The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-02-09

that the Sheriff Of Berks will sell
more fa-ias in February than have
been sold at any one time since the
panic of 1873. 1t very pertinently
adds that "the unusual number of
farms sold has attracted considera-
BILE attention and excited much COM
ment."
Well, what must be the intelligent
comment on the failure of SO many
farmers in Berks county? 1t is not
accident; it is not the result of panic,
such as we had in 1873; it is not be-
cause of any financial revulsion. for
money. is plenty and cheap, it is not
the result Of depression in the prices
of farm products, for they have com
manded improved markets during
the last year, and it will hot be pre-
tended that there has been overtrad-
ing among the frugal farmers of
Berks.
Now that the national campaign
is over and partisan prejudice and
passion do not obscure the truth
from those who have most interest
in the truth, the farmers will readily
see why they are realizing less for
their investments and labor each
year and why their lands are stead
lily diminishing In value. 1t is not
because they earn less but it is be-
cause they are taxed more. All in
dustrial enterprises outside Of mon
opoly combines, are now compelled
to produce at the closest margins of
profit. The Times, that sold for
two cents three years ago, is now
sold for one cent, and better news
paper furnished at the reduced price;
but there is an illimitable field for
journalism, and cheapness and ex-
cellence multiply newspaper readers
indefinitely. Cheaper wheat, how
ever, does not double or treble the
consumption of bread, and the far
mer has severe limitations upon his
business.
The farming industry, the greatest
of all our industries, is now perish
ing slowly but surely from the con-
tinuation of war taxes maintained
nearly a quarter Of century after
peace, and when the public Treasury
has been overlooking with surplus
millions for years. 1t is taxation,
and taxation only, that is deprecia-
ting the value of our farms and less
ening the reward Of agricultural la
Dor from year to year. The farmer
is taxed, needlessly taxed, for almost
everything he and his family con-
sumo. If he scans his dress, from
hat to boots and from Undertaking
to overcoat, he is taxed for every
thing he wears, and his wife and
daughters are like living monuments
of needless taxation. His house is
taxed from cellar to garnet; his barn
is taxed from foundation stone to
roof single; his implements are tax
ed from hoe to thresher; his furnish
ing is taxed from dust pan to bed
from carpet to curtain; from the
light of window to the darkness
of closet; from Bible to newspaper
from salt to table, and the only pro
lection offered is the veriest mockery
In short, the farmer has become
the man who works and pays, while
combines under excessive tax laws
strip him of his values and doom
him to servitude and poverty. They
pro less TO protect his wool to which
he gives no labor and grows only as
an incident and they tax him ten OF
twenty fold more for his woollens
which he and all his family mus
wear. They profess to protect hin
on his wheat, when he must compete
with foreign markets with his sur
plus, and the pretended protection
is chiefly tax on his imported seed
and thus from work to leisure; from
secular duties to devotional, he is
taxed and Knocked, and Knocked an6
taxed, until farms have fallen ir
value and the Sheriff is gradually
closing them out when the genera
business of the country is prosper
Gus.
What the farmers of both the East
and the West most need is to stor
politics and study equality of taxes
Whenever they get down to that one
study that most interests them, there
will be sudden overthrow OF wal
taxes in time of peace, and a like
sudden overthrow of monopoly mas
tiers who now sap the life. blood OF
the husbandmen.
The Way it Appears from "a Dis
tance.
Pittsburg Post.
Senator Kenna has been nomina-
ted for United States Senator by the
Democrats of the West Virginia
legislature by more than a two-thirds
vote in caucus, the rules requiring
two-thirds to nominate. Two Demo
cratic members object to Nh. Kenna,
and, with varying degrees Of empha-
sis say that they will not vote for
him. What effect the two-third nom
nation will have on them remains
to be seen. In the Congressional
service, both in the house and Senate,
Mr.. Kenna has acquired high rep
ntation as an intrepid, courageous
and honest legislator, and has Illus
trated these qualities by signal abili-
I