Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-16
The Burden of the Farmers.

The Burden of the Farmers.
Statistics gathered by Charles S. Hill,
of the Department of State, show sur
prising increase during the last decade in
the number of persons employed in diff
ferent occupations. In 1870 there were
2s505, 923 persons engaged in agricul-
ture, manufactures, the professions and
home and foreign trade; in 1880 the
number had increased to %, 100000. 1t
thus appears that while the growth of
population between 1870 and 1880 was
only little over 30 per cent, the in
crease in the number of persons en-
ployed was more than s. per cent. In
manufactures the increase was SO per
cent; the professions, n per cent. ;
farming, 81 per cent.
This growth of industry is remark
able and truly fiattering to American
pride. Doubtless the next decade will
exhibit maintenance of the industrial
pace of the past ten years, and, could
we once see the government return to its
olden habits of simplicity and economy,
we might picture the speedy exhibition of
material development beyond the
dreams of the most sanguine patriot.
But the figures above presented COM
mand an inquiry that is fraught with
interest to a very important class of our
Industrial population. OF the 5000,
600 persons engaged in active employ
ment, fully -twelfths are tillers of
the soil. Upon the success and contin-
uance of these labors the welfare of the
body potitic largely depends. 1t is the
farmers who, in good seasons,
furnish the surplus of national
wealth that enriches the whole people,
and it is the farmers who, in bad sea-
sons, furnish whatever impetus is given
to trade or keep it from utter stagnation.
Among the number of bread winners,
however, there are many who pursue
manufactures. Were our craftsmanship
of broad gauge, and of an intelligent
and national character, those engaged
in manufactures could justly claim
to be props of our prosperity,
and they could point to exports OF
their products as evidences of their
claim. As it is, our craftsmanship is
partisan, narrow and in the interest OF
favored classes, and, in consequence,
our factories are, in one view, by no
mean national sblessings. But little OF
their products is sent abroad, and great
masses of farmers and other toilers, are
heavily taxed for the support
of the manufacturing barons and their
employees. Things are out Of joint, and
will continue so until justice is rendered,
and no man is taxed for the benefit OF
those who make no proportionate return.
We are prosperous, not because our
mills are running on full time and our
railways and water routes are crowded
with commerce, but because the farmers
of the land are reaping the reward OF
their toll. 1t was not the .f11eSse OF
Sherman and the wisdom of the Radical
party which restored specie payments in
1879, and brought about the turn
in the business tide. 1t was
the steady and well rewarded toll of the
.tillers of the soil, which was at the bot
tom of our good fortune. View tas we
may, agriculture is the basis of our
national progress. Yet it is granted no
favors, but to the contrary, is compelled
to pay out from It's earnings a tribute to
our protected industries, on the
plea of contributing to a prosperity
which it itself manly ensures. This is
wrong and undemocratic. Agriculture
is able and willing to contribute its share
to the demands of government, but it has
a right to protest against any demand on
it for the support of other branches
of industry. Protection, to be just,
should be extended equally to all, but
when afforded only to few privileged
classes it is oppression, and directly con-
trary to the spirit of the great charter OF
our liberties. A tariff for revenue only
ia the only remedy for this great evil.