The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-24
THURSDAY. APRIL "A. 1890.



The address recently issued by the Score
tary Of Agriculture. IIon.Jeremiah VI. Rusk'
is. ms FAR rs IL goes. an accurate statement
Of the causes Of the depression now prevail
ing in every branch Of the agricultural in-
,eresis. II will not be uninteresting 10
summarize the points which he makes ~
this address. In the first place, he declares
thai the decline in agriculture Is due' IN
very large measure, 10 careless culture
which has resulted in the marked depreci-
alton in the productive power Of the soil.
Hereafter, the Secretary asserts, ana there
is reason 10 believe justly, the farmer TO
obtain even moderate degree Of success
will have 10 be prepared for his special pur-
suit by as strict and searching a business
training as II be- intended to be- a merchant.
The Secretary states, in the second place,
that the agricultural depression is due in
mart n unlawful combinations TO lower tie
prices Of products; to the unscrupulous
Gambling Of middle men. and 20 the inequal-
;,iea in the rates Of transportation. But
the leading cause. he thinks. is u Doe found
in the enormous increase in our imports of
nroducts which are distinctly agricultural.
In forty years the amount Of these imports
had run up from SiO,OOo,OoO to 1856, 10000,
nm increase. as the Secretary points out, 'oi
nearly 300 per cent, while the increase m
populstion during the corresponding period
was considerably less than 800 per cent"
Accompanying this extraordinary move
ment. the Secretary remarks "Ihere has
been during the past decade, in which the
greatest increase Of such imports has taken
nloco. a steady decrease in the prices Of
homegrown products. TO any reasonable
man the conclusion must be Obvious, name
IL. that i'm the line Of products, with the eN-
ception Of cotton. upon which our farmers
chiefly depend, there has grown up we'll
Mich ruinous competition in which the labor
cr the peasant Of Europe, Of the miserable
fellah Of Egypt, and Of the unfortunate hali-
starved Indian ryot. working for pauper
waces."noglecting ail the amenities OF life
i'm order that women and children as well
a. men NAV work i'm the fields, is pitted
AGAINST that Of the American farmer, rely
ing upon his own and his sons labor or
where he employs hired help, paying them
a fair rate Of wages according 10 our Amer
lean standard, besides providing them with
the same food and shelter as be gives TO his
own family"
In other words. The prices Of our agricul-
fural products in our home markets are
regulated by the prices OF which our sur
plus ia sold when exported abroad these
prices being excessively low for the reasons
enumerated by the Secretary.
Secretary Rusk's remedy for the existing
depress:on is 10 assure 20 the farmer 10y
proper legislation "adequate protection in
the diyersifcation Of his crops and the pro-
duction Of a larger proportion of the articles
which we now import" Like all who sup
port the prevailing tariff system, the Sec
rotary ignores the reverse side OF the
plcnre. The reasons which he gives for
the unfortunate condition Of the agricul-
fural classes are unquestionaby correct,
but then there are additional reasons which
are equally as important and influential
reasons. however. which high protection
lists quietly pass over WITHOUT admitting
their application.
Which is most injurious TO the farmer,
the low rate at which he is compelled T,
sell the products Of his land or the high rate
at which he is forced 20 buy every thing
which ne is required topurchasef The latter
i the direct consequence of the existing
tariff laws. and inaicts as serious damage
upon the pockets Of the agricultural CLASSES
as the ninous competition Of foreign
markets in the matter oflam products.
The unfortunate character ofthe situation
in which the farmer finds himself consists
preciselv i'm the fact which has been men
TONED. which .really places him between
Two influences which are equally desiruct
i've Of his well being. Not until there ha'
been some radical alteration in the presen
tariff laws Of this country, Is 10 at all prona
blethat there will be anything more than
mere temporary improvement in the condi
ton of the agricultural classes. The soone
this is recognized by these classes, the bet
Ter twill be, not only for them, but for The
country at large.