The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-01-28
A SEYMOUR ADDRESS.
Ex-Governor Boratio Seymour to the
Farmers of New York.
The Existing Agricultural Conflict Be
tween This Country and Europe.

AA~OVNOAaOA
an address on Wednesday at the annual
meeting of the New York State Agricultural
society, marked by the superior intelligence
and breadth of view which he always brings
to such discussions.
THE ADDRESS.
MI. Seymour commenced by saying that
agricultural rises above all other of our
pursuits in interest and importance. Ever
benefcent, il carries life and comfort into
the homes of man. 1t usually bears the
aspect of an humble s%ervitor, and is some
times overlooked when the public mind is
filed with more exciting topics. In the
end it asserts its value and brings the
world back to a sense of the truth that all
wealth and prosperity are based upon the
soil and the labor which bring forth its
products. 1--WE can" he said, find ia his
tory no instance when this fact has been
brought home to mems minds IN a way
more striking, or on a scale so broad, or
with influences so fa~r-reachlnR, as by the
present condition of agriculture on tie
continent and In Europe. Here 1t displays
it's bounties. There nature withholds its "a
customed products and want and suffering
creep Into the homes Of labor. On this
continent it has given life and energy TO
all other pursuits and industries. Il has
lifted the burdens OF debt from our country.
given il credit with the world and honor In
the eyes of all nations. In Europe the
want of food has numbered industry and en-
barrasssd lis governments. In this country
It has solved problems In finances which
~perplexed our legislators. While they
doubted and disputed, the craftsmanship Of
the plough found the remedies for our
troubles. The tillers of the soil
have done toe work. They followed
Gods fat and not that of men. The
sweat of the brow and not the scheme Of
the brain have rescued US from our perpiex-
iiies. In Europe tbs condition of s%gricul-
ture makes suffering which threatens great
social and political changes" After briefly
adyerting 10 the possible significance Of
those portents and the difficulties to be en-
countered in trying TO forecast the future,
Mr.. Seymour said:
THE immediate causes OF our prosperity
have been the abundance of the crops and
the failure of those in Europe. We can not
count upon shess in our plans for the future.
The next summer may reverse the fact, and
Europe may produce an ~sbu1dance, and We
may lose from unfavOrable Influences up0n
our fields. Will they pass away with the
year Just closed. or has there been developed
underlying conditions which have been
gradually forming, and which are now 10
show themselves with great power ard great
proportions? Thisis for us the overshado wing
question OF the day, and 1t will lead US intO
many inquiries and investigations before it
is solved. 1t is the most important that can
be pressed on the minds of the people. 1t
concerns every citizen, every family, every
pursuit. II we push on biindly and pre-
sumo the coming years are to make plenty
here and van elsewhere, we may be speed
lily overwhelmed by disaster" He believed,
a new era in its relationship with Europe.
and while il was not probable that our ex-
ports of food next year will equal those of
the past, still the channels OF m
which have been opened will gradually grow
wider and deeper.
RESULTS OF MODERN APPLIANCES.
While dwelling on the results of steam
ships aud electric cables, as all important
factors in the growth of trade and com
merce, Mr.. Seymour said that when America
was discovered it was go remote from Eu-
rope, in view Of the difficulty of reaching it,
that it was called a new world. Measuring
distance by time it was a years journey
from Europe. Art and science, however,
have as to time and intercourse, drawn the
continents together until they are so closely
moored that 1t is easier to pass from one to
the other than it is to traverse
their respective territories. The
fact that North America, with its vast ex.
tent of fertile lands, now almost touches
Europe, with its overcro wded population,
Is one which excites the most varied specu
lations with regard to the results which
must follow, bearing upon all phases of
civilization. politics and power. History, he
said, tells OF no event more striking or sig
ni6csnt. There is now what properly may
be called q conflict between our agriculture
and theirs. While the abundant food sent
from here to Europe last year may relieve
famine it also excites alarm in
many quarters by It's effects, not only upon
their agriculture, but also upon social and
political organizations. II has become q
contest between American farmers and
European landowners. In comparing the
DO wer and of the combatants Mr..
Seymour contrasted the excess, in extent
and fertility, OF North America with those
of Europe. the particular adaptation of our
soil and climate TO abundance and variety
of food, and variety of our farm products.
as a protection against disasters from unfav-
orable seasons.
THE GRowTH OF OUR POPULATION.
In regard to the growth of our population,
the United States 100 years ago
was 10000, we have now
80 600. 900, and less thar the usual
ratio will give us 81 000, 900 in 1890. He said.
IF the rulers of Europe continue their poll
cies OF ambition u wars, IL their inhabit-
ants continue TO fly from their homes, if
their governments are pestilential in their
destruction of life, we shall see greater
movements TO our shores than
any heretofore witnessed. In our
contest with Europe we have aud will
10 take each year by immigration
number of prisoners of peace than
war has ever wrested from one nation and
forced under the domination of another.
They are not victims of force; they are not
unwilling captives; they join our side aud
help Us on to greatness and power; they
bring Us arts and skill and labor; they en-
large the minds and sympathies of our peo-
pie by lifting them above mere provincial
prejudice. The mingled European races
a vigor superior to any single lineage.
We are forming what is not yet fully devel.
oped-the American character"
CONDITION OF EUROPE AND AMERICA.
he then proceeded to elucidate the infu-
snce for the common welfare Of a heteroge-
1eous population. saying, among other