The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-09-26
THE Pennsylvania FARMER.

The usual column and half Is devoted
by an enterprisIng contemporary to an
account of the lamentable condition of
Pennsylvania farmers. 1t des cribes
them as "crouching down between their
two burdens of Western competition
and unjust taxation" And it adds sig
nificantly that "this object Lesson of
facts cannot be reasoned away either by
ignorance or prejudice"
1t is rare that we find in our contem
porary a sentence so Teplete with solid
truth as this which we have last quoted
from its columns. The "object lesson, !"
as it is called, certainly cannot "be rea-
soned away by ignorance or prejudicee." "
And this explains why our contempor-
ary, or its correspondent, did not reason
it away, and probably never will. 1t re-
uuires something more than ordinary
Mugwump Ignorance and prejudic" to
reason away anything which, superb
cially observed, seems to be an argument
for Free-Trade.
II never enters the brain of Mug
wump editor that it is possible for other
men to understand their own interests
as we'll as he does. He, in his own opin-
ion, concentrates all wisdom within
himself. The Pennsylvania farmer after
careful reflection and hearing both sides
and Judging from his own long expert
ence, decides that his interest ia better
served by that national policy which
makes a market for his produce in his
own neighborhood. He comprehends
that in the face of Western competition
in corn, wheat and other products which
bear long transportation, he would have
no market at all, and his farm would
have no value were it not that he could
sell his butter and milk and vegetables
to the neighboring towns engaged in
manufactures. He also comprehends
that while he is getting larger price for
these products than he formerly did, he
can purchase clothing and all his farm
utensils cheaper than eyer before. He
is gaining at both ends under the influ-
ence of Protection. 1t is true that West
eru competition has compelled a change
in the methods of Eastern farming, and
that as a rule the brightest of the farm
boys swing off into other occupations
which offer more tempting attractions
But it is no less true that in Pennsylva
mia, as we'll as in New England the active
and enterprising farmer can get from
his fields an abundant reward, far largeI
than his father found sufficient for hi
meager wants.
Not long since we visited an old fash
ioned New England farm. 1t lay on {
steep hillside. The massive stone wall'
which divided the fields testified to the
obdurate nature of the soil and to the
steady industry of those who worked it
1t has been in the possession of the same
family without change of deed since th'
year l739-a century and a half, AnC
: every generation has seen its thrifty som
draw from it's bosom bounteous stor'
Of the comforts as we'll as the necessarie
of life. In every generation have th'
members of that family contributed
their shsre to Church and State, ant
when the demon OF war, springing from
the gaunt loins of Free Trade, threatened
ing universal ruin, the owner OF thi
farm left his plow in the furro| - to joiI
: hands with the young men from othe
pursuits in crushing it to the dust. Thi
farm is no favored exception-on tn
contrary, its aspect is discOuraging. Ye
, it never fails to yield abundance to it
industrious and intelligent owner. Ii
= has recognized that the Gay is past TO
raising wheat and corn in New England
, for the market, and that old-fashionet
hand processes must be supplanted b.
labor saving contrivances. His barn /
factory well supplied with machiner.
TO hoist and stow away the hay, and t
cut the corn-stalks and pack them il
compact silos for winter use. His choic'
cowsstandin convenient and well cleane,
stalls. His pigs are fed by mechani
cal arrangements to save labor. lie cut
and gathers his crops by machinery aut
as the final results of his labors, sell
milk, butter and meat TO the townspeo
-, pie who are at work spinning and weav
ing or in some other industrial pursui
not far away.
Farming, like other industries, is in
constant process of evolution, and tn
man who does not comprehend this an
adapt himself to the changing order o
things must inevitably go to the wal
Rapidity, ease and cheapness of trans
portatiou have wrought marvelou
changes during the past half century
. and it Is the misfortune Of our Mug
wump friends that they have failed an
9 from their peculiar mental habit alway
G will fail, to grasp the fact or be influences
] by it. Nevertheless the world move
/, and the farmers as class understand
8 good deal better than the average cit
D editor.-Americdn Economist.