Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-01-12

brings the farmers market to his dool
and makes demand for everything h'
has to sell. When the farmer is protect
ed it stimulates competition, awakens
enterprise, develops progress and multi
plies and cheapens products to the CON
sumer. The agricultural class in Eng
land are raising in revolt against the
rainous free trade policy that has 81
prostrated that industry that Thousand:
of her producing classes are seeking fol
homes in this country. During 1SS(
more than three-fourths of one per CEN
of the entire population of Great Britain
and Canada emigrated to the United
States.
BY the English census of last yeai
there are 100000 less sheep in Great
Britain than in 1870 and three million
acres of land less in cultivation. In a
speech in Parliament more than yeaI
ago John Bright told of an old English
farmer who in speaking of the ruinous
effect of our competition in the markets
declared his wish that ''the cussed Yam
kee country had never been discovered.
In 1850 John Adams in a letter from
Europe says, "the distance is SO great
that America will never be able to carry
any great quantity of her agricultural
products to Europe" That same Arfer-
lea is now the food-field of the world.
But besides free trade and American
competition the productive industry of
the old world is loaded down with stand
ing armies and idle aristocracies. The
American farmer farms for himself In
England the land has to support the
landlord, the tenant and the laborers,
or as D'Irsaeli said, it pays three rents
But the success of American agricul-
ture, its wise system of independent
ownership of the soil, and the example
of the farming class in this country, de-
veloping as it does physical and mental
activities, force and dignity of charac-
ter with popular content and prosperity,
are striking deep and deadly blows at
the oppressive systems of the old world.
Here again the American farmer can
make his influence felt as a citizen, and
his success in his calling a benefaction
to his race. Five years ago the present
Prime Minister of England said the
United States were passing Great Brit
ain "in a gallop" in our agricultural and
development, and then pre-
dicted that by 1880 ours would be the
richest in the world. A year ago last
July the London Times, which seldom
sees any good in our country or her in
declared that ''all mankind
gain by the prosperity which the Amer
icars have succeeded in extricating from
that noble land" Our dominion stretch
ing through the breadth of zone and
the length of continent is the food
field of the earth, and ripens its harvests
for the sustenance of the nations. Thus
our material prosperity an ave-
nue. is opened through which our free
Institutions are winning the favor of Op
pressed peoples and impressing their be-
nign influences on the world. Never did
yrander opportunities appeal to nobler
The interests of the American
farmer and his privileges as an Ameri-
,an citizen blend in an Imperative call
20 effort, vigilance and progress. The
influence of this great class can be eff
5ectively exercised only by associated
action. Thus welded it would become
irresistible and be alike a success and a
public good. The time is auspicious.
Never has our great industry been in so
condition. Never have
farmers been able to devote 50 much
lime to intellectual culture and improve
nent. With all the labor saving inven-
ions and appliances of the present day
le becomes hundred-handed. Knowl-
,dge and progress have lifted agriculture
tself to the dignity of science and ad
81 ,1f tn ha rA-
hips Of toll, and is still advancing daily
u the scope of its benefits and the mag
litude of its results.
The prosperity of agriculture is the
comfort and prosperity of every citizen
# the country. There is not OH earth
my land where this great basis is ne
elected and degraded and where pros
,erily is found. Ancient Egypt was by
Ter culture of the wondrOus valley of
he Nile, and her export of corn the
ichest and the most cultured of the ear
v nations. On this basis was built her
earning, her grandeur and her power.
Carly i'll the seventeenth century 1,000,-
90 Moors, then the skilled agriculturists
# Spain, were driven out of that coun-
~ by the edict of Philip LII. The philo-
OpIllC ulSIOlldll, DuShiO,
hat began the decline of Spain. Whole
rovinces were deserted from the search
v of food, and Spain presented to Eu-
ope the solitary instance of constant |
ecay. Montesquieu, in his spirit of |
avs" wisely Says Countries are not |
cultivated in proportion to their fertil- |
ty, but to their liberty" Fortunately |
We have in our favored land both the |
ertility and the liberty with almost |
imitless resources. During the last |
ear from June 80, 1880, to June 3Oth, |
SS1, 5,O2S, 100 acres of land in the Uni
ed States have been entered as Home
teads." Our four million farms are
Mostly homes of plenty and culture.
he peasantry of Germany. the tenant |
f England, the wine-dresser of France,
nd the American Farmer, represent
he same occupation, but in all else how |
ifferent? The social and intellectual
ondition of the rural population of any |
ountry is no uncertain measure of its
igher civilization and progress. The
houghtful statesmen of Europe now
dmit that our system of land-holding is |
ne of the great sources of enterprise |
nd thrift as well as of popular content,
nd gives to industry the chance of per-
reward, and to labor the dignity
f freedom. Quiet industries and hon
red labor nourish patriotism, and are
he bribes of peace. Our country pre-
ents a grand arena for the full develop
nent of healthy national life. Industry,
nergy, hardening toll and physical
ealth combine to produce the elements
f character which make good citizens
nd successful men-such elements as
Washington, such elements as
xplain Garfield.
American farmers, yours is indeed a
ODDLY heritage. The usefulness of your
alling can rise no higher than the dig
ity of your citizenship. Both blend in
n harmonious and inseparable union.
these Institutes and similar associa-
ions, supplying so much needed op
'ortunity of social culture, are bringing
armers year by year up more to the
measures of full, symmetrical manhood,