The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-14


Serious as has been, and still remains
the depression in matters financially. and
low as are prices for the farmers prod
uets. nowhere under the sun do we find a
class of laboring people so independent
and comfortable, taken all in all, as are
the farmers of our country who own their
homes, writes a correspondent of the
American Farmer. Even the renters of
farms are the envy of laboring men and
their families, who look to the days la
Dor for their ALL or to the factory owner
who may, perchance, shut down to-mor-
row and thus throw them out of employ
ment, and out of bread and butter We
have felt inclined to complain bitterly at
the ruinous prices of produce, and because
of the necessity of the closer and closer
economy thus necessitated. Nor do we
yet appreciate the situation, or look upon
1t as just. That something is somewhere
radically wrong is very APPARENT, and not
to be disguised, and that sooner or later
this wrong must be HFighted, and the
farmers work be made more remunera-
tive, and his life correspondngly happier
and more to be desired, we believe must
come. We hope 1t may come speedily,
for il has long been deferred. To the
new administration we turn hopefully,
hoping for fultilment of the prosperity
promised and prophesied. But 1t all re-
mains 10 be seen, and only time can tell
whether our anticipations shall be real
lied. The cribs and bins are loaded with
the corn and cereal products of the soh,
and bearing the trace of days, weeks and
months of toll and weary bodies aching
from the labor of it all. Prices offered
for the product of mans labor are an
insult to him and to his profession. And
yet, despite 1t all, as we look around us
upon tlose to whom home of their own
is an unknown quantity, we feel that the
man who ewns a farm, though 1t be =
small one, is blest indeed, "such times as
these"
We do not intend to look blindly upon
the obstacles in our way toward better
living and toward more of the luxuries
and pleasant features of independent liv-
ing-things that the farmer and his fam
lily deserve and earn, If under the light
OF heaven there exists a people who do.
But while we wait and work for the bet
ter times-we mean to enjoy, we must not
be blinded to the beauties of even so sim
pie life as the one we-are daily living.
With cribs and granares filed the an
imals we have about us shall be well fed
and we shall find living, if nothing
more. We may not live in just the style
and manner we wish to, but thousands
about us have not even the common ne
cessities Of life and own no semblance OF
home. They are simply existing and
staying, seeking many times the day 5
labor that is not to be found
1t is matter for happy reflection that
your husband and mine though farmers
have not to go and come at the beck and
call of some one who looks upon the en-
ploye as but a servant. Our farmers are
in this wise independent, though they lack
many things else. Some of them are oft.
en- heard to say that they would not care
for the independence of being their owr
masters II they could only know that al
the end or each month a certain sum would
be forthcoming for their work. But-they
have never tried It, and know but little
concerning what they say.
History poving that prosperity has in
variably followed times of great depres-
sion, and that history as Invariably re.
peats itself. we have room for hope ol
better times in the very near future. foi
greater depression, and from a combina
ton of circumstances Of a more wide
spread character has never been known
in the history of the United States thar
that of the past three years, and of the
| present.
We are apt to infer that the hard times
| affects no class of business men so seri.
ously as the farmers. But therein we arc
assuredly mistaken. If we do not prosper
| they cannot. Merchants have been vlr.
tually at a stand-still in their business
| for long time People are buying only
such things as they absolutely must have
whereas, in prosperous times they are
affording the luxuries that we all enjoy
of better things to wear and of better
things in the furnishing of homes. as wei
as the better table living.
OF the necessities Of life, the farmer
| need never be without. For notwithstand
ing drouth, sufficient has been, and may
be raised on every farm. TO meet tn,
needs OF hunger. though 1t does not pleas
| the palate as does the better and fine
cookery that requires many things from
the grocery to perfect. But taking int
consideration the people all over the lanC
who have not sufficient Of potatoes, bre -
and butter and meat and OF clothing no
sufficient for comfort, saying nothing Of
appearances, we feel grateful for the farm
home and glad that our lives have beer
passed on the farm for many years.