The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-09
THE FARMER.
How the Tariff Brings Him
Prosperity.
A Wool Grower Relates
His Experience.
Compelled to Compete With His Pro-
ducts in the Mark ats of the World,
While Everything He Buys is
Taxed.

SPEECH OF HON. W. H. HATCH OF TEN
3. EEssEE.
Agriculture is the oldest and most honorable
occupation of man. 1t is today the foundation
of all commercial and material progress in this
country. The history of the world teaches that
In all ages. in every country, agriculture has
borne more than its fair proportion of the bur-
dens of government. This, Mr.. Chairman, is par
ticularly true in the nineteenth century and up-
der our r publican form of government in 1885,
llnder the present system the government OF
the United States is exacting from the people OF
this country nearly hundred million dollars
year more than it needs. For what purpose IS
this tribute levied? propose to undertake to
show for what purpose it is done. 1t is done to
enrich favored classes that have fastened their
fangs upon the legislation of this country. 1t is
the expense of the masses. The whole
system was conceived in greed and
avarice, aud it has been maintained from that
day to this by misrepresentation, corruption and
fraud Now 1t has been stated, and no man de-
nies it, that since 1850 this country has grown in
wealth and IN prosperity at q ratio unprecedent-
ed ia the history of any nation earth. Not
withstanding the four years of The civil war,
notwithstanding the destruction of property,
during that period-from 1850 to 1SS0-the
country had grown to an extent almost startling
when contemplate it. 1t has grown up into
the billions. l know it to be true; the figures
state III. UeHttSmen upon Snt otil6E Slue as Mc4l
upon this side have quoted them, and I be-
lieve them to be correct. But where has that
money been concentrated? What favored class,
if any, in the United States have reaped the
benefit CT that great accumulation of wealth?
Has it been equally aud evenly distributed
throug ghout the land? No. HasIt. in any single
state section of the country, been distributed
to all classes alike2 No. Has one class solely
got the benefit OF itP Yes. Now look first at
the general figures before l come down to item
lZlng some of them.
The nearest estimate that can be made Of the
value of the agricultural wealth of this country
is based upon the valuation of farms, farm ami
mails, farm implements and machinery. The
ownership of the land. its Improvements, the
ownership of all the stock upon the farm, the
sssary TO ruu it, constitute the farmers capital.
In 1850 the farmers of this country owned S3,-
967, ,343, $50 of property. In lS60-mark this
day-they had increased their aggregate wealth
from the sum named to nearly eight billions or,
to be more exact, 81 $50, ,493 ,063, little more
than doubling the original capital in ten years,
and showing by calculation a net increase of
about 1o1 per cent. In 1870 they had increased
from 81 0S0 493 063 to $11 95S, ,747; not quite
40 per cent In 1850 they increased from $11.-
124, ,956, ,7I to $12, 1o4, ,001 ,5SS, only about
per cent. Between 1850 and 1860 we had the
lowest tariff and the lowest rate of tax collec-
tions that we have had In this country for the
past seventy wears. Between 1870 and 1880 WE
have had the highest we have ever had. Be
tween 1850 and 1850 the farmers of the country
more than doubled their wealth, and between
1870 and 1880 they accumulated but per cent
increase. ~> ~''@s' Ts7z5 -lt,tg
append an exact and verified table of the
figures: