Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-06-05
why 4HEr ~ NOR pnosrsM
Summary OF the Reasons Given by
the EnEnaers.

Summary OF the Reasons Given by
the Farmers.
There were sos responses to the q1es-
tions propoundsd to the farmers OF Q
country by the Reform Club. OF these,
436 rep.isd in the negative TO the ques-
ton; 'Are the farmers in your commu-
nifty rs prosperous as they have ever
been ?"
The nsxt question asked was "It
pro porous, 10 what do they chiefly owe
their prosperity Il not, what has been
thechiet reason OF the change 2"
Those who think the farmer has pros
pered usually give very sensible reas3ns
for thinking 3d. Industry, economy, self
reliance, education, better methods. the
development OF the country, progress,
cessation OF political bitterness, better
local government and lighter local taxes
especially in the Bouth-rich soil, i'm
proved transportation facilities, cheap
lands, dividing up the land high grade
farming, watering places, summer board
era, organizatiou--the grange, alliance
and whasl--ths emancipation OF the
slaves, natural csuses--theBe ore most of
the causes which are given for the pros
perity Of the farmer. Another mans
neighhors arc as prosperous e5 they have
ever been because his section has ''cnly
been settled for three years !" and, though
they are all in debt, are without money,
and have been forced to pledge their land
entries. still, they have not had time to
lose much ground.
II is worth noting that even of the CD
who do not say the farmer is less proe-
/ No.. he IA ,ftsIr
nevertheless, that the tariff has bud
{ foot upon the farmer. Thirty.two of
them diatinctly affirm that the tariff hurts
the farmer; that 1t is q burden; that 1t
compels him to ''sell cheap and buy
DEAR" that 1t has kept him from being
as prosperous as be would have otherwise
have been; in word, that he has bot
tered his condition, not because Of, but
10 spite OF Protection" There are Just
l6 votes in favor of the tariff.
The reasons given for the non.pros-
perity Of the farmer are various. 1t ia
hardly worth while to attempt to classify
them ali. Naturally many local cnuaes
are referred to--particularly in the east
ern section of the country, where the
people think that they have been injured
by competition with the west, the effect
OF which is intensified by railroad dis
elimination in favor OF tho western pro-
duoers. Yet the western people complain
quite as bitterly as do the eastern people.
The sugar question outs an important
figure in the discussion. Perhaps the
reason which appears most frequently
may be stated thus: "High prices for
what we buy and low prices for what we
SELL" Doubtless there ia truth in this
statement, but it does not explain the
situation. Why does the farmer pay
high prices for what he buys and get low
prices for what no sells The cause, OF
which this is an effect, is also the cause
of the agricultural distress. The advo-
Gates Of the oyerproduction theory will
not get much comfort. OVerproduotion
ia, indeed, spoken OF, but usually it ia
overproduction with reference to our
limited market, or $50 called overpro-
| duotion," or what the PROFESSIONALS are
pleased to call overproducAop." The
general opinion is that our legislation
| generally has been hostile to the farmers,
and in the interests OF the money
! power" The farmer is not represented.
| He has no frlend5. One sufferer thinks
that the protectiOnist manufacturers i'm.
| poverished themselves by thsiI oonttibu.
tions to the campaign fund in the last
Presidential election; that they are nov
trying to get even, and thiuk TINT the
farmer is q good man 20 strike" The
"Greennack" theory btill survives, as ap
pears from such answers as ''contraotion'
and resumption" The soil is said *
be wearing out In come parts Of III,
country. The nigh price OF much of the
land when il wos bought, and its subse
| quent rapid depreciation, have ruiued
many men. But why should tho land
depreciate Much is said OF combinations
against the farmer not trusts and "Oom-
! bines," though these are made much Of
but combinations among the merchants
to fix the price at which the farmer snail
aell as well as the price Ut which hs aAa!l
buy.
Many of the writer's hold the tariff re,
HponHible for their present condition ard
they describe ito workings with great
clearness. The farmer is not aud eanaot
be protected, but is compelled to protect
every one else-hvnce farm mortgages
By its restrictions upon foreign trade il
tends TO close the foreign marke. to farm
products. 1t iEterferas with free ex
change, 30 that II is difficult TO bring
back return CarsOes In exchange fol
which We send abroad. 1t builds uI
trusts and is in word, altogether in the
interest OF capital.
There are but 10 of those who soy that
tho farmer is not prosperous who have a
good word for the tariff, US agoiust S05,
who expressly state as their opinion that
the tariff is fiinous in iLs effect. There
are few scattering votes.