Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-19
Stauntotl Spectator.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1890.
The Future of our Agriculture.

The Future of our Agriculture.
A respected authority on such questions
advances the view that the United States |
will gradually become less an agricultural, |
and in time become chiefly manufacturing |
country. That 1t will attain the last named
position is the prayer of all our people, but
that such an end is to be reached at the
sacrifice of our soil-producipg interests is
one of the strange anomalies of this day
1t controverts the theory as well as the
practical teachings of true American states
manship. and is in direct opposition to the
doctrines enunciated by the "Fathers OF
the Republic" and by Mr.. Clay and his
followers, the most conspicuous and accu-
rate teachers of political economy, az they
succeeded to the propagation of the true
policy of our progress after the government
was firmly established. agriculture,
manufactures, and commerce" we're the
din hand" ASSOCIATIONS of our growth
and their united prosperity the absorbing
theory and reality upon which the future
of the country was to rest.
The doctrine of protection to our manu-
featuring industries as revenue should be
derived to support the general govern
ment, has been pushed far beyond its
legitimate bounds, in order that that ele-
ment of Cur greatness should at no time
fail in Teaching its maximum growth,
- the two others of essential and equal
klue, to speak in moderated terms, have
had to appear on the theatre of our progress
as best they could in bearing their share OF
responsibility in spreading civilization over
our country and conducting its relations
with the nations of the world. In the
century of our existence, what do we see
as the commerce of the country has filled
its position. More than three-fourths of it
has been sustained by unprotected agri-
culture. If there are degrees in the practi-
cal patriotism of our people, and 1t snali
become us as a nation imbued with
spirit for self examination and our own
good to analyzs the elements forming the
basis upon which our prosperity exists,
where would the contrast end as the agrl-
cultural and the manufacturing should
wind up the account and strike the balance.
We ask for 10 such account to be taken;
on the contrary, we may concede protection
to be correct theory almost to monopoly,
but it wanes-indeed it is not to be
counted in its results with agriculture in
setting forward the resources and growth
of our country, and in establishing it as a
power among nations, or in opening ana
directing either a home or foreign COM
MERGE.
lit is a truth which everybody is gratiaed
in propogating, that we have unbounded
resources for the manufacturing interests
and rejoice in their development. but we
cannot discard agriculture without bring
ing about the most fatal of calamities that
could occur-and fatal too as it would af-
feet our manufacturing interests and in
sweeping from the seas the commerce we
have.
Strike lines across the States from
Ocean to Ocean, having Chicago TO the
North and Memphis to the South as
points in their prolongations. Then strike
line west of those cities, including all
the seven great grain and grass growing
States of the western winter-wheat belt,
and it will be observed that only third of
the territory, throwing the advance in
California, of our enormous winter-wheat
belt between the oceans has been occupied
in it's production. Then think of the corn
and grass and livestock annually produced
in this scope of country. This territory is
q fair illustration of all our agricultural de-
velopment with spring-wheat. the chief
north of the Chicago line, and cotton the
chief south, and section north of
Memphis, and compare the advance OF
the manufacturing interests which have al
ways been protected, and the difference is
so enormously in favor of agriculture as a
leading constituent of the wealth and
power of the country as to throw the view
of the writer Oh our economies, to whom
reference has been made, entirely out of
tie question.
The authority quoted leaves out of view
the fact which possessed the minds OF
nearly all who have undertaken to lay
down theories and furnish examples for our
progress,-tbat the advancement OF manu-
featuring is also great stimulant to agri-
culture, and forgets that history shows the
enormously exceeding pro rata growth OF
agriculture as compared with manufac-
lures Instead of aiding agriculture, not
only by the increase of manufactures, but
by opening new outlets for our surplus of
soil-products by enlarging foreign COM
nerce, he turns it over to decay by dry
rot process.
The best bread stuffs and the choicest
provisions are produced on the American
continent, and the United States is in the
lead with not one-fourth of its agricultural
domain more than opened. A legitimate.
indeed a much swlfter growth in manu-
featuring cannot keep up with agricultural
expansion, and this truth is having its in
fuence along with other considerations of
greater weight, in causing the legislative as
well as administrative function of govern
ment TO look around and reflect. Govern
ment must not only provide the ways and
means for seeing that agriculture shall not
be hindered in its expansion, but that its
surplus is carried to other countries in
which new demands will exist for it. The
Asiatics, in wheat-producing India. are
learning to be useful in its culture, but
they would revolt, if they could, at the
rations of rice meted cut to them when
they are entitled to good bread and meat
That spirit is spreading over more of
Iudia than The section where wheat is |
grown, and the Chinese begin to learn that
there is better diet than the stuff on
which it's millions are fed. The American
is q Wnnderfnl missionary Yhar be enters