The Princeton union., 1894-08-02
GOV. NELSON SPEAKS.
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED AT AR
GYIsE, MARSHALL COUNTY.

GYLE, MARSHALL COUNTY.
Gov. Nelson Fires the First Gun In
the Cnmpaign-Republic Doc
trine md Principles Set Forth in
Masterly Manner. 5.s
The Republican county convention for
Marshall county was held at Argyle. Gov
Nelson was present and delivered an ad-
dress. The following is a synopsis
Hard times and Industrial and economic
depression in various forms and from vari-
ours causes, have been in our midst during
the past sixteen months. In the wake OF
these times and as an incident thereto are
number of "I-told-you-so" reformers who
have an easy, fippant and demagogic way
of diagnosing and accounting for all our
troubles and all our ailments, and who
have no difficulty at all to suggest and ten
der in connection with their own personal
services a variety Of reforms OF social
and economic character as a swift and sure
relief for all industrial congestion and stag
nation. 1t is the aim Of these reformers,
first Of all, to breed as much alarm, sus-
picion and distrust as possible and to array
class against class, poor against rich and
capital against labor, and, above all, to
make our farmers restless with the idea
that they are now suffering chiefly from the
3
especially from those who have accumu-
lated more than the ordinary level OF
wealth and are therefore termed capitalists.
1t is openly charged or in some form insinu-
.ated that our legislation has all along been
framed so as to oppress the farmers and to
enrich, at their expense, those who are not
engaged in such pursuits. 1t is assumed
that all other classes have combined to de-
spoil and impoverish the farmer; that he
has been the neglected stepson of organized
A..sl, l4~ h4a~ n
without stint reason. 1t is assumed that
while most other classes have been pros
porous to a greater or less degree the farm
er has not prospered at all, but, on the
contrary, has become more and more en-
poverished, and that he is to-day mere
is assumed that this deplorable condition
thus assigned to the farmer is wholly the
offspring of economic and financial leg1sla-
tion hostile to him and calculated specially
to enrich the so-called capitalists To sub
stantiate these assumptions and insinua-
tions statistics are appealed to. up to
186O," we are told "our national wealth
was equally distributed between the farm
ers and the rest Of the people," In other
words, that
The Wealth of Our Farmers
was at that time not less than SO per cent
Of the entire wealth of the nation, and
that since that period the rate of increase
VI wealth Ueeu SfduuuLy ~ tle
advantage Of the farmer, until in 1890
the farmers share Of the aggregate wealth
was only 20 per cent. In short, the farm
ers have not increased as rapidly in wealth
since 1860 as the rest of the nation. This
may be true, but it entirely fails t" es-
tablish that our farmers have not been
thrifty and prosperous. Up to 1860 we
were, to an unusual degree, an agricultural
people. Our agricultural population was in
that year II, 100000 out of a total Of 81.
100000, while in 1890 it was 25.OOO.OOO out
Of total of 62,OOO,OoO. In 1860 the popu-
lation of our cities was 5000, 600; in 1890
over 100000. In 1860 our manufactures
were in their infancy. In that year there
was employed 1911. 900 men in our factories,
as against 4,342, 900 men on our farms;
while in 1890 there was 3952,5 men en-
ployed in our factories as against S,OOO,o 600
men on our farms. In 1860 there was EN-
ployed in manufacturing capital Of ST.
900, ,S55715 as against Sc. 524.475, ,3O5 in 1880.
In 1860 the value of the products CT our
manufactures was SIS ,961,676 as against
S9,27o, ,17O,62O in 1890. In 1860 our rail-
road system was still in it's chi dhood and
undeveloped We had then in this country
but 10000 miles in operation. as against
10000 miles, capitalized at $4,000, OOC, COO,
In 1898.
These figures afford very clear and sat
isfactory explanation why the increase in
farm values has not, since 1890. kept up
with the increase of wealth in other direc-
tions. While the pace, by comparison, has
been less yet considered by itself, the
growth Of farm Industries has been
rapid and marvellous. In 1850 there was
2O44,O77 farms Of the aggregate acreage
of 4O7, ,212, ,53S acres and Of the value OF
s6,645, ,O45, ,OO7, as against 4,564,641 farms
of the aggregate acreage of 623.21S 619
acres, and Of the value of $13, ,279 2 2, $40, In
1890 In 1860 the value of live stock was
81. .OS9 329, ,915, and Of implements and ma
90 O 4 3,,e+V
673 of live stock, and $494 247, ,467 of i'm.
pIements and machinery in 1890 1u 1860
there was produced 173, 1C4,929 bushels OF
wheat, 1726t3,1S5 bushels of oats. 1o, S2o,
e9S bushels of barley and 1888. 1921 742 bush
Ella of corn, as against $50 262 coo bushels
of wheat 523 621, 600 bushels of OATS g.
1000 bushels of barley and 1.4S9,97O, ,OO(
bushels of corn, in 1890; and the ratio OF
increase has been as great since 1880 as in
the decade ending with that year.
Benefit to .<g 'culturc.
A study of our statistics and an examina
ti0n of our agricultural and industrial de-
velopment makes it plain that the rapid
growth of our nation in commerce, in trans
nortation facilities and in manufacturing
has not been at the expense or to the detr1
ment of our agricultural interests, but rath
er to their great advancement and benefit
Tho great army of men engaged IN THESE
pursuits have been the chief consumers Of
our agricultural products. But for them
the demand would have been very limited
and the home market exceedingly scant
Our chief reliance would have been in tht
foreign demand, which is uncertain ant
quite limited, and where we have to con,
pete with the entire world, both as t.
prices and quantities. To-day scarcely q
per cent of all our agricultural products fnt
q market abroad. In truth, our agriculture
interests needed, above all things, tina
which is now complained Of, the employ
ment of extensive capital in other indus
trial pursuits in order that the field O.
labor might be enlarged and the demand fo
agricultural products greatly increased.
And without our extensive network Of rail
roads, radiating in all directions and extend
ing to the outermost vergcs of our country
agriculture would have been kept within
narrow bounds and would have been con
fined to the lands within easy reach Of ou
seaboard and Of our inland lakes and waite
courses. Our railroads are to-day the in
dispensable distributors Of our products an,
commerce. Without them all traffic an,
intercourse would be at standstill, an,
society would be in q state Of apathy an,