Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-07-16
INTERESTING TO AUGUSTA
FARMERS.

ADDRESS THE. FARMERS AT OUR AU-
GUsTA COURT.
The letter below, addressed to Capt. G.
Julian Pratt, member of the Executive
Committee of Farmers Assembly, is from
the pen of one of the most intelligent and
progressive farmers in Virginia, and in it
is much food for reflection, particularly
for the minds of those engaged in agricul-
ture. His reference to the loss of our for
eign markets and unjust railroad discrim-
1nation ought to be carefully read, for they
are gu estions that will not down, and the
sooner they are fairly and justly settled,
the better for all concerned. The follow
ing is the
LETTER OF MR.. HOLT.
ANCHORAGE, SURRY Co.. VA.
June 20, 1885.
q. Julian Pratt, Esq,
Dear Sir Il received on yesterday your
letter inviting me to address the farmers
of Augusta on the fourth Monday in Au
gust. I would be delighted to meet the
farmers of your county, and talk with them
about the
MATERIAL INTERESTS OF THE STATE,
and its future prospects, particularly its
agricultural interests and necessities
We ought to know each other better that
we might have better appreciation Of
our necessities and capacities. We are a
vast militia, possessed of all the elements
of strength, but without organization or
discipline. The farmers number So per
cent. of the population Of the country !;
pay IS per cent of the taxes, and have from
the foundation of the government, raised
50 per cent. of the exports. 1t was the ex-
port of the
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OF THE
COUNTRY,
in excess of the imports, in the year pre-
ceeding 1879, that made the resumption Of
specie payment possible.
We laid the foundations, broad and
deep, on which all the other great indus
trial interests of the country have been
built, and built. to great extent, at our
expense. From the foundation of the gov
eminent we have borne its burdens; We
have seen the great corporations of the
country grow rich, on which
s'MoRE THAN REGAL BOUNTIEs SHINE"
rich at our expense and through our ne
cessities, and daily do we behold their
equipages shine like meteors and their
palaces rise like exhalations." The con-
servative influence of the landed interests
in this country, as in England, is the only
bulwark against anarchy and agrarianism.
All tie governments of Europe, realiz-
ing the Importance of intelligent agricul-
ture, are lavish in their expenditures in
aiding the development of such an impor-
tant industry, and that. together with our
unfriendly legislation towards those coun-
tries, will soon, render them independent
of US, as far as subsistence is concerned.
India is fast becoming our great competi-
tor in the production of wheat, and
ENGLAND is SPENDING MILLIONS
in opening up a country vast in its extent
and inexhaustible in resources. Austria
liza and South America are furnishing her
with all the beef and mutton she wants.
While Germany and France, our other
two important European customers.
sparing neither blood nor treasure; are es-
tablishing colonies all over the world, and
at the same time, in retaliation for our
legislation. are practically excluding our
pork and beef.
Where now are
THE BoAsTED HOME MARKETS,
of which politicians have told us so much?
To-day wheat is selling in Liverpool for
less in Liverpool than it has sold for 125
years. Wheat can be laid down in that
city at profit, for rs cents per bushel it
can be put Down in New York for $1.00,
and pay the duty. Chemical analysis has
shown that India wheat is as rich in all
the nutritive elements as that raised in the
more favored portions of the United
States.
All the legislation Of our government
for the past half century has been
AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF AaRI-
CULTURE.
We pay more than half the taxes, and
what do we receive in return ? Commerce
has received over one hundred millions,
railroads over three hundred millions, and
manufactures, fisheries, &c. untold mil
lions, directly and indirectly
Every other great interest in the coun-
try is ably represented in our National
Legislature and in the Departments at
Washington, while ours languish for want
of recognition and aid. All must see that
our government is annually drifting into
the hands of the great moneyed corpora
lions of the country even our State Leg
islature refuses to afford US either aid or
protection against rich and powerful cor
porations. We asked the last Legislature
to afford us
PROTECTION AGAINST RAILROAD DIS
CRIMINATIoN AND EXTORTION,
and it refused.
These are some of the facts I would like
to present to the farmers of Augusta, it
it were in my power to be present at your
meeting on the 4th Monday in August,
but the Farmers National Congress-
convenes at Minneapolis on the 18th of
August, and as I am appointed by Gov.
Lee delegate at large, to represent the
State, could not possibly be present at
your meeting. nor do see how Col. Bev
erly can attend, as he is President OF the
National Congress.
Thanking you for your invitation, am
very truly yours,
M, L, HOLT.
Next Sunday at the Lutheran Church.