The Indianapolis journal., 1890-04-24

ions for barley. over two millions for bay and
hops, three and one-half millions for rice eleven
millions for tobacco. three millions for oil, TWO
and one-half millions worth OF vegetables, the
same of eggs, over million dollars worth OF
gregating nearly 81 10, 900 .OOO which, in spite
of the productiveness of own soil. are
brought into this country and sold IN competi,,
ton with our farmers. The region OF the onlteo
States where this competition Is doubtless most
severely felt. is in New England. the seat OF
manufacturing enterprises which owe their ex.
istence to the fostering care of protective tariff
laws, and what is the resuitl That, year after
year, farms in New England States are abon-
doned and allowed TO run to waste. while In
some OF them so startling has this evil become
that legislators are cudgeling their brains to de-
wise ssome method of repopulating their abon-
doned agricultural lands.
One glance at the comparative rates of duty
levied upon agricultural as compared with otner
products one glance at the free list, the greater
portion OF which consists of agricultural prod
ucts, either grown or which could be grown
upon our own soil, and a comparison of these
figures with the average rate OF duty levied up
on manufactured articles, ought to be sufficient
to silence forever any opposition to the rmer
In my annual report, namely: that 10y a wise
application of our admirable protective system
oil the benefits OF our home market be secured
to him for everything he may be able to produce.
Accompanying this principle of protection TO
the American farmer is that of reciprocity,
that of protection is relaxed. II there are prod
ucts grown to better advantage in other coun-
n t OF euty on wn,ca woua m @ sTen o n
lation, such remission should only be accorded
as the result Of reciprocal concession In the way
on products more readily grown here Many or
those countries which would be specially bene-
noea ny remission OF the DUTY on sugar Ds St
for our breadstuffs and dairy and meat products,
were 1t not for the high duties imposed thereon by
them. So with other products, and whenever
duty on such products is lowered or removed and
the protection to our farmers thus diminished, IL
should be as the price OF concessions made 10 US
m 1Q fQ QriR nf thar pou ntrrQ in
own farm products In this way. and In thls
way only, can our farmers be adequately pro-
tected, new markets being thus thrown open TO
them for those products which they can most
easily and cheapy produce.
To farmers producing. as do ours, vast sur
plus OF agricultural products the question OF
foreign markets Is and should De deeply interest,"
ing. Not only do they offer an outlet for this
surplus, but, IL untrameed by irksOme restric-
tons and uncontrolled by combinations such
have referred to elsewhere, they serve as iiseful
checks upon those who might otherwise succeeu
In controlling our home markets. Unfortunately,
irksome restrictions do exist, and especially Is
this the case with reference to our live stock In
dustry. Evidence is not wanting that a demand
exists in Great Britain for our live stock, and
but for the oppressive restrictions imposed ey
the British government. and said to be necessary
owing to the alleged existence OF contagious as
eases among American cattle, there IS little
doubt but large proportion or our product OF
thus greatly relieving our home markets. ESQ
with our pork products, oppressed by the en-
bargOes placed upon them by certain European
during the past six years in exports OF bacon
and hams; for whereas these exports in 1879,
pounds, they had fallen in 1888 to less than
'' sSesedsa 4so'ooo.ooo. 200 TS The ed eject Of
this has naturally been to greatly
restrict competition among purchasers, and to
seriously depress the price of our hogs. Aided
as the farmers and cattle-growers must he by
supplying them with authentic statistics as TO
supply and demand of their products, much re-
mains for them to do directly through their own
an intelligent control of the supply. This is a
matter worthy OF the earliest attention of our
numerous farmers organizations. On the other
hand the national government owes II To the
farming and cattle growing community that no
effort shall be spared to secure removal or
those restrictions upon livestock and meat
trade which we know to be unnecessary. and
therefore feel To be unjust First of ali We must
maintain an absolute and efficient control or
cattle diseases and pursue with the utmost en-
ergy the course which has resulted to-day In the
almost complete extirpation from American soil
OF the. most dreaded disease OF all, Contagious
pleuro-pneumonia The energetic application of
efficient measures must etfectually stamp out
this disease from it's last remaining stronghold,
and once banished from American soil Ii must
be kept out by the most rigid regulations. AS TO
our meat products can see but one way to ac-
complish the desired results, and that Is by the
enactment of a thoroughly efficient meat in
spectiOn law.
Another duty dev0lves upon us in connection
with our foreign markets, and that Is n careful
study of their wants. 1t is a stigma upon Ameri-
can agriculture that our butter exports. for in
and poor in quality. and that the south Ameri--
can supply should be largely derived from
European countries.
Having taken all precautions necessary to-
guarantee the immunity OF our live stock from
disease and the healthfulness of our meat prod
ncts we must then protect them from unjust
allegations on the part OF foreign competitors,
and, az not infrequently happens, OF foreign
governments or their representatives. To do
this ii becomes necessary that we should main
tain, attached TO some Of the American legations
abroad. properly qualified officer representing
the agricultural interest, whose special duty it
shall be TO watch over the interests of American
agricultural products in foreign markets. With
the proper cooperation on the part of our con-
suls and Others such all officer could be of in
calculable service iii the manner indicated as
well as in supplying valuable information as to
the demand existing in foreign countries for such
products as our farmers are able to supply, TO
the best manner of preparing the same TO meet
the wants Of foreign consumers, etc. 9I
1t seems to me that our system OF taxation
demands Improvement IN certain directions.
The cost of supporting the government needs to
be most equitably adjusted among the different
classes of people. At present in many
States the burden of local taxation presses
heavily upon farm property, its very nature
rendering 1t easily assessable. Every corpora
ton created by the State, and to whom special
privileges are granted either by State, county, or
Incorporated village or city. should be taxed in
proportion to Its earnings, and in all ways the
principle of taxation should be to place the bur
den of maintaining the government, whether
and comforts which the wealthy enjoy, and to
reduce 1t to minimum in its application to the
hardly earned property of the poor man.
No doubt many more causes could he assigned
for the present agricultural depression still less
IL there any doubt but that other and more eff
cient remedies than those suggested might be
found, I may say will be found, To relieve it.
have merely tried to Indicate what seemed to
me the more important causes and to point out
such remedies as a long and sOlicitOus consider
alton of the situation, and, L may add, long
familiarity and sympathy with the hard rd-working,
frugal class which s the Immediate and chief
sufferer, have suggested to my mind as both nee
essary and feasible.
caDdidly confess thatmy personal sympathies
are with the farmers. end they must bear with
me If offer them an earnest word OF caution.
No possible relief can come To them or to the
country, no permanent remedy for present ills is
to be found in measures which are rather the
outcome of resentment than the product of rea-
son. would say to the farmers, stand firm as the
everlasting hills in demanding what is right and
resisting any possible einfringementon your lights
as citizens by any other class or combination
of peoples but beware, lest IN your just eagerness
To secure your own rights, you seek to infringe
| upon the rights of others. No measure that con-
fiicts with the rights of any class of citizens.
erang and return to injure the hand that shaped
| it, On the other hand let it be borne i'm mind by
all other classes of our citizens that the present
conditions demand consideration n0w and that
consideration must be full and fair For the time
being 1t Is paramount to all other questions, and
| III necessary, every other interest must be pre-
| pared to stand aside in favor of measures look
Ing to the relief of agricultural depression.
j. NJ. RUsK.
Worms I'm Growing Wheat.