The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-07-27
(DanVille Register.1

GENTLEMEN AS county lecturer
for the Alliance, l have been requested
to publish lecture to the farmers Of
Pittsylvana in the interest of that
most important of all business-agri-
culture.
From the earliest dawn of the
worlds history to the present day,
farming has been regarded as the most
honest and honorable, as we'll as the
most useful calling a man could fol-
low. When Adam, the first man, was
placed in Eden, surrounded by
ambrosial gifts and guiltless joys, he
was commanded to tend the garden,
and that was a branch of farming
When he was turned out to multiply
and replenish the earth, and given
dominion over the birds of the air
and beasts of the forest, he was put to
farming. Father Abraham, in whose
bosom the saints are supposed to re-
pose, was a farmer. The patriarch
Jacob, who wrestled with the angel of
q
Washington, the father of his country,
one of the greatest military heroes on
record, and the first president of the
United States, was farmer. Farm
ing is of such importance that, in many
countries, even the king himself goes
between the plow handles once year
and breaks up a field in order to set an
example for his subjects. In fact,
agriculture is not only the master
wheel of all business, but it is also the
foundation of every nations pros
perity. Farmers are, and of right
ought to be the most independent
members of society and, if they are
not, it is their own fault-simply
because they don't stick together for
the protection and Advancement of their
| interest. All other classes are organized
to man, not only for the purpose of
protecting their respective interests,
but also, iE many instances, for the
purpose of wringing from the farmers
hands the products of his soil without
rendering unto him fair equivalent.
The fact that the farmers have re-
mained heretofore comparatively sep
arate, has always made them an easy
prey to every other trade and profess
sion.
But, Notwithstanding the vital i'm
portance of this great branch of human
industry, farmers have to work harder,
get less pay for their labor, and suffer
more from taxation and hard times
than almost any other class in the
business world. One of the leading
questions Of the day is, what is
the cause and what the remedy for
these
HARD TINES
among the farmers. Some say that it
is over-production some, under-con-
sumption some, monometallism !;
some, the Sherman silver purchase
law some, the tariff; some, the in
ternal revenue some, the big pension
steal and orhers, the corrupt politi-
clans, &c. While all Of these things
may have had more or less weight in
this matter, the most direct cause of
this hard time, like all others known
to the worlds history, is debt and the
consequent destruction of public con-
fdence, reckless speculation and the
abuse of the credit system. The most
reliable remedy for hard times lies in
hard work, rigid economy, the settle
ment Of old accounts, and the restora-
ton of confidence When this remedy
is properly applied, money will again
flow into the channels of trade, bust
ness will revive and good times will
speedily return. Owing to lack of
confidence of man in man, the money
of the country don't circulate with
sufficient freedom. Now man may
have all the blood he needs to give
him life and keep him in health, but
if that blood don't circulate, the man
must die. So, we may have all the
money we need to transact the busi-
ness of the country safely, yet if this
money fail to circulate, trade must
languish and our business interest
suffer. >
Owing to the unequal operations OF
the protective tariff, the big pension
and other appropriations G. he past
administration, nearly all of the money
of the country has passed out Of the
hands of the masses and found its way
TO the favored centers Of the north
and notheast. There it is boarded
and, as we have nothing at present, to
bring it back to us, there it is likely tc
stay-for a while, at least.
Again, the balance of trade i:
against us. This country has beer
, buying more from foreign countrie:
= than she has been selling them. Thi:
has necessitated the sending out O
, gold to pay foreign bills. In this way
: money has become scarce for the Tins
being. But Europe's crops are short
} Her immense population must be ted
y and she must look to America fol
provisions from our abundant harvests
e When the tariff shall have been re
I formed, the make shift Sherman bill
: repealed and plenty 100 cent silve
dollars coined in its stead and, wheI
f the foreign demand sets in for ou
/ surplus products, as it will, ere long
$ our gold will return to our shores
money will become easy, trade will
r flourish and the whole country viii
Y doubtless enter upon new era o
e prosperity, in which all may share.