Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-10-16
Fair Trade ana Farmers Rights.

Correspondence OF the Alexandria GAZETTE.
While 80 much is being enid and written
about free trade and protection, the
great fundamental principle CT q social and
| national prosperity seems to have been over
ooked, or but incidentally considered. All
the wealth Of q nation must spring from the
soil There may be town, community or
! State, if you please, which may be devoted
entirety to manufactures and yet grow i'm
mensely rich bat its riches can only be de-
rived from the productions Of those who
have acquired the means to purchase by
cuiivaiDg The soil. Analyzs it when you
may, aud IA gon may, you will lind that all
manufacturing communities, all railroad
and other corporations are dependent upon
the prosperity Of the farming interests some
where for their income. For a time these
corporations may flourish and amass wealth
whi!s agriculture ia waning, but the time
will eventually come when the latter is
| Frustrated and has lost its purchasing pow
or that the former will collapse.
What would he the fate OF the great
manufacturing, coal and iron interests OF
England if they were dependent on the
farming interests of England for their sup.
port7 Knowing they would be dsasterou5
beyond retrieve, her Statesmen have taken
| in the situation and opened her ports to the
traffic of the world, 30 she can meet the in
come of the agricultural wealth OF other
nations.
What has been the effect of this exclusive,
or, rather seclusive policy of America on
the farming.interests of this country-Vir-
Rinia, for instance, of which the writer
knows most2 Let one illustration, which
is fair sample of the whole. be we'll con-
sidered. The writer knew farm of GOO
acres, lying 10 middle Virginia, which be.
fore the war yielded such revenues that the
owner could have sold it for SIS 900, but
would not take it. For few years after
the war, when farming products were in
such demand, because so limited was the
production, the prospect was encouraging.
But so soon as the old soldiers North and
South returned to and fully resumed their
abors the supply exceeded the demand to
such degree that their products sold for
so small prices, and what they had to pur-
chase for all their supplies, family and farm
| ing, WAS 90 high, that they found it difficult
| to live. The result was that the Young men
| found they were spending their labor for
nought on the farm and went to the cities
to secure employment in some protected in
dustry. Farming lands, no longer yielding
! b 81
were deserted by all who could find the
means to.Ieave them. Theefarm above al
uded to came into mark OF by the death OF
its owner in 1873 IL was offered for sale at
SO, 900, then fo- s. 600 and was fnally sold
for IS, 900 The parties purchasing it ex
pended 81 500 in the Improvement of houses,
enclosures, &;., & :, and then sold it to al
! Ohio man for S. 000. having sunk nearly
SO 900 by il in five years. This Ohio man
went 10 work i've years ago. soon got in
| debt, borrowed money TO run the farm, for
which be mortgaged it, and last week it was
sold for 81 900. and only brought that he
CAUSE that was the amount Of the loan.
| Say what you may, while manufacturers
! are being protected agriculture is being ex
Guided, and it will only require few years
more for the reciprocal effect to be realized,
and the manufactures will all 90 by the
board for want OF sustelance, which they
can only secure from the farmer. If all the
people of the country were farmers, it is
evident that their occupation would soon be
gone, because they wonld have nc purchf.
1913 il they were cut off from the outside
world, and consequently would have no
means to purchase what they could not pro-
duce inst in proportion, therefore, "a the
markets for farm products are cnrtailed
just in that propoportion, will their profits
| diminish. Il protective tariff cuts Of the
ingress of foreign good and hence the op
portunity of exchange Of commodities be-
tween this and other countries, thereby cir
cumscribDg, curtaiIiug, and hampering,
aye, running the farmers interests Nil.
lions of acrea of Virginia lands can't be sold
to- day at any price, because the products
wont pay the cost OF production There
FORE whatever may be said OF the prospect.
IS OF Virginia, can't apply to her farming
interests. AND as that declines, she is ap.
proaching financial ruin and bankruptcy.
The markets of the world must be opened
to the farm products of America, or aoon
America will be composed of a few billion.
aires, and nation of paupers. Mark the
prediction Let then, from this hour and
forever the walchcry of the great farming
community be Fair Trade and Earmero
Rights. HENRY CLAY
WHEAT AND FLcUR-The local wheat market