The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-11-29
THE Farm.
Farmers, Gadners, Horticultursts.
airy and Stoekmen are requested to
write for this Department.
The Grange.

affairs as Nation, or how it is the real
foundation of all trade and commerce.
The farmers, tobacco and cotton plant
ers, and the raisers of beef cattle and
hogs furnish seventy, three per cent. of
all the exports that contributed the
basis of our exchanges with foreign
countries during the past year. The
official reports for 1888 show that the
total value of all exports of domestic
merchandise was 1888 1852, l0f. OF
this aggregation of exports the value Of
the agricultural exports of all kinds
amounted to $500,S40,000. while the
total amout Of our manufactured pro-
ducts exported was but 1888, O22, OlS.
The backbone, Therefore, Of all our
dealing with foreign countries is our
agriculture.
In view of these facts and figures,
how important it is for the general
good that all matters pertaining to ag-
ricultnre should receive the careful at
tentiou, not only of all engaged in the
calling, but Of those who in the halls of
legislation and counsels of the nation
have so much to do in shaping the
lines that lead to the material progress
and prosperity OF our country, and that
all public questions should be consid.
cred in their relation to agriculture.
Just at this time the papers are Civ
ing accounts of the daily travels of a
grand special train of palace cars con
tanning what is known as the GAN.
Americas Congress" composed of del
egates from Mexico and the South
American countries, officially appointed
to attend this Congress to meet similar
delegates appointed by cur country.
First to travel to all parts of the Union
and view cur great manufacturing in
dustries and then to held the Congress
for discussion and agreement upon GER.
tain lines of policy to be brought to
the attention of our National Congress
for the necessary legislation, and for
the expenses of this Congress an ap.
preparation of s25O'OOO is being used.
All right and proper in its way as far
as it goes.
To develop American industries, and
open up other markets for the products
of our great manufactures, is the laud'
able object of the ".AllAmericas Cong
ress' This to be accomplished through
reciprocity treaties with these other
countries, and free exchange of pro-
ducts. The following newspaper item
plainly states the case:
Senator Sherman, in his Cleveland
speech, put himself squarely on record
as favoring completely reciprocity be-
tween the countries of the Three Amer.
icas in regard to free interchange OF
goods without import duties Of any
kind. This has been, so far. the most
pronounced and practical utterance
made by any of our eminent statesmen
in encouragement of the object for
which the an,American Congress has
convened.
For several years past, and under ad.
ministrations by both of the great po-
litical parties of the country, this plan
Of free trade with South and Central
America has been kept prominently
before the American people, and even
the National Grange has been request.
ed to lend its aid in asking Congress to
subsidize steamphip lines with large
sums of money from the public treasury
to help "open up this commerce, etc.
But where are the farmers of our coun.
try in this matter? Have they been
consulted? This great industry, that
furnishes three.fourths Of all onr ex-
ports in year. how will reciprocity
and free trade with South America
affect them? Have any farmers been
appointed to this Congress, now on its
travels? Are the delegates being taken
to any of our model farms, to be shown
our creameries, our cheese factories,
our farms for raising thoroughbred cat
tie and horses? South and Central
America are great countries. They
are not manufacturing countries. They
are among the grandest farming coun-
tries of the world. Our man ufacturers
want these great countries as markets
for their manufactured goods, and want
no tariff to prevent them going to these
countries; and in return we are to give
these great farming countries free ac-
cess to all our ports for their vast sup
plies of farm products, free raw ma.
terials for our factories. These same
manufacturers, too, insist upon high
tariff against the manufactured good of
Europe, while our $500, $40 900 worth
lin 1889 of farm products 60 over
there to be sold at free trade prices,
which also fixes the price of all the