The morning times., 1896-12-30
gushiness of intense New England emo
Paternal Connection.


March, when, should matters fail to im-
prove with them, they will be seeking
the apostles of the cult to which they
adhered in November, and very likely Will
be wanting TO know on what terms they
can exchange a ton or two of their faith for
a few works
Everybody is aware that the farmers
lot has not been a very happy one for several
years past. The farm value ofthe national
crops of wheat, corn, oats, and barley
for the year / 800, added to the value of
ali farm animals at the beginning of that
year, amounted to less by about a billion
and half dollars than the crops of S91
and the farm animals of that time were
worth. For many seasons the American
agriculturist has been compelled TO meet
an cycr-increaSing volume of foreign COM
petition in markets, wherein this country
formerly found ready sale for all. or nearly
all, its surplus wheat. During recent
years the competition OF Europe, Asia,
been growing like Jonah's gourd. In S96
there was a shortage in the worlds wheat
crop, due to reduced acreage and bad hdr-
vests in several countries; and American
wheat experienced a temporary boom
last autumn, which helped our farmers
some, and our Republican friends perhaps
Rat ;l-..txy
to he reflected in an increased wheat
acreage next year, both here and abroad,
while the chances are at least equal that
foreign crops will be good. With only
the prospect of overloaded markets at home
and everywhere else 10 force prices down
to below cost OF production, our Western
hushandmen may be pardoned for won
| dering where they are at, and what early
relief they are to expect from the new
President, Gold, and Protection.
In his report for 1896 the Secretary IF
Agriculture calls attention to one phase
of the farmers situation which deserves
the careful attention OF the Congress. He
| notes the fact that nearly 1000 900
| farms of eighty acres each in the United
| States have been given away by the gov
! during the last thirty years. Those farms
contain many million acres Of arabic land. "
| Under the timber culture law an area
| equivalent TO $4,000 more farms of the
same size has been donated. Hard times
have constantly tended 70 increase pro-
| duction by driving people who once We're
consumers Of farm produce into producers
of the same. Otherwise, poverty and en-
forced idlenesS have reduced consumption
/ in America, while foreign conditions have
shut us out Of European markets more
nd more.
In view of such facts and considerations
| it would seem that the government might
find it good policy to stop promoting the
! spread of Western farm area under cult
vation for awhile. at least, and tempo
rarily 10 suspend the operation of the home
stead law. Perhaps such a course might
prove helpful in keeping new hordes Of com
petitors ont OF the field until the consump-
ton Of the country had time to grow up TO
likely, however. that the Old game Will 60
on. 1t is stated that the Klamath, Oregon.
Indian reservation is shortly TO be opened
up, thus offering 10 new settlement about
$50 900 acres of highly fertile land
The donative farm policy may be all right
in principle, and it may have been bencfi-
cent in operation in the past, but, anyway,
its present wisdom is open to question, anG
the whole subject should have considera.
ton on Capitol Hill, and as soon as possible
Q
If one Of the best ublic Printers-indeed,
the best 7 ublic Printer the government ever
has had-is correctly quoted, the army oi
his friends and admirers, both in ard out
side Of official life, Will be tempted To iear
that be has been consorting with the boys
at the circunlocuti0n office until, through
the demoralzing effects of attrition, he has
lost some of the old unconquerable fire and
energy which so honorahIy characterized
Government Printing office. 1t is true, n,
doubt, that tbetask OF moving all the plan
and machinery of the present edifice TO
site more or less distant would involve Or
ganization, labor and trouble, from whicI
less enterprising and efficient man wei
might shrink But, admitting that, il NJ:
Benedict looks upon it as anything approx
fmating an impossibility, he is short Of {
piece Of spinal vertebrae which he used Il
have with him all the time. and he ought /,
take a day off and find it again. and a
once.
The great art and interest, with all il
wonderful qualifications, achievements
possibilities, and power for good, which tn
Government Printing Office ought to repre-
sent nationally, splendidIy and gloriousl
deserves a better environment and a NOR
respectable exposition than it has ad, o
received, i'll the combined stables and ur
dertaking establishment which, unhappily,
now occupies in the Capital City of the na
ton Its home should be il u structur
commodious, convenient and impressiv,
architecturally and practic ally palatia
enough to accord with its dignity and t
lend 70 its object lessons the backgroun
l fitting it's colossal Importance.
AS at present constituted not only ar
the quarters of the Government Printin