The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-15
A CONGRESSMAN'S VIEWS.


Farmers, Especially in New York.
Congressman William NJ. Springer, of
Illinois, who was engaged few weeks
ago III joint debate at the county fairs in
New York state. says that he found that
the farms throughout that state had de-
preciated in value on all average fully
one-half Of what they were worth ten
years ago. He also found That the farms
were heavily mortgaged, and t?!;:t where
farms were sold under mortgage they
did not bring one-third, and in some in
stances not one-fourth, Of their value a
few years ago. In many other instances
the farm was actually not worth the
mortgage; the mortgage had 70 tai;c the
farm for the money he had a.icHnred
OH it,
"This condition of the falTn%r," s&id
Mr.. Springer, has naturally ;,ryua:d
him to the scliorls contemplation of lis
desperate situation. He is looking: for
relief. and he welcomes any discussion
of the situation which May eTlShten
him az 10 the cause Of an effect which is
running; him. In my debates with Mr..
Horr | e3Gcav0rad 70 clucid&tc this
cause, Gnd think that succeeded. The
cause Of agricultural depression in the
United States is that the farmers pro-
Alce more than can lie used 1T home.
This surplus must be sold abroad. The
price at which the surplus is sold abroad
fixes the price of the home product. The
farmer sells ut the price fixed i'll New
York, less the cost OF carrying the prod
ut 10 New York and less the co;,lmis-
SiOHS.
The New York market is fixed by the
Liverpool market, which is the cheapest
free trade market III the world. There
tie products of the AmericSn firmer
come into competition with the prol'!cts
or all the world, including the products
Of the pauper labor of Europe. But
VIXEN the farmer buys he has to buy
here in thc dcar0J market of tn" world.
If the farmer should take his PRODUCTS
abroad and sell them. and should buy i'll
foreign markets the goods he nrgt;S. in
bringing his purchases home h" would
have 20 Pay on an average SO tariff
OIL every hundred dollars worth Of
goods he bought abroad. This reduces
the purchasing power OF the products of
his farm ona-half.
If the farmer takes the other course
open to him, that Of approaching the
american manufacturer, who is pro-
tcctcd. he finds this smanufactrrcr charg-
ing the foreign price with t." tariff
added TINS it will be seen that in
either c%$o The purchasing power Of
American farm products is reduced one
half By the tariff. This condition is
gradually wearing ont the farmer. After
twenty-five years of prolcctiva tariff.
sustained chiefly by the suffrage of
American farmers. the farmer l;Mds his
situation more desperate than ever 1t
is no comfort TO him to know tllata few
favored individuals have accumulated
fortunes Of from go, 600, 900 to $50, ,0Q0,-
600 under Il protective tariff.
None of this vast wealth his cone to
him, and he finds himself growing poor
er and poorer every year. The farmers
should he permitted to pm 'rbaHc in the
same market in which they are compel
Id to sell. Otherwise the farms Of
this country will soon pass into the
hands Of capitalists, and be consolidated
into Iarollial estates, private ra?'f;s OF
other vast tracts controlled by iMdivid-
uals Then the farmers Will DC compel
led 10 eli i.;r%ta 10 tl.enncultivat"l: lands
Of the far west or seek employment i'll
the factories Of the great cities. or TO
wander horlclcss il the streets. .'-Nasll-
ington Special il st. Louis Republic.