Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-18
What AIIs che Farmers2

facts and figures have been made pub,
lie in regard TO the condition of the
American farmer To leave IL Longer
] fairly to be denied that lie Is 'hoejnY 2
very hard row." Among the ehiei
things known about the farmers case
are these: (D His lands are fast com.
ing under mortgage to eastern savings
and insurance institutions. (2l The
railroads built to market the products
OF his fields are without hardly an ex.
ceptiOn losing money and rapidly pass
ing into the hands of receivers. (3)
Year by year the prices of the great
staples which he raises is slowly sink.
ing, while his foreign market is slip.
ping away from him in a way that bids
fair before decade elapses to leave no
out for his surplus above the needs OF
the home market. (4) The great farm
ing areas of the country have hardly q
savings bank.
Exactly how grave Is the case of the
American farmer cannot be known un-
til census is taken that will furnish
data full and reliable about his affairs.
Perhaps the secretary of the new agri-
cultural department will take an inter-
est in the next census on behalf of his
bureau. 1t would certainly be a novel
thing il the government of manufac-
turers by manufacturers and for manu.
facturers should forOnce remember and
have regard for the affairs of that "for-
gotten man"-the American farmer.
In the meantime it may not be un-
profitable to speculate as to the causes
which have cOnspired to harry the
farmer with low prices and big mortga-
ges. In the first place, is it the farm
er's fault?
Has the American farmer made q
poor choice of land? Surely not. His
lands are of the fattest and endure
abuse with the best in the world.
Is he wanting in energy? No one will
say that. The summer days are not too
long for him. Instead of petitioning
for eight hour laws he is glad to work
twice eight hours day in order that
the mortgage on his land may be kept
from growing larger.
Does he use brains in his business?
Look at the magnificent labor-saving
machinery which alone has enabled
him to keep his labor above the fellah's.
Is he economical? His house, its
furnishings, the dress of himself and
his family all attest that he is.
Is he temperate? Who does not
know that of all men in the world the
American farmer is the most temperate?
1t is in the great agricultural states that
prohibition has found warmest well
come. 1t would indeed be bold and
reckless man who would lay at the
door of the American farmer himself
the blame of his embarrassments. But
If the farmer is not to blame, who or
what is? Surely not the railroads that
run to his door. They are as hard up as
himself. Neither is it church tithes
nor standing armies such as in Europe
oppress the husbandman to the misery
of black bread.
1t is the want of market for what he
raises over and above his needs that
makes the American farmer unhappy.
His surplus if sent to foreign market.
whether it comes back in the shape of
foreign goods or money, must nav an
enormous tribute to the government in
the one case or to the home manufac-
turer in the other. If he takes foreign
goods in exchange for his products, he
has to leave almost one-half the total
received for those products in the GUS
tom house. If he brings back money
and buys a good home his money onlv
goes about half as far as it would but
for Al per cent. protection. Twist and
turn as he will he cannot avoid divin-
ing the bushel in twain with some one
who renders him little or nothing in
return.
The American farmer sells against
the world. He buys Of trusts. Does
he want barbed wire for fences, a plow
or moving machine, a, hoe or fork,
twine for bis reaper or to tie up his
wool, paint or oil, nails and lumber,
sugar, cloth, oil for lighting, these and
many other necessaries to him and his
trust or combine must he
go and pay what he is asked. How
long can the American farmer with all
his patience, industry, frugality, intel
ligence and temperance endure this
process? Surely moi forever.
He has been shorn of his locks by. the
Delilahs of protection, but his strength
remains. He has been blinded by the
hired sophists of these same Delilahs,
but he still gropes. Some day he will
lay hold of the pillars of the structure
that imprisons him. The binder his
wrath the more fiercely will he put
forth his strength, and the swifter and
more appalling will be the ruins that
will bear witness to his vengeance
There is but one way to placate this
glorious modern Samson and that is to
oppress him. Will his tormentors be
wise in time?