Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-19
WEDNESDAY. =. AUGUST 10. 1891
What We Are All Thinking About.

The condition of things which has pre-
vailed in Chicago for some days affords an
illustration Of the manner in which the
worlds business ia done. The Chicago
wheat market responds 10 European de-
mand, and wheat runs up to Sl.14 per
bushel All the Alliances in the United
States could not have accomplished such
A result in the absence of foreign demand
for this cereal Of universal consumption.
But inst here let us say, as appropriate
70 what we have said in the preceding
paragraph. TINT If the new scheme OF hold
ing back the wheat crop for higher prices
had been in active operation during the
week last past, many persons would no
doubt have accredited the increased
priccs of wheat to that notable scheme.
But lot al persons concerned in this mat
ter Ask themselves whether or not such
scheme of controlling prices would not
have operated 10 the disadvantage OF the
wheat-growers Under the influence of
such scheme, the farmers might have
been prohibited from forwarding their
wheat to market at this season of the
year. and the result might have been in
high degree prejudicial to their interests,
Tho proceedings of the grain spectators
in Chicago during the last few days show
that the wheat-growers are not always
injured by the doings OF the spectators
in grain. Spectators in lands, tenements,
and hereditan ents-in tobacco, corn,
wheat, and cotton-in what you will
must stand TIE test OF o rising or falling
10 de N n = IN
benefit themselves as spectators; and in
doing So they incidentally feel compelled
now and then TO stand up for the interests
of the agricultural classes. All the world
must obey the laws OF trade. Spectators
are not wiser nor shrewder than grain
growers. The latter will always find
that in the end the prices OF commodities
must depend not upon the wishes or de-
signs or desires of non-producers as
class. but upon the wants of the CONNER
cial world. See how rye ran up last week
in obedience to law of trade. See how
the European wheat markets Tor corn mar
kets AS they are called respond to the de-
mands made upon them on this side Of the
Atlantic.
"Out Of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaketh." And we feel so much
interest in the Alliance movement that we
hardly know how to frame On editorial to-
day without making some reference to the
farmers. We trust that the proverbial
good-sense Of the Virginia people will not
be wanting upon this occasion. Virginia
is not only the mother of States. but the
mother Of statesmen. These statesmen
ought surely to be able to assert them
selves in such body as the one now IN
session in this city. They have peculiar
environment. They are surrounded by the
representatives of the class of men Of
whom in the olden times this venerable
Commonwealth was so proud. They are
the natural leaders" of the people whom
they represent. 1t is for them to blaze the
way TO good government. II is for them to
point out the path that leads TO agricul-
tural prosperity-nay, TO universal pros
peIity, if, as we all profess TO believe. agri-
cultureis the nursing mother of all the other
occupations in which men engage. Virginia
farmers need not look TO other States to
learn their duty. Rather let them assume
the leadership of the hosts of men who
from Maine TO California are seeking to
solve the problem of how to secure to the
farmer his due proportion OF the prosper
ity which ought to belong to country so
fortunately circumstance as the United
States of America. This object cannot be
accomplished by destroying what are call
ed middle-men. This experiment has been
tried in vain in years gone by and in coun-
tries older than ours. II cannot be ac-
complished by so legisla;ing against the
other classes of the community as to COM
pei a larger proportion of the population
10 become farmers or farmers employees.
1t cannot be accomplished by any of the
methods of agricultural quack-doctors.
Study, practice, theory. experience,
thought, all these are not more than the
natural leaders" of the people of Viz
GINA will need TO bring into requisition if
they are to stand in the front rank of true
reformers and prove themselves worthy of
the title of statesmen. Ii is statesmen OF
this sort that the country needs, demands.
and must have.