The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-04
CROPS AND VOTES.


A political fact which most overlook 10
that the South has one crop and the West
has two. Eminent Democrats are con-
graduating themselves that reviving bus
mess will revive Democracy. This may
be called feminine politics. showing a
sweet lack of logic, a charming propen-
sity to reason with the affections and
delightful indifference to facts. Since
Democratic defeat last year brings better
times, obviously better times must bring
Democratic success Since good crops at
the West take the lie out of Populism
the short cotton crop at the South must
have the same effect there The cotton
crop is in value half the entire product
of agriculture in the cotton-growing
states. The corn and wheat crop of the
Northwest are together more than half
its agricultural products in value the
two being worth about double the cotton
crop. When cotton is short the South
suffers. When either wheat or corn turns
out badly, the Northwest usually has
in the other crop a basis for encourage
ment and bsuiness.
Populism at the West was to q great
extent the outgrowth of crazy land spec
ulation. but failure Of crops was the
immediate cause of the outbreak in 1892.
The corn yield dropped a quarter, and
the wheat yield sixth, according to
official figures, in the same year. The
loss fell most heavily on great corn
growing states, and the pressure of
debts incurred in speculative times made
discomfort intense. But cotton fell the
Same year from over 9,0OO000 to 6.7OO 900
bales, and the loss and ruin at the South
were relatively greater The Democratic
no nh fuAl 10 4 i.
Populism proposed, and by that means
with control Uf ballot boxes held its
ground. Last year disgust with Democ-
racy and it's broken promises was wide
spread. The story of overwhelming de-
feat need not be repeated. But the Demo-
cratic hope is that great crops will re-
store confidence and power to the men
who were disgracefully punished for bad
faith and incapacity In 1894.
The corn crop is very large, but the
wheat crop small. Out of the two the
Northwestern FARMERS win get more
than they did last year and have reason
for encouragement. According to all ac-
counts, the discomfort called Populism
is disappearing, and farmers in great
number have learned that the Repub-
lican national policy was best for the
whole country, and therefore for them,
because their products cannot command
good prices unless the country prospers.
Wool Is seven or eight cents lower than
1t was before Democratic success, and
the farmer knows it. Prostration or
manufacturing industries has so far re-
duced the markets that farm products
have for years commanded phenomenally
low prices and the farmers are not
anxious for any more Democratic years.
Their votes last fall expressed their de-
sire for return to the Republican pol
icy, and the hopeful revival of business
which gives them better times and prices
is one Of many evidences that they were
right.
The situation at the South is quite
different. The cotton crop was cut down,
in the first instance, by the action OF
many planters who saw that there was
no market in the world for a crop OF
8, 100000 bales, and therefore reduced their
acreage. But with 116 per cent less acre
age and yield per acre as good as that
of last year, the crop would still have
been over S,50OOOO bales, little more than
the world has ever consumed Instead
unfavorable weather has so far reduced
the yield that many operators are pre-
dieting "a further loss Of 100000 or 2000,-
900 bales. Whether they are right or not
1t is clear that the output per acre as well
as the acreage will be short. This means
for the South another year of trial and
disappointment, which Democratic pro-
phets imagine will somehow help their
party.
1t is curiously Democratic reasoning
Men Of common sense would infer that
the party Of discomfort would gain ground
at the South and that continued losses
and the breaking Of all Democratic
pledges would be resented by transfer
Of many Democratic votes to the Popu-
lists. or course, the Democratic man
ayers know best. They control the ballot
boxes, and in the states where free cleo
tions are rot permitted may be able to
hold ofiices regardless Of popular hos
tility. Still, they have been beaten in !
some southern states already and their |
;laim that good times and good crops |
viii help them sound much like whistling |
through a graveyard.