The advocate., 1890-06-11
THE CAUSE OF HARn TIMES.

thanks 10 the editor for the kind courtesy grant
ed me In publishing my last letter. and for Che
many kind comments, but In regard 10 some Of
his explanations Oi the causes OF our agricultural
depression ! must beg ~ dissent, and please
allow me as brlelya possible 10 give the reasons
for the faith that Is In ne. First the brother
asks why did farm produce bring fabulous prices?
will answer FIRST, simply because there WAS q
far greater demand Tor farm produce, not only
In the United States but also In All foreign
countries Second, because they were bought
here In the United States with deprecated cur
rency, and the great demand for our produce In
foreign markets made our prices good here The
writer alleges that the cause was simply because
money was plenty and aboring men were all
employed at good wages Admitting this 10 be
true, did II ever occur 10 the writer what brought
about this resultY Has he already forgotten that
our beloved country had just emerged from the
most gigantic war ever known In the history OF
the world, and that All manufacturing Interests
had been standing almost entirely still during
that great struggle, and the whole country WAS
inflated with deprecated currency Let the
worthy editor consult the prices Of farm produce
Just previous 10 that great struggle, and also the
the price Of labor and he can readily be con.
vlnced Of the cause Of the high prices. Does the
editor desire the cOnntry 10 again be inflated
with deprecated currency? Certainly his ar.
gument would indicate such course, Now we
would all be more than pleased 10 see MI kinds
Of farm produce and farm labor bringing as good
prices as they brought just at the close Of the
war, provided the same prices and wages had
the same purchasing power but 10 try 10 satisfy
the worthy editor will just quote some Of the
prices OF produce and labor and see how they
will compare with the present prices; In 1866
wheat was worth from $50 10 $500 per bnshel,
corn 10 10 ~ cents, beef cattle from b. 10 cents
per pound, farm labor was Si.GO per day. These
were about the general prices Of produce and
cattle and labor. Hogs were worth from TO -
cents per pOund and now let Nv see what the
farmer had 10 pay for what he used Coffee per
pound 30 cents, ten Sl.25 10 $50, salt $3.50 10
$500 per barrel, boots per pair from SS TO Sl5,
domestic from 40 20 20 cents per yard, calico 40
cents per yard Time and space fOrbids giving
but few quotations Of prices Of what farmers
had % pay for what they used In those good
times the editor is 80 anxious 10 get back 10, And
now, dear reader, compare the prices Of what
you receive for your produce now and the price
Of labor with the prices Of 1865, and bear In mind
the purchasing power and then decide how the
matter stands with you. Admitting that the vol.
ume Of circulating medium is not hardly equal 10
the wants Of the people, yet we do believe that
Che free coinage Of silver would greatly remedy
"A. nun stnf Inuyn uttt thn
same purchasing power When we said no rem.
edes had been proposed we simply meant all
that our words implied. Nothing yet that we
have seen IN THE ADVOCATE but some ones
theory and some resolution denOuncng John J..
Ingalls,; and now why make Senator Ingalls,
separate target? For about the nth time we
have read In THE ADVOCATE that all that Sena
tor ingalls, had done during his entire senatorial
career WAS tO skin democrats and the editor will
please pardon me II remind him that this skin
ming business was only incidental, rs this seems
10 be- the greatest objection to the senator's re-
election; and now, dear readers, and especially
the old soldiers and the editor Of THE ADvo-
GATE, please consider the question ~ tO what
brought about this sklnning business Of which
hear the editor OF THE ADVOCATE commenting
on so much and the democratic party appauding
so loudly Was itnOt, | ask you, I'm all CandOr,
when Senator John James ingalls, was battling
in the United States senate with such men ~
Senator Voorhees, and others In behalf Of those
old soldiers who went TO their cOuntry's call in
in lbs hour Of need, and Il does seem strange that
this skinnIng business Is so offensive, not only 10
the democratic party, but 10 Che editor Of THE
ADVOCATE especially too, when Senator In
gals was defending the soldiers cause? And
right here I want to say that many old soldiers
now belong 10 the Farmers Alliance, and II will
be hard work indeed 10 try TO persuade old sol
dIers 10 desert true and tried friend, just 10
merely please some democratic politicians. And
now, Mr.. Editor, while we deplore any political
~. .IIL.