Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-04-26
nEN AND THINGS At WASHINGTON.

important agricultural industry. The production of
beet sugar Germany has rendered that country in
dependent of tropical countries for its sugar supply and
supplies large quantities for expectation 1t is said
that the soil and climate of Kansas and Nebraska
better adapted to beet culture than Germany, and al
ready an immense plant Of three thousand tons has
landed in Nebraska for the establishment OF great
refinery there. Au immense and profitable field
awaits the American sugar grower, and it only by
diversity of industries that the American farmer
hope to attain the degree of prosperity which the
mon principles of justice concede for his faithful and
Intelligent cultivation of the SOIL He should not be
asked to grow cheap wheat in competition with the la
borer of India who works for cents day, and at the
same time send millions annually to Cuba and South
America for sugar which he produce at home.
England will continue to encourage cheap wheat grow
ing in India and the Argentine Republic to extend its
corn fields the American farmer should curtail his
area of these cereals and give to products
which those countries cannot produce.
No agreement has yet been reached upon the silver
question, but law approxmating free coinage is
pretty sure to be the outcome Mr.. Cleveland will be
remembered for his violent hostility to silver aud
of bis earliest uerances to the effect that the issue
of two millions per month would produce financial dis.
aser The absurdity of this prediction he appre.
ciated when we reflect that two and half times that
amount is now considered moderate on all sides. One
of the great needs of the country currency enough
transact its rapidly increasing volume of business and
easier or better way be found provide it than
to use The silver produced OF own mines. Those
who advocate Mr. CevelaDds nomination in 1892 will
find that his record the silver question would prove
fatal to his success and disastrous to his party The
issues of the next presidential campaign will be
fought wholly upon economic questions, and chief
/ m
Gent and honorable place as a money value equal to
gold The Republican party in Congress is taking an
advanced position this question and in so doing will
add to its already strong hold upon tho masses.
The great labor strikes in progress throughout thu
country indicate unity of action the part OF the
labor element hitherto not apparent. The sentiment
everywhere to be crystazing into belief that
eight hours shoud constitute days labor. This OF
course applies to manufacturing establishments where
work proceeds regularly in bad weather in good
With tho farmer it is different, his work must be
done when the skies fair and the earth dry-so in
summer lie necessarily works from to SUM- The
increased productive power of the country, udicat-
ed by the almost universal use of steam and electricity
in all large business establishments renders
sary the early and late hours which prevailed 20
ago. and it only fair and just that the laborer should
receive in shorter hours and full pay, share of the
prosperity which science and invention have showered
so 7rofusely upon the people of the present day.
The civil service law has been pretty vigorously de-
nounced in Congress during the past week and advo.
Gates of its repeal to feel hopeful of ultimate
cess. The law is somewhat crude and is opposed be.
cause it is IN Democratic and organizes body of pro-
fessioudl Office holders THESE criticisms are no doubt
Just, but unfortunately all laws operate unequaly.
The rich and the powerful abuudantly able to pro
themselves With.OnE af tha law and tha
poor and the weak equally unable to protect them
selves even with the laws assistance. The army and
navy have long been the refuge of class who too
poor or too proud to work. They constitute class
distinct from the average citizen, without sympathy
for him and indifferent to his wishes long as he pays
taxes and bears the burdens of government Many
well meaning people object to this class being
forced by all the civil employees of the country. They
Insist that the people competent to choose their
rulers and that the enlargement of the ofceholding
class should be opposed by all who wish to perpetuate
American institutions.
The Secretary OF agriculture has recently issued
letter to the farmers Of the country setting forth the
causes which underie the present agricultural drpres
sion, and suggesting what he considers proper RENE
dy. lie very truthfuy says that the causes are many
and reduces the to two classes frst those which
are due to the farmer himself and of which he has
!
He regards improper cultivation and lack Of bus
like methods of the principal causes OF agr
cultural decline. This he insists within the control
OF the farmer. The other causes over which the farm
er has no cOAro embrace transportation middIemen
and combinations The Secretary insists that the
farmers OF the country suffer greatly from the lmpor
taton of farm productions from abroad which could and
should be grown at home. Added to this is the com.
petition with the half paid labor Of Europe and Asia.
lie advocates protective tariff to shut out for.
egn competition and enable the farmer to secure for
his produce fair and remunerative prices. This step
OF the Agricultural Department is one, and Ger.
tanly wise one. The views of the head of the De.
partment may in some respects be open to criticism
but the fact that the government has at last awakened
to he Importance of protecting the agricultural class
is certainly TO be commended
The liberality displayed by Congress toward the
erection Of public buildings is causing considerable
alarm among Republicans who fear that the approprja
lions will be swollen beyond the limits of safety and it
is likely that the president will interfere with vetoes
to prevent the expenditure of large sums which are
wholly unwarranted. Itis a favorte method among
congressman to secure large appropriations for creek
or river and it is generally understood that this is to
be utilized to secure his election 1t NAV be that
some injustice done in making this assertion but the
newspaper press have induged in it so freely that it
has become accepted as matter of fact At any rate
the expenditure OF public money should be carefully
scruthzed and none Of appropriated for PURPOSES
which the public needs do not positively reonire IT