Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-06-11
10, The Poor Husbandman.

NO one Iamllldr Win the COnulLlOnS
of life in the agricultural regions of
the United States can be surprised by
the statements which were made by
Gen. Butler in his recent speech on
the Farmers Alliance. There has,
however, been some disposition man
Tested to question Gen. Buffers sta
tistics. 1t is asserted that he exag-
gerates when he says that the farm
mortgages of the country amount to
"the stupendous sum of$3, APO, 900, 900,
that Senator Stanford's proposed loan
of 100000 would enable the West
ern farmers to pay about two-thirds
of mill on the dollar on their mort
cages, or the interest on them for five
days that the farm debts of the
country exceeded the public debts at
the end of the war. Whatever else
may be said of Gen. Butler, he has
way of keeping himself supplied with
hard gritty facts.
The truth about the husbandman
is the saddest that can be told of an
American citizen. Tax-ridden, OPP
pressed, the victim of Federal laws
enacted for the enrichment of favored
manufacturers, the farmer is carrying
on n business which every year plung-
es him more deeply in debt. Gen.
Butler was correct and moderate in es-
timating that the 1924 100000 of III
inois farm mortgages in 1887 have
increased to $134,000,000. 1t is
known to be the fact that the tenden-
cy of the times is towards farms.
So much for Gen. Buffers statistics.
So far from being really exaggerated
they do not tell the whole of the dis
NAL truth. Hundreds of farmers, un.
able to live by tilling the soil, have
simply abandoned their farms in Vir-
ginia. Fertile lands in Winchester
County, within twenty miles of New
York, do not pay their expenses. If
a first-rate Western farm, well stocked
and appointed and unincumbered.
were to be given to careful farmer,
in three years il would bring him in
debt at present prices for farm prod.
ucts. Farm lands throughout the
are depreciating in value.
The city man who goes home to visit
his fathers farm finds it worth less
than it was when he was a boy.
Then the land afforded comforts and
luxuries to the family and high ed
ucation to the children. Now the
crop and stock bring the owner into
debt. Gradually the husbandman is
being driven to the wall. Not many |
years ago he was the incarnation of
he independent American citizen.
It was his sturdy patriotism which
preserved our republican institutions.
He shouldered the musket 30 years
,go and saved the Union. Now the
Government is repaying him by tax
ng him to death, giving him a pit
;ance by way Of pension when he
s disabled, and making him beggar.
What is it all to come to-? Simply
his, that the laws of the country are
the farmer. Even now he
IAN make both meet only by laboring
rom morning to night, living on the
,oarsest food, foregoing comforts,
bringing his children up without
education, dwelling among his beasts
If burdens, who alone are less miser-
'ble than he. Zola's story is terrible
md repulsive, and yet it tells the
ruth about theFrench peasantry. 1t
s to such complexion that our own
avs and the trust conspirators are
low driving the once independent and
prosperous American Farmer.-New
y l. Vu--lI