The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-04-03
For THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BE-
FORE THE BATTLEBORO
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
BY BROTHER WALTER E. PHILIPS.

A newly hired cook, receiving an
order from the head of a family to
o some one article of diet that
would best suit the taste of the house
hold, and being truly DESTROYS of
selecting the most appreciated dish,
could hardly be more uncertain in
determining a choice than was your
fellow-member, when he first began
to consider in what way or in what
tenor of thought he could best comply
with our Presidents appointment to
select or prepare something of interest
to our order.
Of course the much-hackneyed sub
ject, long since worn we'll nigh thread
bare by editorial discussions, club and
political speeches, was the first topic
that engaged my mind. But having
a high regard for the patience of my
fellow-members, who, | believe, fully
recognize the oppressive effects of
tariff duties and protection, | 500 re-
linquished the intention of discussing
in detail this gross evil. Moreover,
it's consideration is now before a more
pOUSuU OONy IhoL OU1S-OOI NdIlOudl
Legislature, and there is some posi-
bility of a reformation, which if it does
not fully come up to the views Of ardent
reformers, is at least a step in the
right direction, and certainly is as
radical, it seems, as could possibly be
effected owing to violent protection
opposition.
And the discussion of any special
question of practical farming by a
comparative novice attempting to
give ideas to a number of farmers of
long experience, who may have con-
sidered and tested or rejected all
theories that he might suggest, would
be about as enlightening as the advice
to farmers received through the
editorial column of the average local
newspaper whose burden of song is
"raise home supplies, and don't mort
gage" Excellent advice this may be
regarding the mortgage, but easier in
its giving than its adoption. The
matter written on 1.-The ruinous mort
gage system" would fill volumes, but
will hardly effect a change until those
advisers show the means to borrow
money without giving security, a
somewhat difficult negotiation, 1 i'm
agine. For money is the medium
through which we interchange the
necessities and luxuries of life, and is
as necessary to a farmer as to a lawyer,
merchant or manufacturer despite a
contrary opinion apparently prevalent
in the minds Of some. True it is there
are some evil and depressing effects;
there is sometimes, [ believe, a high
rate of interest charged, and the ship
ment to the ~loaner, by the borrower,
of his produce may result in a lower
sale than if the producer had the dis
posal himself. But, fellow-members,
the mortgage system, if so it may be
called, is not the chief cause, nor do [
regard it among the chief causes of
the present general depression, but
rather the result Of a financial e66 in
the affairs of farmers.
What would we think of their in
telligence and common sense if a
crowd of spectators on shore, watch
ing the struggles with the rolling
waters, of some poor sailors washed
from a wrecked ship, and seeing one
in his last agonized efforts, seize a
piece of floating timber, bear himself
up for a while and then sink into his
watery grave; what would you think,
[ say, should the spectators with all
judicial gravity thus comment on the
sailors death "These pieces of float.
ing timber are the curse of sailors.
You see how that mar just lost his
life by clinging to one" Is my illus
tration clear? The sailor is the farmer,
the floating spar the mortgage, and
the critics sitting in judgment on the
mismanagement of farmers fail to dis
cover the true cause of depression,
just as the spectators of the shipwreck
fail to recognize that the raging winds
and hidden rocks instead of a plank
were the cause of the sailors drown
ing.
What then is the cause of depres-
sion2
To such a question, the correct an.
swer is very general. There is a COM
bination of causes too numerous and
vast to be fully discussed in my linn
tied time, varying more or less in de-
gree of influence, but all tending to.a
common end-the impoverishment of
farmers. These causes may be divided
into two classes, Clearing of course the
ftfulness of the elements, which no hui
man discussion or action can change.)