The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-29

1860 to 1880, had dropped from 101 pei
cent. to only 8 per cent, and yet in this
desperately reduced and weakened con-
dItlon they paid 80 per ceut. Of the taxes
of the country.
Mr.. Chairman, Is the agricultural inter
est OF the country depressed? And is it
due to a want of energy, of industry and
OF economy on the part of the farmers
All over the country he las been told for
years by a certain school of political
economists that Incidence, inattentiOn to
busl esS and extravaganza were the prime
causes Of his increa~ ing poverty. But
when be comes to the capitol of the nation
venerable Senators and prominent gov
officials inform him that his
financial ruin has been wrought through
his industry and the merciful Providence
II natures God; that he IS absolutely
bowed to the earth under q crushing load
OF overproduction. Are either of his ad-
visers correct? In answer to the first, I
assert without hesitation, that no class Of
clClz7ns IN our country work so nard, live
so hard and receive so little Inward for
his labor as the average American farmer.
In answer to the second / ask, overpro-
ductlon IN what? Is il in breadstuffs ?
We produced 81 bushels Of wheat per
capita I 1888, which was worth $1.15
cents per bushel. We produced in 1880
only u bushels per capita, and it was
worth only 20 cents per bushel. Our ex-
ports OF food products, under proper and
just conditions, should be the true meas
ure OF our production. But is it so? The
normal ration of -four, as established by
u government, and W ich has been
kindly furnished me by the Secretary of
War, IS II pounds per day, OF 40 pounds
per year. Assuming that our p~opula-
ton numbers IS, @ 900, to give
each Il a normal ration wo Id re-
quire 26,65O, OOO, 600 pounds, whereas
we produced last year (deduc'ing &c.
100000 bushels for seed) only 1882
400, 600 pounds, a deficit of 7,267, 600, DOL
pounds. But it our population had con-
sumed PIP ounces pr day per capita
more than they did consume, nothing
would have remained for export. VIII
any sane man doubt, with our millions OF
people IN our crowded cities, in Our towns,
in our mines, and all over the land, in
their novels Of poverty, who are existing
in a state of semi-starvatiOn, that We
could have consumed this additional pit
lance? And if the ruinous decline in
prices be due to ov1rproduction, why
should it not be confined to those com
mOdlties for which a surplus is claimed?
Why should all departments of labor
share this universal depression in prices?
Mr.. Chairman, it is not o~verproduc-
ton, but nnder-cOnsumption. There can
be no overproduction in a land where the
cry for bread is heard.
But we are told that we should be con-
tent and happy that "a dollac will buy
to-day han ever before" Mr..
Chairman, the American farmer stands a
faithful and sorrowing witness of the
of that declaration. No man living
knows better than he the purchasing
power of the dollar. He knows that its
power has been SO augmented that itnow
dou lie the amount of his labor
and the surrender of his profits to meet
its unjust and cruel exactions. Indeed, so
and ~domineering has it's power
become, that it has forced upon the pub
lie mind the grave question, whether the
or the dollar is to be the sovereign
in this country. But with all its power
will it pay for the farmer more interest?
Will it pay more on his mortgage? Will
It pay more debt? Will it pay more
taxes? Will it pay more physicians and
lawyers fees? From all sections of this
magnificent country comes the universal
wall of hard times and distress. The
sOws in faith, he tolls in hope, but
reapS in disappointment and despair. He
sees a Alp per cent. U. S. bond due in
1907, selling at a premium of % per cent,
bond that would be Yalu' less, but for
the sturdy bio US of his strong arm, and
yet he knows that there are few farms in
this country that could be mortgaged
for one-third their value at Z per cent.
for the same length of time, which mort
gage would sell for its face value. He
sees centralized capital allied to i~rrespon-
sible corporate power, overriding Ind1-
vidual rights, controlling conventions,
cUrrupting the ballot-box, substituting the
press, invading our temples Of justice, in
timidating official authority, fostering
official corruption, robbing the many to
enrich the few, destroying legitimate
competition, debating legislation, defying
the Constitution and annulling the law of
and demand. In vain do the peo-
pie plead for relief. In vain have they
suffered and endured-patiently, sub
missively, uncomplainingly. Over n
thousand years ago the old Sheik Ilderim
of Medina said to certain Romans: DO
you dream that because the prophet of
Allah dwells now beyond the bridge of
Al Sirat, that, therefore, he is deaf and
dumb and blind2 I tell you, by the
splendor of God, that a tempest is brood
ing on his brow; there is lightning gath
ering in his soul for you" Do men dream
that because the sovereign, oppressed
people have thus suffered, thus endured,
that, therefore, they have become deaf
and dumb and blind? But we are told
that these forms of oppression are not
prohibited by law. Their are no people
on earth who have create reverence for
law than the farmers of these United
States, but they know that no tyranny IS
so degrading as legalized tyranny; that
no injustice is so oppressive as that which
stands entrenched behind the forms Of
law, and worthy descendants as they are