The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-09-10

other letters wind up by saying, 81
want to endorse what Elisha MurrelI
says about keeping out of politics"
They say don't read, don't think, Ebut
never save don't vote. The Tribune, of
New York, says farmers clubs and
the Alliance are to be commended if
thew would only talk about farming
and let politics alone. That farmers
are not expected to know anything
about financial affairs, but only those
who make a study of these things"
The truth is farmers have let politics
alone now until they have one Senator
and twenty eight members Of the lower
house to represent 35 OOO, 900 farmers,
and these have as much power to con.
troll in Congress as a peck of chaf has
to control a cyclone. While all other
industries are protected, the farmers
produce is admitted duty free. Let us
look at this for a moment. The Medi-
terranean sea stretches 2,100 miles, di-
viding Southern Europe from Northern
Africa, and bordering for hundreds of
AA4ANO NPSA4 AO4OSg SROA4A6 NH ~ -
riety of soil, climate and product of
the earth, and freights are n third
cheaper from the Mediterranean ports
than from Florida points to the port of
New York. In the close competition
of trade this makes the difference be-
tween profit and loss. Sicilian oranges
and lemons, and those of AndaIusia,
can be put in New York cheaper than
those Of Florida, to say nothing OF the
| cheaper labor that produces them, and
so of other PRODUCES of the soil.
The United States Is importing p0tar
toes every year, the domestic supply
never coming up to the demand. In
| Germany the potato crop Of 1894
reached the enormous quantity of
], 239, 704 S84 bushels, which, taking as
q bHsis the value of potatoes in this
country represents the sum of 1867, 047,-
| SIS, or more than seven tim S a much
as u own potato crop, and as much
as the combined value Of wheat, cot
ton, oats and buckwheat raised in the
| United States. We imported in 1898
4 016 $50 bushels, and in 1894 3 1858 221
bushels. The Germ n Empire is about
one third larger than California, or
rather more thar three times the s;za
| of Missouri. Give the farm, rs equal
protection with other industries, if they
must be protected. or enough to put us
on a level as to freights and a single
Southern Safe can supply all the pota
toes imported for consumption in the
United States.
Is it a wonder that Egyptian cotton
comes here to compete with ours with
one third of the advantage in freights
from that far-away land over Southern
ports.
What is said of these products is
equally true of all tropical and semi
tropical fruits, cabbage and peanuts.
France and England. of course, will
take their peanuts from Africa, where
they can exchange for them free Of
duty go long as they have to Ell
counter @ tar IF here that am Iunts al
most to prohibition, and so Of all other
pro du, ts Cf tx farm.
Don't read their papers ard don't
| go to hear their Speakers" was said to
US in the last campaign in this State,
ard now they cav don't read, don't
think, but keep out politics, and just
before election they will 9ar : be sure
to vote"
LIT all farmers endorse what Elisha
MUrrell says about keeping out OF pol
tics. Let US endorse the p iiicy of the
past and present admins ration in pro-
tecting by a high tariff ali the manu-
facturers wares that the farmer is
forced TO buy at his price, and the policy
of admitting all agricultural produce
duty free. SO that our farm2rs must sell
at any price that foreign competition
may force upon them. and how long
] before American manhood will be q
thing of the past, and we a nation OF
cringlng slaves to the HATE d moLeg
power Of cur old ~inveterate enemy, the
British. II, P. HARRELL