The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-06-03

ONOAJ SAO wiz AAohOG &AY P4OtOAOA~
to acquaintance with the business
condition of the country acknowledge
that the farmer is financially in a de-
plorable state. Thrift, economy,
abundant craft, fat cattle to sell,
bring no relief. Full cribs of valu-
able grain, smokehouses of meat to
spare are an indication of poverty;
and this, too, when those who are
needing them very hungry for food
for their families are to be found all
over the land unable to buy them.
The farmer who bought a farm paid
from the savings of his wages one
half or three fourths of the cost, finds
the remaining one-hslf or frequently
one-fourth to be paid, requires as
much of his products, as much of his
labor as many days Of toll, as many
years of discomfort and denial to his
family as did the whole when he
made the purchase, and they are say
ing all over this land, surely these
things ought not so to be-"
Absolute specie payments is a myth
with it a note would be just the
same as a deed, n would represent
the ownership of a certain tract of
land, the other of a certain coin de-,
posted in a certain bank or treasury
The object of paper money is not its
exchange for coin but for property,
and the fact that it is secured and
can be eventually satisfied in property
is what gives to It power OF circula
ton. The money this plan calls for
is of this character.
The cotton and tobacco arrange
ment is agreeable to the farmer, the
manufacturer, the transporter and
the merchant or other creditor of the
farmer.
So l think would it be with grain.
Patent or roller -four is driving out
the country -four" where it is at
tainable. The millers of the South
and many in the West annos erect
these mills and buy a seasons supply
of grain. Wherever there was a ware
| house a roller mill could be erecte !
and operated, the bran and middlings
would be left for feed in the country.
| A farmer who was fortunate enough
not to have to deposit his wheat could
have it manufactured into a high
grade of -four and realize 20 per cent.
more for it.
The farmers have produced enough
to pay their debts, educate their chill
dren and live in comfort, but the stu.
alton is such that debts they regarded
as trivial, in spite of all their industry,
and with the blessing Of God, pro
duction of immense crops make life
a burden, and they wear themselves
out in vain endeavor to l'quidate
them. This is due to the financial
system of the country. We demand
a change. The day of sentiment and
theory has past. The practical age is
upon us. We desire not to harm
others simply for harms sake. We
have often heard in the past, "that
when agriculture fourished, all classes
prospered." We wish to try it some
more. To argue that charges might
injure classes or persons who are now
prosperous is as uDjustas for a farmer
who makes a good crop while bis
neighbors fail and he is unable to sci
his products for high prices, to insisr
that Congress should by law prevent
his neighbor from making crops tha'
would lower his prices.
Nearly all reasonable men now ad
nit the ~inadequacy of the amount O.
money in circulation and favor an in
crease. But on the floor OF Congress
and elsewhere the question as asked:
"even if the money is issued, how is
the man who needs it to get possession
of it under existing laws Z" Ours is
the only practical answer offered. II
the money is to come through appro
priation for public buildings, i'm
provement of rivers, creeks and spring
branches and for pensions, it will no
reach one mau in a hundred, wher
condition Cal ed for the increase. /
through the national banks at 8 pei
cent. or more, the dawn of every
farmer who is a mortgage for hall
his worth is sealed.
To ship a loads of vituals into
community of starving people for soL
would not aid the condition Of the
whole but only those who could buy.
and many of these would be ruined
by the mortgage given to raise the
money to buy. How shall the people
get the money? Don't say work fo1
it, thai has been done without avail
France, when called upon, solved
the question-so did Prussia, undel
Frederick the Great. The colonies
and the States in early times we're
equal to the occasion. Legislators o.
the present day, what is your n ~er
1t is tie result, not the ann of Its
accomplishment we desire. If any
one will offer anything better we "n
~~N rST ~