money regulate the interest
which Should be paid fer it? Is not
our correspondent aware that men in
attempting to judge and act under the
law of demand and supply has Grip
tled their business, and that many
farms all oyer New England are desert
ed because their opponents have step
ped out from under the heavy burdens
imposed on them by capital And why
should not men be permitted to volun-
tarily subject themselves to imprison-
ment for debt? Will they not, acting
under natural law, find it for their
interest to guard themselves against
imprisonment? Why is not the nat
ural operation of their interests a suffi-
cient guarantee that no wrong will be
done them? Why should man be res
trained in the use of Intoxicating hq-
uors? Does not the law of nature teach
that their use is injurious? Now one
important respect in which legislation
is useful is that it restraints the vicious
operation of mems judgment and in