The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-03-30
TIMELY WORDS BY A PRoMI-
NENT MAN.

Richmond State, was WrlGGon TO OOIO
mel A, 8. Buford by a distinguished
Virginian, who is an ex member OF the
legislature, a lawyer of acknowledged
ability and at present a successful
farmer:
your favor of the 25sh ult., was
duly received. 1 concur with you fully
in what you say in regard to the nee
essity for concerted action on the part
of the farmers, if they hope to become
bene1ciaries of any reforms that are to
be made by the incoming administra-
ton.
81 am fully persuaded that the con
slant and steady decline in prices of all
agricultural products that has been 60
ing on for the past 20 years, until they
have reached a point that barely COW
ers the cost of production is the prl-
nary and potent cause of the ills that
now so sorely eff ct the country. We
are told that agriculture is the nursing
mother of the arts. Experience has
demonstrated this truth and teaches US
that prosperous agriculture Is the
groundwork of general prosperity. On
it the superstructure is founded, and
when from any cause the foundation
is undermined or weakened the super
structure totters, if it does not fall.
1.-The low prices that the farmers re
alize for all that they have to sell
leaves them nothing, after paying the
cost of production, with which to buy
even the necessaries of life, much less
the luxuries. Their ability to purchase
is greatly impaired, if not destroyed,
and the merchant and the manufacturer
at once feel the effect of the reflex &C
ton in diminished trade and closed
factories. It seems to me to be a clear
and self evident proposition that when
the farmers of the country and those
directly dependent upon the farm for a
livelihood, numbering q large me- ority
of the population, are compelled as a
matter Of stern necessity to limit pur-
chases to the minimum and to restrict
them to the baresG necessaries. trade
must become stagnated, business of all
kinds depressed, and hard times will
prevail.
IF this be true, self interest should
prompt every other business interest
to lend a helping hand in restoring
agriculture to a profitable basis. But
unhappily this is not go. Many In u
principal cities, through thir boards of
trade and chambers of commerce. seem
to have mistaken the effect for the
cause, and have been content with
their solemn resolve that the lack of
confidence is the cause, and to take
the government out of the banking
business is the remedy for existing ills,
without any adequate substitute,
liberal and impartial in its features.
As long as this one sided theory pre-
walls and we fail to recognize the inter
dependence of the cities and the agri
cultural districts for their prosperity
the problem will remain unsolved and
hard times will continue to prevail
New industries and enterprises will not
cure the evil. This would prove to be
another foolish experiment of carry
ing Goals to Newcastle 1t is not more
stores and factories that are needed,
but more customers for those already
in existence, until their goods, wares
and products find ready and profitable
consumers. Then, and not till then,
will the time come for the establish
ment of new enterprises.
THE chief cause Of depressed prices
for the products of the farm is, in my
humble judgment, to be found in the
constantly appreciating standard of
value that has been adopted by the
leading commercial nations of the
world. When measured by the single
standard of gold in it's limited supply,
the value of every other species of
property has materially declined. The
products of the farm were the first to
feel the pressure, and the farmer has
been the largest, as he is the greatest,
sufferer therefrom. When, in con.
junction with this, we have the me
nopolies and trusts, formed to drive
out competition and to regulate prices
to suit their sordid avarice, and a
banking system that denies to thS
farmer the privilege of using his credit
whenever necessity may require it, to
supply himself with the means of con-
Quoting his operations, it Is not a diff
cult matter to understand why pros
perity has deserted the farmer. And
yet the plain logic of these facts has
not been sufficient to induce many of