Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-03-07

poets farmers at THIS season OF the year are
generally free sellers, but there is no CUES
ton, however, but that reserves in farmers
hands ars much lower than for many sea-
sons"
He excepted Texas from this view OF the
prospect where he predicts largely IN
creased crop.
Corn and forage and hay were cut short
two years by drought in seven or more OF
the great grain and grass-growing States
of the West, and, as in the case OF wheat,
but little corn is in farmers hands now
We observe the estimates for the wheat
harvests of 1888, and if the present shall
prove an excellent year for corn and grass,
the deficiencies which have been caused by
drought will not be replaced, however
prolific the coming season may be. The
equilibrium of the West must be restored
before the Valley farmer can be thrown
again wholly under the regulating levers OF
Liverpool and London, where he has no
friends. As rich in general resources as are
oui Western brethren, they have not had
easy times lately in some matters owing to
the many inconvenience caused by drought
and storms. Corn and wheat and livestock
had to be shifted from one locality to
another in case of the first two, so that
those in want could draw from more abun-
dant sections, and the last from parched to
other fields to prevent starvation, and in
that were not always successful. This
state of things in country hitherto fruit
full in the highest degree and never before
knew what it was to want in the smallest
neighborhood, has deranged interior pros
poets to an extent that will not be corrected
for two years, unless it is singularly ex-
empt from the misfortunes to which all sec
tions are more or less liable.
We should not look to scarcity occasioned
by providential dispensation in producing
countries as a source of profit for our sur
plus, but to the full activity Of our capabili-
ties in finding markets 10 the importing and
in other countries that would become i'm
porters of our food supplies. This thought
calls to mind the twitting an English re,
viewer made recently in relation to the
supineness of our country by its failures IL
claim foreign trade it was in the best
position to furnish, and at one time monop
olized, but lost through the consequences
of civil war. 1t was misfortune which de
prived Virginia of furnishing to Brazil al
annually growing amount of -four made o
wheat raised by Virginia farmers, ground
by Virginia mills, and carried by Virgins
ships to South America and the Eng
lish writer was much puzzled to under
stand why we had not long since regainet
it from Austrian millers at Triest, wb'
took the place of the Richmond millers il
1861. Our own natural advantages, b.
said, invited to the reclamation, and onl.
required proper effort to monopoiize agaiI
that enlarging trade, which we now onl.
in limited way conduct. Ali that W,
have is principly through Norwegian
ships, the masters of which, in the main
take their return cargoes of coffee to Hol
land and England where the commoditie
wanted in Norway are purchased on bette
terms than the high protective policy 0
this country will admit Of.
President Cleveland's administration
now trying to correct the evils of which thi
illustration is but a very small part. Whe
that is done, then we can bold up our head
in true national pride and place our agricu
ture in it's true relations to the commerce
of the world. 1t furnishes more than three
fourths Of our basis of foreign trade, an
has had to support the protective monol
olies of our own country and fight its wa!
as best it could without aid, in seeking IT
cognition abroad.
1t is humiliating to Valley producers
reflect that in looking out for the hope of
fitting return for their coming crop export
they have to enquire into the prospects {
sections OF their own country which ma
possibly fall below their accustomed yielC
Such course is and should be below GU
aim. We claim for Augusta county-fo
our own section-the best of resources, an
that it is entitled to the best reward for GU
efforts. 1t seems that party policy mus
decide the course to be pursued. Our agr
culture will never be righted, wherein
has been grossly wronged, till it is mad
free and able to assume its proper rela
tions to our commerce. Though the pre-
cess is apparently slow, relief can onl
come in that way, and for that we mus
contend In the West and the Northwes
the party shackles are falling off, whic
formerly bound farmers to high protectiv
tariff, and shall Augusta county producer
not maintain their natural relations t
their own and their country's best inter
ests