The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-21

and shipping, government ou!lolng
! Federal, State and county-churche
and school houses; add to all this th
billions of dollars covered up and in
vested in bonds and stocks--National
State, county, municipal and indi
vidual-and then think that all thi
wonderful mass of values is the &C
cumulation and capitalized profit
from agriculture.
"Glance again over the agrlcrltu
raj records of this nation, and wha
do we see and learn?
"In thirty years, from 1850 to 1880
the crops increase: Wheat, from
lO0,4SS,944 bushels to 459, 9,493,l3,
bushels; corn, from 592,07l,lO4 te
1,754,591,676 bushels; and cotton
from 2,469,993 to G,539,02l bales
The estimates for 1885 being
wheat, 376,0O0,O00 bushels; corn, 2,
OO,OOO,00O bushels; and cotton, g.,
100000 bales; these three alone ag
gregating in value s1,132,0O0,OOo.
can analysis would startingly
show how little Of this immense &C
cumulated profits and wealth has re
mained with the agricultural pro
ducers, and how many billions Of
dollars have gone to support and en-
rich other classes and interests. II
would also show how agriculture as
an art, science and pursuit has ad
vanced and progressed with rapid
and gigantic strides.
Think for moment Of the radl'
cal changes in modes and implements
of agriculture within the experience
Of your own generation, and it looks
almost miraculous.
From the foregoing, it would seem
that the problem Of successful agrl
culture was solved, and the wealth OF
the agricultural classes clearly as
sured. But is this so? No, alas
While agriculture as science and a
wealth-creator has advanced, and is
still advancing at electric speed, sup
porting and enrichipg the govern
ment and aggregate people, still un'
disputed statistical records, facts and
your own experience show with pain
full plainness that the strictly pure
agriculturists are not, either as indi'
viduals, or on the aggregate, growing
rich.
They, of all classes, still remain
more under Eden's curse, In the
sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat thy
daily bread;' and being made to dc
the extra sweating to provide bread
and wealth and luxury for thousands
and thousands who, during long lives
earn nothing, and do nothing, but
appropriate, and in riotous living
consume the capitalized profits and
wealth squeezed from the sweating
faces and horny hands of the sons
of toll An increase of production
and crops by increased toll and pro
gress in science, intelligence *nc
skill, will not change the status Of
relieve the difficulty; for, as from
year to year, from decade to decade
the profits and values from agricultu
raj operations are increased and mag
nifed, in still greater ratio is the
proportion of the agriculturists de
creased in the distribution thereof
Why is this so, and shall it continue;
It would fill volumes to tell in mi
mute detail, the numerous causes tha
contribute to establish the foregoing
conditions. Feebly formulated tits
that bv statute laws and operation
of goyernments-Federal, State
county and municipal; that by tn
rules and customs of boards of trad
and commerce; by corporations AM
svndicates; by associations and OF
ders; and by numberless and diver
classes and interests; there has bee
long, determined, systematicall,
constructed and combined arrange
ment for each and all to estimat
what, and how much, ofthese agricu
tural profits and wealth they respc@
lively needed, or desired; then re
morselessly and suInmarily to appr'
| pirate the same. regardless Of til
equity or justice of tue division; c
| what would be left for the class tia
with anxious study and earnest labc
produced It all.
Agriculture must be so unloade
of these onerous burdens that no
| cucumber it as to render it possibl
for those engaged in it TO maE
money and acquire wealth. This ca
never be done till the agriculturls'
who grow and produce the crops COZ
troll the first sales Of the same, an
have them made in their interest.
cannot be till it is so arranged
take less wheat, corn, cotton al
~ro2untc RI