The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-12
THE FARMERS ASSEMBLY,

/ IS assessed, however muCh ~ may io"J
exceed the property in his possession.
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THE FARMERS ASSEMBLY.
Colonel Robert Beverly, in his adj
dress before the Farmers Assembly OF
Virginia, which convened in this city
Tuesday night, congratulated its men,
beers upon the growth Of that organisa-
ton, and upon the resolute disposition
TO accomplish the objects it has in view,
now so notable in its ranks.
The greatest weakness of the farming
classes of Virginia, as we'll as OF the
Union at large, has hitherto been either
a Discrimination or an inability from
their local isolation to cooperate. Now
that they are rapidly uniting into
compact body. moved by the same in
auences and with the same general pur-
pose. they are certain to have a weight
and exercise power which they have
never possessed before. Very many OF
the changes which they wish to see
brought about can undoubtedly be pro-
duced by iudicious legislation in their
favor, legislation which they have
right to claim, and which they should
require to be passed.
Unfortunately all of the laws which
they are seeking to secure from the
present Legislature might be granted
them TO the full extent of what Is asked,
and vet the condition Of the farming
classes would remain very much de-
messed. Mr.. Ruffin touched the prin.
cipal origin of the evils from which
these classes are now suffering, when
he presented his resolution calling
upon Congress to make an equitable.ad'
iustment Of the present unjust, I'M
and unbearable tariff laws" It's
cur iniquitous system Of high protection
which fosters those trusts and monopo-
lies that make all the materials purchased
by the farmer so costly in comparison
with the extreme cheapness OF the pro-
duce which he sells. 1t is against this
system that the main efforts of the or
g3nized and cooperating agricultural
classes should be persistently and I'M
tiringly directed. That thee classes at
the North are rapidly coming to the
fixed determination to overthrow this
system is shown by the result of the re-
cent elections, which made such an i'm
preston upon the Republican party
that Harrison proposed, in his recent
message, to extend the protective prin-
ciple to the products of the farm as
well as of the factory. in order to allay
the increasing discomfort Of the agri-
culturalists.
We do not believe that there is any
antagonism between the growth Of our
cities and the interest of the farming
classes, as Colonel Beverley would seem
TO intimate in his unfavorable COM
parison as to their relative prosperity.
Ii is a notable fact throughout the civil
lized world that the present drift, of
population is towards the towns, for
reasons which we have not the space to
discuss. In Virginia this drift 80 far
has been chiefly confined to the gentry,
the class of yeomanry which consti-
/ eApfal ond rtal
backbone of country, having
shown as yet little disposition
to emigrate. Our cities have increased
in wealth and population principally
because the systems of railways rami-
tying in every direction and 10 the
most distant points, have enlarged the
area upon which these cities can rely
for support. This has made them i'm
portant manufacturing centres, de-
pendent not upon this or that narrow
strip of country, but drawing their
sustenance from a countless number of
communities.
1t is impossible to believe that the
landed interest can long decline in
value If the towns are making rapid
strides in prosperity. The townsof the
South are like the mountain tops,
which catch the rays of the rising sun
before they fall into the valleys below.
The genial beams of prosperity that
now irradiate our cities, must in time
extend also TO every interest of the
country.