The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-28
IN AGRICULTURAL MILLENYIUM
Some speculations on Mr.. Wimsn's Pleasing
Prophecies.


EQlLOI llNfSs
A great prophet has arisen, one Wiman,
not the Wyman of forty or more years ago
who captvated the youthful imaginations,
but Erastus Wiman, born beneath the led
Cross Of st. George. but waxed distinguished
under the shadow OF the eyer-glorlous stars
and Stripes. Hear him: In few years,
according 10 THE lines, the incomes OF the
agricultural classes will be increased al least
40 per cent. They will be rescued from any
form of indebtedness. The farmer will be-
como a lender instead Of a borrower. Every
farmers wife viii then he able to afford silk
dress. every farmers daughter will have an
elaborate tTOusseau," and other delightful
things to the same general effect
If such prOphesy had emanated from
Rudini. excited and thrown on his beam ends
lust because a half-score of Italians were
rather unceremoniously gwen informal pass
ports 10 a country where peanuts are IN
known, or from "a Frenchman. or from Mr..
Foraker. we might well say. Now get out.
what are you giving US. but coming from a
staid Brltisher, with whom heavens Just law
is sObriety, and who. even III his most exciting
pleasures is as sober as a whole bench OF
judges. we cannot doubt but accept .aIl he
says with unQuestiOnlng faith. Highly favor
ed beyond all men Is Mr.. Wlman III beng
selected. first 10 discover and then to reveal
the glorious future only q few years distant.
The mind is utterly unable 10 grasp the fall
import Of Mr. Wlman's revelation. but let us
try little. Think of farmers incomes being
increased 10 per cent. which means not less
than 90 per cent. coming from one SO mOder-
ate as Mr. Wiman. in "a few years That's
just splendid But think further that farm
ers will be rescued from any form OF indebt-
edness" in u few years" Glorious. But
think. finally. that IN "a few years the
farmer will become lender, instead OF being
as at present. borrower Now THIS we can
Va .,Ftir - lave
and accept what Mr.. Wimau reveals with pfo-
foundest qualification. Expressive silence
,saalone. adequate 10 muse OF such phenome-
non as farmer as amoney-lender.
Tho farmer ont OF debt The farmer rich.
The farmer money-lender, and all in "a few
years" Are YOU really. Mr.. Wlmau. speaking
with prophetic voice or are you lndulglng II
q game Of cow jumping over the moon and
dish run away with the spoon. and making
fun Of the poverty Of us poor farmers But
Your being sober knglishman and being
further sObered by our sober American life
reassures us and we accept your VACCINATIONS
with almost gospel faith.
am farmer, Mr. TIMES. and greatly as /
rejoice in the agricultural millennium now
near at hand / rejoice that II IS not coming
tins year or even next year. but in "a lew
years, for we need some time TO prepare our
selves FOR the great hange for Il that change
were TO come suddenly the farmers would not
Smith would be wandering around and pes
teriug everybody 10 tell him where John
Smith Is and the whole process OF agriculture
would be brought TO hiatt 10y the farmers
hunting around 20 find Themselves. Thus !
have been a farmer nigh unto forty years. and
during all that time and have been just Ike
any other farmer have owed everybody. shop
keeper, laborer tax-gatheTer. doctor. &c, and
for everything dry goods groceries, shoes.
medicines, even newspaper. or as Alr. WI
man expresses IL. from ptOws to pianos and
from buggies 10 books and most of my time
has been spent paying debts with tobacco
hanging up in my barn" Now. If all at once
l found myself rescued from any form OF
Indebtedness and had my currency to-
bacco hanging up IN my barn suddenly de
mOneJ1ed, could / possibly recognize N.Y.
self and would not be gong around inqulr-
ing where am and what had become OF me
Certainly, and therefore the great wisdom of
Mr.. Wiman allowing few years for the
transformation.
Moreover, if all at once | found myself
changed from a worthy, innocent borrower
into a greedy, wicked mOney-lender, not only
would not know myself, but | would be-
come a raying bedamite.
But Mr.. Wlman has wisely guarded against
tins calamity also by putting Of for a few
years the day when we farmers shall become
heartless mOnoy-lenders and bloated bond
holders SO that We may provide against the
dangers of the revolution ia our economic
condition" Lack Of space unfortunately
forbids comment upon that most pleasing Of
al the efforts OF the rev OlutlOn n our
economic condition. namely where every
farmer ) wife will be able 10 afford a silk
dress: every farmers daughter will have an
elaborate trousseau" for these have been the
only thing we have never been able % get
credit for, althO' we are happy TO say that we
have ever been able 10 90 deeply into debt
Tor the great neceSsarles-wblSky, tobacco
candies and fancy groceries
Now. this agricultural millennium is GER
tan, because MIR Wlman points OUT that n
the last five years at least &c. 900. 900 mouths
have been added TO the population OF Europe
and India that positively refuse to be filled
with anything but wheat. and that az about
AL the land in the world suitable for wheat IS
already under cultivation. therefore the price
OF wheat must rise. This being so. wheat
must In "a few years rise 10 fabulous prices.
when the incomes Of the agricultural classes,
even OF those which do not raise wheat. but
only cotton. or tobacco, or coffee. or sugar.
etc, will be increased at least 40 per cent"
Mr.. Wiman has earned the name of Wise
man IN inserting the saving clause in "a few
years. for thereby tins generation at least is
estopped from crying false prophet" II be-
ing somewhere written that oven thousand
years are not equal TO "a few years" but only
10 day. FARarRR
For Over Fifty Years