Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-11-13
Our Agriculture.

Our Agriculture.
mo agricultural country can be generally
prosperous unless the classes engaged In thai
great department of production are prosperous
too"
Above are the concluding words of the
Bankers Magazine for November in its
ssReview of Finance and Business" in
which it discusses the "Causes of Dizziness
in the Country" and the ''Crises among
farmers 10 America"
Indulge the hope as we may in looking
for the manufacturing and other interests
of the country to absorb our surplus OF
soil-production, we ara doomed to disap-
polntment for that expectation has not
only failed, bat the failure will be con-
tinuous in growing and alarming proper
tions. The future in this respect can be
thus properly characterized, because the
increasing soil-production exceeds the
ratio of the increase of population gener-
ally, as large as that is, and more so than
any possible deliverance can be effected
LuIOuRu dli 1ululuS dAO w
velopment that can be proitably set in
motion. Enlarged foreign trade would,
however, relieve the situation in two re
spects; namely, in finding markets both
for our surplus of breadstuffs and provision
and manufactured goods, and if that were
the case the apprehensions above expressed
arising from over soil-producticD as well as
of manufacturing industries could be modi-
fed. The conclusion is irresistible, how
ever, that upon the present basis of exports
of breadstuffs and provisions with no pros
pect of the enlargement Of foreign trade,
neither the present nor the greatest growth
of population that can reasonably take
place will be sufficient to take up the in
creasing surplus of soil-production in this
country.
Notwithstanding the unusually wet
harvest, abundant crops have been re-
ceived, and the prices at which they are
passing from the hands of producers are
alarmingly significant. This conclusion
applies with more force to the state OF
things in the Western than in the Atlantic
States, as sad as has been our experience
as difficulties have hedged our efforts to
render our fields again proftably pro-
ductive.
A hope not yet dissipated, that at least
the last half of the selling season for our
breadstuffs would bring better compensa-
ton than is now the case, seems of late to
be on the wane, for the new exporting
resources Of Europe and India, not to speak
of other countries, is causing changes OF
former conclusions in that respect.
When advertlng to the situation in the
West as more alarming to our agricultural
interest than on the Atlantic slope, it was
because there the obligations of farmers ID
meeting mortgages upon their real estate
are proportionally larger, and though they
have abundant crops, realisation of money
for them is SO scant that they cannot meet
the accruing and past interest upon these
debts 1t is represented that in large sec
tions of the West where farms are mort
gagged, the owners are so destitute of ready
means as to be utterly unable to buy lum
Der to erect cribs for the corn lying in the
field. If not wholly the case with wheat,
corn in those sections does not bring
price which will pay the cost Of gathering
and transportation to market.
The situation of such farmers is becom
ing matter of great public concern, ant
public sentiment is demanding that thu
fbai oIliroti0oc oh q
be lowered and fixed more in accordanc,
with the value of their resources upoI
which they most rely to meet it.
Some interests of the country are profit
able, but it is not the agricultural upor
which the general prosperity is based. To
make that interest prosperous our exports
of breadstuffs and provisions should, witt
the rate of increased production, double
every ten years. To secure that condition
of foreign trade would require the govern
ment to be ever on the alert The con
trary was the policy pursued until MIR
Cleveland's administration commenced tt
direct the capacities of the country in thu
right direction. If that policy be adopte'
in the future and be continued, in time WI
may see a change, but at best its fruition
long way eff. In this connection, tn
following views presented within the las
few days are worthy of the most careful
thought -
rHon VIM. L. Wilson, of West Virginia, in
speech at Berryville. Va, few days ago, re
lated for the first time, he said. an utteranc
made to him by MIR. Cleveland after his defea
last fall, to-wit, that in preparing his tart
message he had before him in every line
penned on that subject the condition and wei
fare of the agricultural classes of this country
Tuesdays elections indicate that the agricul
tursI classes throughout the country ar
rapidly adopting Mr.. Cleveland's views in re
gard to the oppressiveness of high tariff"
The impressive words quoted in th
commencement of this article are tn
strongest which can be employed in COZ
Guiding it, and its evident truth shout
penetrate every interest of the countr
until the main reliance for the success {
all shall realize its share of prosperity.
MAHoNE's PERTINAeIOUS GRIFFIN
fate of Sinbad the Sailor in having upo
his shoulders the sold man of the Sea" i
not circumstance to that of the Republi
can party Of Virginia, for Malone is no
only on its shoulders, firmly fixed, but ha
it by the throat, and will hold on with tn
pertinacty and ferocity of a butchers bull
dog. He says he will not surrender hi
position as chairman of the Republican
State Committee and leader and Boss c
his party, and more tenacious than the mu
turtle, he will not let go even when it thun
ders. On the day of the election, the thuu