St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-20
AN INSULT TO THE FARMER.

AN INSULT TO THE FARMER.
The whole course Of both houses of
congress with reference to the distri-
button Of seed by the department of
agriculture is a gross, unwarranted
and objectionable insult to the farm
whether the gentlemen who have risen
gravely in their places to denounce
Secretary Morton for saving the people
a good many thousand dollars have
considered this phase of the subject or
not We do know their motive; and
that is to- bid for the agricultural vote
at the coming election on the assump-
ton that they, and they alone, are the
farmers friends. To put themselves in
this position they can think of no bet
ter means than to champion system
and a measure which put upon
the farmer the brand of insult
Translated into plain English, this
Is the characterization of the farm
er vote by the men who insist that
there shall be an appropriation of $780,
600 per annum for seed distribution,
and that Mr.. Morton shall be compelled
by law to expend the whole of it, Ev-
cry man who votes for that bill there
by, declares that he considers the farm
ers among his constituents to be
knaves or mendicants.
For, consider the practical side of the
matter. The new bill strikes out the
limitation rare and uncommon"
which was found in the old law. The
provision for purchase and distribution
is now made to apply, not to exotics
and seeds, with which the farmers of
this country may wish to make expert
ments, but it is to be general. 1t is an
expenditure Of money from the federal
treasury for the farmers benefit Now,
how far will $150,0O0 go in that direc-
ton? Every farmer wants a large
not limited to seeds for his flower
beds, or for raising garden truck, but
includes that which is required to put
in a years crop. The expenditure Of
$150,000 cannot, of course, give any,
thing at all to one farmer in a hundred
in the United States, and it cannot
give to that farmer hundredth part
of what he needs. It Is simply a poor,
pitiful, insulting bride which members
of congress think that they can offer to
some farmers for their votes. They
represent this farmer as so lost to
all sense of manly independence that
he appears, basket in hand, before the
capitol at Washington, begging for
pitiful packet of seeds at his neigh
boris expense. They represent him as
so lost to honor that he is ready to
offer his vote to the donor of this
worthless gift.
That is the sole meaning and purpose
of this bill. Never have we seen so
gross an insult placed upon the fol-
lowers of any occupation in this coun-
try. Congress insults the manufacture
ers whenever it gets an opportunity
indeed, but 1t insults them to the tune
of millions and tens of millions Of dol
lars, and they rather seem to like it.
When the average member, however,
considers how he is to get the farm
er's vote he thinks that the govern
ment can economics; and that the ex-
penditure of $150,0OO will provide for
making up enough little papers of
seeds for garden sass" to enable the
hungry-for- office to buy majority of
votes with them. 1t is an assumption
and policy that ought to, and will,
we believe, provoke a righteous indig-
nation among the agricultural people
of this country. They are not pau
pers, and they are not rascals, though
members of congress have declared
that they are both.