The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-10-25

Extract from the address Of Hon. Ger
ard G. BrolcR, deIircred at Inter State
Picnic Exhibition at Williams GroUe,
Pa, august 20. 1889.
The pertinent question now comes
home to each one OF US: Does the
American farmer enjoy in full propor-
tion the national prosperity which he
has so largely created A certain class
of authorities hold that he does, and
would make US believe that all is love-
ly.'
Farming, which should be, and natu-
uraliy is. the most profitable of all Iegi-
innate Vocations, and which we are so
often Informed by aforesaid dmhOrities,
is the most honorable and independent
in reality returns less profit on the in
Yestment, and pays less wages TO its
votaries, than any other business at the
present time
The census specifically informs US
that 1t does not yield three per cent.
net income.
The recent rapid increase in sher.ff's
sales in the very finest farming sections
OF the State shows its IrecaTious condi-
tion.
The augmentation OF tenant farmers
and OF mortgages on farm prop, rty
throughout the whole country clearly
demonstrates its dark and critical fu-
ture.
We must ascertain the cause of this
depression We cannot afford TO ignore
it. II grows yearly and daily worse.
lt threatens the existence OF fs rming
as an independent, honorable business.
For so great and marked declension
as the past twenty years has shown IN
farming for profit, there must exist
active and powerful causes.
Where shal! we look for them, and
what shall The remedy be E? The most
eursoTy view will induce the conclu-
sion that the trouble is not OF natural
growth and is not Inherent to our call.
ing. but is rather the outcome OF our
own inattensiOn and indifference.
EXTERNAL VIGILANCE Is TIL. PRICE
OF LIBErTY."
This covers the case exactly. Asst
happens, the chief factors in this de-
preston OF farming as a paying busi-
ness have sprung from our neglect and
are remidiable by cur own action.
No one cause is so prolific a curse to
TO Us IS Unfair legislation no weapon is
50 deadly as unjust tuUdtjOR no means so
potent 70 win the one and WELD the
against our right and well beng.
MONOPOLY Is OUR BANE.
Trusts are its ripest fruits and fullest
development. The benefciaries of the
one are the open apolOgIs,s of the other,
and do not hesitate TO declare THAT
trusts are mere private affairs with
whom President (Or any one else) has
no right to interfere"
They have grown audacious to the
point OF temsrity aud insolent as
imperial dictators. Confident in the
brute force of the millions they have
extor;ed from a long suffering people.
they no longer disguise their buccaneer-
ing projects.
UNEQUAL TAXATION.
Here is the keynote. 1 think it was
Fox who, from his seat in Pars
lament, declared that ''tbe riqht TO
tar ,CdS tie POJCCr TO deStrOy."
This Was the cord Oh which the hearts
OF the Revolutionary patriots struck
Ere and urged them 10 devote their lives
20 save the nations life.
We have allowed ourselves to be ca.
joled on one pretexr aud another TO sub
nit 10 an excessive increase of taxation
and, what is even worse, to a most in
!quitOus distribution of its burdens.
We have permitted the revenue laws
OF the State to be so shaped from time
to time, that, as at present, a good one
half OF al the property in the Common
wealth is not assessed.
This is the more outrageous, mas
much as the property thus exempted Is
the most profitable that exists in our
borders. Its holders are millionaires
and corporations.
All other classes of property, except
real estate, when taxed at ali, paws not
to exceed the sixth part of shat which
Is levied upon farm property OF equal
assessed value.
L will call your attention right here,
that there are levied in Pennsylvania.
for all purposes, about $40, ,OOO. 600 YEAR
ly, of which real estate. mainly farm
property, pays S34. .O00, 600 licences. etc
more than g coo 600. and the balance.
not exceeding $4,000, 900, is all that is
demanded OF ali that vast corporate
and personal property, in amount actu-
ally exceeding in value and immensely
overlapping in income all the real es-
tate.
Roughly estimated. should real estate
pay its own share. aud no more. il wouId
pay about $1,000, 900 per aunum, or
just about one-half OF what Il does pay.
should corporate and income produc-
ing personal property be required to paw
Us just proportion at the ratio. it would
pay s22.OOO.000 or more than five times
what it does now.
Is there any sound reason why il
should Dot We claim it is al act OF
common justice-nothIng more.
HOW WILL THAT EFFECT THE STATE .
Allowing the situation to be as here
stated, what can We do about it ?
Equalization Of tdIdtiOn, which is not
only just aud proper, but which we re-
gard aS vital necessity, an absolute
Si5le qHl a0R, is great .orm move
ment. II must advance in spite of the
organized opposition of many of the
most powerful interests and influences.
THEY WILL FIGHT.
For three or more sessions of the
Legislature has the farmers uTganiZa-
tion been leading in this effort, in fact.
il initiated IL.
Our bin, defeated at one session by a
trick, was so powerfully pushed at :he
last ono, that II Was only beaten by one
vote, after the corporate and moneyed
Interests, thoroughly alarmed. had been
Obliged 10 strain their every nerve To
down Il. Even then they were forced
10 pass a resolution acknowledging the
Injustice OF the present System. vir-
tually concsdiug al that we have claim
ed, and osseRSlbly providing a method
OF relief and reform through a eommis-
sion appointed 10 revise the reyenus
laws.
We are sssailing monopoly in its cit
adel, all classes OF laborers are EQUALLY
interested with those who till the soil
that we shall win this fight their battle
SIS we'll as ours.
Inc men who receive the turner's
votes lshouldI be men on whom they
can reiy.''