The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-03-25

pay it. Then if a farmer owed a debt
of $50 he could pay it with one bale
of cotton weighing 500 pounds. To
day if he owes 500 it takes two bales
of 500 pounds each to pay it. Then
he could have paid a debt OF SlOO
with 80 bushels of wheat, to-day 1t
takes $50 bushels to pay it. Then he
could have paid a debt of $500 with
100 bushels of corn, to-day 1t takes
200 bushels in North Carolina or 800
bushels IN Kansas or Illinois. Then
we had plenty of money and prosper
Gus times; to-day money is scarce and
bankruptcy stares us in the face.
The corn crop of 1888 was less than
that of 1889 by l25, 1872, 900 bushels,
and yet it brought $79, 542, $50 more
money. The wheat crop of 1888 was
less than that OF, 1889 by 74,693,O 900
bushels, and yet it brought $42, 1885,
223 more money. The oat crop of
1888 was less than that of 1889 by
40, 100000 bushels and yet it brought
S23, SAB, 232 more money.
That is to say, the farmers raised
Of three crops 249, 664000 bushels
more in 1889 than in 1888 and the en-
tire crop of 1889 sold for $l45, 949,-
us less than the entire crop OF 1888.
From official statistics we learn that
Illinois lost on her corn crop of 1889
over eighteen millions of dollars. 80.
Should we not seek to remedy this
condition of affairs The farmers
think so. We offer a bill in Congress
that is safe for the government, safe
for the people and is just to all. The
principle is not experimental. 1t will
give us relief. 1t will restore activity
and energy and prosperity to the
country. It will be thoroughly and
inteligently discussed. We believe it
will commend itself to the good judg-
ment and sanction of the people. At
all events it was endorsed by the large
body of representative men who met
in st. Louis, and they offered it to the
country as the best plan they could
devise. : They expect it to be opposed
by some. They expect it to be criti-
.cized. They desire that it should be,
but in all fairness they have the right
to claim that it shall be done at least
by those who have read the bill and
have given some thought to its provis-
ions. They ask that the most candid
and thorough investigation be had
the more the better.
But we shall insist in this matter
that the critics, when they reject this
plan shall gIVe US a better one. Until
they are able to do this, they should
refrain from criticism.
We note that some of our contem-
poraries are basing their criticisms on
mere conjecture they have not ven
read the bill. One of these days they
may feel ashamed of the position they
now take and in justice to themselves
they should at least procure a copy
of the bill and read it. We know
that the bill meets the approval of
some of the ablest minds of this
country, and we believe when it is
understood, that it will be overwhelm-
ingly endorsed by the American PEG.
pie. OF one thing we may be as
sured. The farmers throughout the
United States are in a desperate
financial condition and they want
they must haze relief. They offer this
plan in perfect good faith and woe
be to those who would crush this
measure without giving one that is
better. They demand that Congress
do something by which the country,
and especially the eAlth-producers,
shall be unloaded of their now intol,
cradle burthens, and they must be
heard.