The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-11
Farmers Alliance Reform.

President Polk of the Farmers Alliance
declares that we are in the midst of reyolu-
ton. peaceful Eand bloodless," be hopes;
but 1.-THE mightiest social. industrial and
economic revolution the world has ever wit
messed" President Polk declares that agri-
culture is dying, not through the fault of the
farmers, but because of the financial system
of the government. Financial reform" de-
clares Mr.. Polk, twill be the slogan of the
Farmers Alliance" These sentiments
sound very we'll; but how about their truth
Is the farmers actual, having harder time
than other people? Very likely in Kansas
and Dakota, where areas of arid land have
been settled hastily and inconsiderately by
emigrants with little capital. the farmers are
having very hard time. But these cases
are exceptional, and would happen under any
system of finance or under iapy government.
Humanity has always been subject to these
troubles. and always WILL But the country
over the farmers are getting along quite as
we'll as other people They tmay not get so
much money in the course of a year as the
city or village people; but their expenses
are not nearly SO great. The farmers see the
few men who in cities and in professional
life are remarkably successful, and at once
jump at the conclusion that medicine, or law
or preaching, or brokerage, or gtrade are bet
ter avenues to wealth than the farm. 1t may
be admitted that the farm does not offer such
opportunities for getting large fortunes as
do some of the lclty occupations. But the
mistake is made Of supposing that all men in
the city occupations do as we'll as the few
conspicuous ones. The host Of lawyers who
can barely make both ends meet the doctors
who have to give long years Of their lives to
study and practice before they can see any
income beyond what is. absolutely necessary
to support them, the merchants who fail, the
brokers who do likewise. sthe preachers who
have to live on faith land the returns from
donations" none Of these figure In the sdaz-
cling perspective that rolls out before farm
ers like Mr.. Polk, when they contemplate
the lot Of the men who do not live on FARMS
Farmers do work hard, and they see hard
luck; but SO do other people.
Now few words as to Mr.. Folks remedy
for the alleged condition of the farmers. 1t
is to have the government loan out money to
farmers at a low rate of interest, at lower
rate. In fact, than money is commanding in
the market, and take as security the: crops OF
the farmer. There are very few Maine
farmer who will not at once:see the folly Of
embarkiDg the government on such fnan-
cial scheme Another remedy advocated by
Mr.. Polk is to have the government buy
every lump Of 3l2a grains of silver that may
be presented and make of it dollar, without
regard to the fact THAT all over the world
3l2a grains of silver are selling at about 70
cents. Some people will get great advant-
ages from being able to get rid of 70 cents
worth of silver for dollar; but they will
hardly be the farmers. What farmers in
Kansas and Nebraska may think of Presi-
dent Folks coming revolution" we do not
know; but we think the farmers of Maine
have some very decided opinions about the
folly Of the programme Of revolution"