The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-06-19

fCiCS VI OAPOil r. -,
ners, our agricultural products will
S. per cent CT our entire
exports, and aggregate ali amount
Woo, 900, 900 in excess OF our hhnaal
This mighty surplus would indi-
cate substantial prosperity. And.
indeed, Mr.. Speaker, that class OF
our fellow-citizens known as "busi-
ness men" tell us that returning
prosperity Is now upon us, and that
the sssood lime a-eofhing,' SO long
yearnsd for, is at our doors. To my
mind, sir, this is not now apparent.
True, our farm products are inn
mense. and of incalculable value,
but if there are net earnings from
the sale of these products they are
usually divided between the specu
lators, midlemen and transportation
companies.
There is in all of our cities class
of men who are neither Shorthorns
nor Jerseys; neither grizzly nor
black, and yet they are known by
the euphonious title of "bulls" and
"bears." It is these elegant gentle
men, who frequently stock the cards |
on each other, and who never con
descend to play with the farmer any |
game but ''heads | win and tails |
you lose" that tell us the times are
prosperous. They deal together in
Futures" that imaginary product
which was never planted. grown,
nor harvested, but which tablishes
the marker price of all other agri
cultural products. 1t is they who,
by organizing a Syndicate" can
purchase all of any product-wheat,
for instance-in any western city,
and pay more than the market
price; thus, in their technical lam
guage, creatinga corner" and then,
by colluding with the 'eveners' an
other technicality), transport it to
the Atlantic seabords, sell it for less
than the market price, thus destroy
ing all competition from regular
merchants, and still make a hand
some profit by the speculation. AS
long as such Shylocks are recogniz-
ed as the best and controlling rep
resentatives of their respective COM
munities there can be no general
prosperity among the people.
We are told our rolling mills and
pudding furnaces are in full blast.
But, sir, does it indicate prosperity
to find thousand struggling day
by day to support their families,
while every dollar earned beyond
their daily wages falls into the cot,
fers of a single capitalist? But, says
another, our public securities are at
premium, and, therefore, we must
be prosperous. Does it indicate
prosperity when the debt of a tax
burdened people is the only tempt
ing investment for surplus capital?
This may evince faith in the stabili
ty of the Government. but it by no
means establishes the prosperity of
a people.
No, Mr. Chairman, permanent
prosperity has not vet visited our
country, nor will it until the masses
are made more content and happy
4 Moneyed men can always be pros
porous. The millionaire prospers
while he sleeps; and he has only to
invest and interest does the balance.
working for its master seven days
in the week the year round. Not
SO with the farmer, the mechanic
or the artisan. His subsistence
must be earned by an expenditure
of muscle; by the sweat of his face
And until the working classes Of
, every description, be they operatives
in our factories, puddlers in our roll
, ingmills, merchanics in our ma.
5 chine shops, or laborers on oui
farms-until they are Taught te
| practice that principle of true CO
5 operation whey entities the laborel
to just and equitable share of the
net profits of his labor, there car
+; never be permanent and genera
prosperity in our country.
S But, Mr.. Chairman, this is sordic
: idea of the whole subject, becaus,
S purely commercial, which simpl,
: means to buy and sell and get gain
: Let us view it from a more eleva
: ting standpoint. In appropriatins
:. more money for, and in extending
e the jurisdiction of the Agriculture
/? Department, [ would not, for an in
f slant, encourage the thought tina
Y the purpose was to utilize an Exc
t cutive Department in developing
+ some method by or through which
0 farmers might be taught new ane
e perhaps smoother roads to ease
e comfort or wealth. Natural in
stincts will stimulate all energetic
S men to such aspirations. But, sir. !.
: would utilize it fnrthe:, by encour
aging farmers in every possibl,
n manner in their pursuit oc happi
: ness, educating them to the convic
ton that an improved farm engend
s ers local attachment, which is onl,
S one phase of true patriotism. Sir
e as the American soldier loves hi
v country because he feels that it
S honor is in his custody, and as til
: American seamen when he tread
r the deck even in foreign water
n symbolizes his love of country b,
t his alteration for the flag that float.
= at his mast head, SO, sir, I woult
S have the patriotism of the Ameri
r can farmer reflected through hi
! beautified home, and intensified b
the knowledge that at this capita
; his Government had endowed
: Department qualified and empow
4 cred to disseminate for his benefit
o even through he lived upon its mos