The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-26
nn1sss On
Hon Thos. y. IKudson.
President u the Farmers Congress,
at the recent Session or that body
Ia Louisville, Ky.


doNu any party, nor 10 elevate this oi
destroy that statesman, nor to ware val
: agasnst any other industry; but, stand
ing upon a higher plane and looking
upon American agriculture as the foun.
dation stone upon which rests our na.
{ tional progress and wealth, we are here
E to devise measures for its advancement.
b Whether We consider the millions en-
: ployed or the number, variety and value
! Of our farm products, this must always
oyeTshadow all other industries in this
: country, As i body We have no consti-
! tutlonal existence, or, / might rather
say, our acts have no legal force; but
the value of our action depends upon
the prudence and wisdom displayed in
shaping public sentiment, and conse-
quently the future policy of the Gov
ernment
i American progress is confined to no
act or calling, and within the last decade
our agricultural growth is one of the
| wonders of the century. 1t is no longer
| the ignorant calling of former times,
but is everywhere regarded as an indus
try demanding as much learning, science
and experience as any Of the professions
| of man.
If, in the permanent organization of
the Farmers Congress, with representa-
tiyes from all parts of the Union, you
have an association looking to the COM
forts and happiness of the toiling mil
lions, then your labors ought TO result
/ in blessings to our whole people.
| 1t is, then, our first duty to look at
the condition of the farmers in all sec
tions, and wherever there is distress,
whether from State or Federal legisla-
tion, or from an Sunwise policy on the
part of the farmers themselves, to see If
some remedy can not be suggested.
In the New England and Central
States we have less complaints than in
| the South and West, and more in the
South than in the West. Although we
are told that in the southern States the
| increased value of taxable property since
| 1879 is more than 10000, 900, still it
must be admitted, as rule, that neither
| landlord nor tenant there is properous
condition.
The courts of record along the great
valley of the Mississippi, as well as in
| the uplands, show that thousands of
acres of the finest lands in the world are
passing into the hands of capitalists who
| have advanced supplies to the owners
and the number of deeds of trust to be
found in every County Court show that,
as yet, there is little improvement.
Probably the largest cotton planter in
| the world is indebted for his immense
estate, not so much to the extravaganza
! Of the original owners as to the system
| of farming adopted there and the heavy
| burdens of State and Federal taxation.
In all the cities of the South hundreds
of merchants own their thousands of
acres, with deeds of trust covering other
millions, obtained by advance.
The facts Just stated can not be con-
troverted, startling as they may appear
The very thought that such condition
of things actually exists is alarming,
and is creating a feeling never before
known of anxiety and fear among our
farmers and laborers.
1t is said that diversified farming and
the abandonment of the one-crop idea,
with such legislation as the States can
adopt, will prove remedy; but is it not
impossible to have that prosperity we
ought to have in all sections so long as
the capital and labor of the farmers
are burdened with such heavy Federal
taxation?
II lS Ibl NOtis dAbNl HthhlbE Il survey /
Of the whole field to take such action !
As in your wisdom you may think best |
for those you represent. Of all the evils |
that can befall this great country, none |
,an be greater than to have its millions
If farmers growing poorer and its labor
RS discOntented.
The farmer has hitherto been the most
and the most conservative
clement of society, and Justly regarded
Is the safest depository of American
reedom. With the rapid increase of
he millionaires all over the land, the
growth and powers of corporations every
where, and the absorption of the best
ands in the South and West by large
how long will this indepen-
lence or conservatism continue?
| am not the enemy of capital.
would not make odious any class of my
elbow men. | would not arouse the
,oor men against the men Of millions.
3ut it must be apparent to the most
uperficial observer that the policy of !
he past has been to make the rich
icher and the poor poorer, and that this {
5 fatal to the quiet of society and dan
.erous to our free institutions.
Then war must be waged by farmers,
s individuals and in organizations, {
gainst all legislation by the States or {
" Congress giving special privileges |
counties to one industry to the detri- |
nent of another, and all exemptions
rom equal burdens of government. The /
umblest American has his rights; they ,
re dear to him, and it should be the I
ride and ambition of the most power {
ul and influential citizen to see these I
ights secured, and no man or class OF {
len ought to accept bounties and adj '
antages rot given alike to every citi- S
en- of the Republic.
Our farmers can not understand why
{ is, in our State and National councils, 4
0 much time and nursing should be EN- a
loved on corporations and manufac- e
ures, when agriculture, the great q
Ource of our wealth, is almost wholly s
ynored.
The primary object of this Organiza- e
ion was to direct the public mind to d
his tendency of the Government, and C
0 arouse the tillers of the soil to a sense o
their rights and the duty of working il
ogether for mutual protection. i
That Federal taxation in the way of
IlDOTL uuLlGS anu luLtIIlal EGNGHuG laws 4
impose unequal burdens upon the capi- p
al and labor employed in agriculture c
one will deny, and at your last session n
t st. Louis, after a free interchange of a
pinions, this policy was unanimously r
ondemned. Justice is all that any in C
ustry ought to demand, it is all the t
armer asks, and, however much he may O
ontribute to the wealth and prosperity v
{ his country, he loses that love and T.
eviction he ought to have for his native r
ind when he learns that it is the settled /,
olicy of his Government to discriminate e
ainst him. Il
You declared without dissenting I
oiee, at you last session, in favor of q
Iaking the Commissioner of Agrieul- a
ire a member of the Cabinet. This q
ction met with universal appreciation Il
{ our farmers, and the present Congress II
the United States will doubtless re-
oond to this popular wish. An active, I,
Intelligent and progressive farmer 4
elected for this place in the Cabinet--a 4
ian having the confidence of the public, =
nd fully comprehending the vast in ii
.rests intrusted to his e-could not y
nly collect and disseminate valuable 3,
formation to the farmers, but in the !,
abinet could use his influence in be. r
alf of all measures to promote this in Al
rest. =,
In adjusting tariff regulations and =
treaties with foreign States, ri
Is position would enable him to coun- q
i wisely, and it would be his duty to 81
atch with vigilance the effects Of all i,
numerical regulations on his own coun- 4,
y and to suggest changes as the public n