The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-01-29

great departments OF agriculture do not
merely elevate our farmers and give
us commercial success; they make
the bonds which hold our Union in
firm compact. Party passions may
threaten it; ambitious purposes may
for a. time stir up sectional prejudices;
but since the late sad war the growth of
agriculture, commerce and intercourse
made n conservative, intelligent in
fuence which will rebuke passions and
purposes which threaten peace and har-
mony. 1t is pleasant and assuring to
know that nature in its forms and pur
suits gives life and strength to our
political association, and inspires hope
that our Union will have natures en-
durance.
If all the statements l have made are
correct, still the facts remain that the
people of Europe have heretofore been
able to raise most of the food they need.
Why can they not hereafter, with the
same labor, on the same soil, raise
enough to supply their wants, except
for the small amount which they have
heretofore importedp Why can we ex-
pcct, with ordinary seasons. that we
can sell them more than we have in past
years; that, although we may raise
grain and make provisions for less than
they can, will not the effect of this be
merely to reduce the price-which farm
ers will get and not the amount of food
they will produceP These questions
bring into view some facts of great in
terest in many expects. In the first
place, where farmers own their lands
rs they do with us, all they can get for
what they sell goes to those who labor
upon the soil. But as a rule in Europe
nnH r,ort ION n,.lx Il, Craot pr;t;,o ,,,l,@
is made upon farms must support at
least two and sometimes four classes of
persons: the tenant, who does the work,
the landlords, and usually some agents
or middlemen, who hire and sublet to
tenants. Church rates and many other
charges must also be paid. When oul
cheap grains reach their markets, as
they will hereafter, and govern the
prices OF produce, illey disturb the eX-
isting arrangements. The tenant must
have enough to live upon then as now,
taxes and tithes must be paid, and only
what is left will go to the owners. This
class are to suffer. If you read the de-
bates in parliament, you will see that
an attempt is made to excite sympathy
for British farmers. But the parties
who really are affected are British land
lords. The conflict is not between
American and British farmers, but
American and British landlords. If the
cost of produce falls, rents must come
down, Tor tenants can pay no more and
landlords will get no more than prices
will give. The tenants share cannot be
less than it now is and the loss must
fall upon the owners
Beyond this diminutioh of the reve-
nues, there is a difficulty which affects
l,o OF, IF nd in1 or
ganizations. The nobility are land
lords. AS this rank is hereditary, it
must be strengthened by hereditary es-
tates. Our cheap and fertile lands, and
the low cost of sending out products to
Europe, may work great changes in the
condition of the higher classes and the
tenures of real estate. The result proba-
bly, will be that the land owners will
find that they must not only reduce
their rents, but they must also change
the character of their farm products,
and buy most of their grain and many
of the provisions IRON us, and our
markets in future will be thus en-
larged.
Ifthey tax imported food they will
break down their manufactures, destroy
their home markets and bring disaster
upon their country. If the Continental
nations tax food, in addition to military
and other burdens, they will drive away
their young and active citizens and re-
duce their military strength. Mon
archs will be safer from bullets when
food is cheap and abundant.
have dwelt upon foreign markets, rs
! they deeply concern us: but we must
not overlook home transactions, which
are still more important. The prosperity
which agriculture has given to all other
industries and pursuits will now react
in its favor and make rev demands for
its produt is. Nearby cities and towns
make the best customers for our farmers.
They buy many things which will not
bear long transportation, and which are
! free from a widespread competition.
For this reason, in their vicinity lands
bear the highest prices. Those lying
near the city of New York sell for sums
far beyond those which can be got for
better qualities in other quarters. For
these reasons, the farmers of New York
are helped and not hurt by the currents
of commerce from the West. These
make the wealth and population of our
cities. Manufacturing and mechanical
industries built up by cheap bread make
demands for vegetables, fruit, milk, but.
ter and other articles produced in the
immediate vicinity of these home mar
kets. l know that some think that if il
cost more to bring produce to us, il
charges on canals and railroads were
higher, our farms would be increased il
value. This is a great error. They
would turn away our commerce. They
would tax not only the food of those en-
gagged in raised industries, but of NOR,
than two-thirds of our farmers. They
would diminish the population of towns
customers. Most of my own property i
in farm and lands, and have givel
much thought and studyto this subject
The great cities of the world ar
placed in n belt running round th
earth, following q certain mean TEN
perature. AS the climates of differen
ATTITUDES vary, this belt follows tenn
perature whenever it sways to tn
north or south. There may be NOR
fertile lands north or south of this belt
but their cities are not rs large or farm
as valuable. The reasons for this
that there is the most activity an,
wealth where there are the most wants
with the means for meeting these want
by industry and intelligence. 1t is il
our country that these truths are seel
in their clearest light. Here there ar
more business activity, larger cities AM
towns in proportion to our population
than in any other part of the world
This is due to the fact that we hav
more wants and more means to NEE
these wants than any other people
Those of an American are at least one
third more than those of an English