Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-12-22
saoN oEslclAl SOURCE.

The annual report Of Secretary Nor
ton, the agricultural adviser in President
Clevelsnd's cabinet, and the head Of the
United States department OF agriculture,
has been made public and treats agri-
cultural matters In the secretaTy's usual
able and independent manner. While
We do not endorse sll the ideas adv tnced
bv the presidents head farmer, and rec
olltct the unfor unate lsck Of diplomacy
manifested az the commencement of his
administration. which resulted 10 array
ing nearly al the agricultural organiza-
tious Ia the country against the depart
ment, vet we recognize some things IN
his report that will tend 90 correct mis-
AZ p-ehensiou In regard @ the farmer and
hi condition. and viii also have sslu-
tary effect upon future legislation bear
Ing upon agriculture.
During the recent political campaign
frequent aud emphatic statements were
made in regard 10 the suffering and
oppressed condition Of agriculture in tn
west aud south, and much reference was
made 70 the serious mortgaget condition
existing In those sections. While serious
financial depression exists In all sections
OF the country, and among nearly all In
dustrics. Vet the secretary refutes the
statement that the farms of the west and
south are dispropOrtionatelv buruened IN
this respect He says; ",2 per cent oi
the farms IN the niied States, occupied
bv their owners, are absolutely free from
mortgages or other inCumbranceS. The
secretary states that the farms Of the
north aud northeast are a. heavily bur
dened as those oi the other sections Of
the country. snd that the farms Of New
Jersey are carrying greater incum-
brances than the farms OF any other
state. lie reseuts the ides that the farm
ers Of the couutrv are all psupers and
mendicauts. and insists that such walls
a. have been made In this direction
belittle the cause Of agriculture and cast
unreasonable odium upon it. He further
styS:
Legislation can neither ploW nor
plant. The Intelligent, practical and
successful farmer needs no aid from the
government. The ignorant, Impractical
aud indoleat farmer deserves none. IL
j. no, the business Of the government &c
legisiatc Ia behalf 81 any class IT citizens
because they are engaged in any specific
calling. no matter how ESSENTIAL the cali
ing msv he 20 the needs and comforts oi
civilization. law makers cannot erase
natural laws. nor restrict nor eiiace the
operation OF economic laws. IL i a be-
reficent Arrangement of the order OF
things and the condition of human life
that legislators are not permitted To
repegl or amend or revise the laws OF
production aud distribution.
This will Got meet the approval OF The
popuHstic farmers or Ot those in any in-
du,irv who are irving 10 array class
against class. Il j. quite probable that
the honorable secretary fails 20 appreci-
ste the burdens borne by the average
farmer TODAY in any section OF the conn-
trv, and vet no Intelligent man OF any
political party, or engaged IN any hne oi
farming Will fail 90 recognize the sound
n,s. of these statements. Farmers oi
intelligence aud thrift in this or any
other section Of the country are not ask
ing for special legislation IN their behalf.
huj are rishtfully demanding that special
legislation shall not DE had In favor OF
Others These men will see IN the sec
retAry's statement upon THIS Suoleti
much sound common sense. however
much they NAV differ from him upon the
tariff and other economic questions.
The reference made 20 the settlement
of the vsst areas Of the west and the im'
mediate cultivation ~ those areas a. III
important factor 10 the increased
productions of the country and conse
gurur low prices has some things L
commend IL. He also sees some encour
agemeut for agriculture In general IN th'
I future 81, these lands become depleted oi
their fertility. thus lesseniug production
I slI II u Whith j. doubtless true. IL, how
ever. D. had added that the creates
I aa.~ f.r The farmers Of this country le'
I s..g fhs development OF home manu-
I fte-u-r, sud tht looms and snyils thai
,4n be .ucCe,.tuiN put iu motion among
| th,. f.rn,r. of this country. thereby de
ysloriug home market for the farmers
products. he would have made the Wis
I 80 suggestion Of a'l, aud one that Woulr
have met with general acceptance by th'
Intelligent farmers ot the land. Ih'
secretary sgsin gives attention 20 th'
free seed distribution and discourSes sl
considerable length upon his economies
administration of the affairs OF the de
pArtmeut. The report will not be clrcu
lated by Populi>ts a. campaign dotu
meat. Mirror and Farmer.