The Russellville Democrat., 1892-08-18
ReliefFor she Farmers.


 by statesmen. politicians and office seekers from every standpoint. The result is the third party.
 Naturally, farmers are inclined to this party. because they, of all clas- ses, need financial relief.
 The cause of this is. no od0ubt, the steady decline in the value of the products of the farmer.
 The credit business, as conducted in the south, is also responsible in a great measure for this state of af- fairs.
 Usually the debts of the farmer, or a large percentage of them, are in- cured a year or more before they are paid, in other words, our farmers are at least one year behind with their debts; consequently these debts are paid with the shrinkage value of their products; for instance debts are made when cotton is worth s or g cents, and settled with cotton at 6 or ' cents. This loss in value together with interest and extra per eentage charged on the goods for credit privileges make q heavy bur den on the farmers.
 It is true that goods and wares, such as are bought and used by the farmers, have also declined in value. this decline. with few exceptions has been steady like that of cotton, so that bale of cotton now at 30 or 35 dollars has as much. or nearly as much purchasing power, as bale several years ago at 45 or 90 dollars, therefore il is the debts. shrinkage in value. interest and percentage that is causing the depression among the farmers. and the effects are sore ly felt by merchants and all others.
 Would the demand for govern mental loans at or , per cent, if enacted into law, remedy this evil: would it bring relief to our farmers It would. no doubt temporarily. but the loan must be paid back with in terest and perhaps with products de preciated as it is today.
 It would be like the man who Dor rowed ten dollars to pay debt oi that amount, when the money was due with interest he borrowed from another to pay it and he found that instead of getting out of debt he owed more than ever, money can Dc borrowed easier than it can be paid l back
 The passage of such q law would benefit merchants, tradesmen and professional men, because the circu- lation would be greater and stimu- late trade. but it would be at the ex- pense of the farmers, for when he spends his loan. he would still be il debt for it.
 It is dangerous thing to borrow money to pay debts, it would be fal better to economize and live within one's means.
 The farmers can never find the re lief they seek in Third Party, nol in the republican party, for that party has been tried, it has pledged relief time after time, and has had the opportunity and power, but have failed to enact any law for the good of the laboring classes, the legisla- tion of this party have always been in favor of the wealthy manufactur- CT, capitalist and office seeker. If we are to receive relief through any po- litical party, it will be through the Democratic party, and that party must be in power to pass laws that will benefit the laboring people The Democratic party is essentially the party of the South, its princi- pies are identified with the interest of the people of the South and in this party lies our only hope for re- lief, so far as political parties can give relief The Third Party is powerless, the republican party will not help, and the democratic party have had no opportunity, give this party the power, and if they fail, then take such steps or measures for lawful relief as Justice demands.
 1t is said that in the north eastern states over $25.00 per capita is in circulation. and that here it is S9.3 money is plentiful up there, and go begging for investment at to 1 per cent, while it cannot be had here at any rate. It was by industry and economy, these northern people ac- cumulated wealth, they make sur plus of products and sell 1t. Every year they are selling millions of dol lars worth of manufactured products to the people of the South. The money that purchases the cotton at the South comes from the North and interest is paid there for the use of it. This money goes back north to pay for the products sent South at a profit, as the circulation is drawn from the south, so it is drawn from state and from a county
 It is true that national laws have great influence in the various indus tries of this country. The commer- cial relations of the north and the south are so different that a national law that would benefit one section would be a positive injury to the other.
 The north is the nest of republi- canism, their party have been in po- litieal power 32 years and have en- acted laws for the benefit of their own section, regardless of the wants and demands for Justice in the south, so long as this sectional party remains in power just so long will we be deprived of any law that would benefit the laboring penplo here.
 While we cannot depend upon law f,.,. tna,a;ai ralfaf wa com hv iudi-