The Yale expositor., 1897-12-10
Greatness of Our country.

uDtlily 10 make lueg
are the best educated, best fed, hest hous-
ed, best clothed and farthest travelled TO-
VOO,OoO OF people in the world. If the laws
interfere with their industries In any way,
favoring their com~etitors abroad, inter
fering with their power to purchase to-
ward education, nutrition. lodging, cloth
ing and travelling, as we have seen Tor
the four years past, their power to make
market is lowered cOrrespondtngly.
Prosperity has come naturally; public
policies have been changed; the workers
a employed: they buy more literally;
the farmer gets better prices; he puts the
price Of his crops into circulation; the
current warns up all the veins Of COM
meroe: che twenty millions Of farmers buy
more literally OF all household and other
co mOdities; the wholesale merchant
feels the quickening influence and puts
more agents on the road; the country mer-
chant whose stocks have been low for
years repenishes his shelves, and this
gives orders to the manufactures, who
employs more labor and skill; the busy
wOTkmen have money to buy the farmers
ard other products, all OF which make the
good times we enjoy. The beginning OF
all this was the change of public policy
that was ordered last November by the
people when they elected Gov. Mckinley
President, the keeping of our jobs at
home for our own people, and the keep
ing of the money at home TO pay out to
sur 0wp people.
President McKinle.-'s administration
has set about the introduction of prosper
ity amaRg all classes of people by II com
plete change Of public policy. That change
Is bringing good results already. The hrst
effect is better prices for farm products
II is said that the scarcity OF wheat
abroad il the cause OF better prices here.
CoRcede that for the sake OF the argu-
meDt. Why are other grains higher, with
beef. mutton, pork, wool and other farm
products? The voters who changed pub
lie policies a year ago have confidence in
che change of administration. They are
the moving power OF the republic. They
do the bulk of its business. They are ia
miiiar with American history for a CEN
tur, and quarter, as affected by pro-
lection TO home industries end the want
OF ii. They are not ready TO take step
toward the experience Of the last four
years. The questions that were settled
year sGo will stay settled while this gen.
Grafton lives. and TIE cost of sending our
jobs abroad and starving our workers at
home Is ifPSn III our memories.
Effect of Changes of Policy.
The effect of the changes of public pol
icy on agricultural interests is well illus
trated by the changes in the prices OF our
farm stock and farm products. The de-
crease in the value of the horses has been
very great during the past ten years.
Superficial observers tell us that the sub
situation OF steam and electricity on street
l. l.. 4 a. 4.
But there are other factors that have been
at work during this decade to destroy the
value of horses. The United States
changed its public policies in the mean
time. Industries along all lines were par
olyZed, because our workmen were turned
out of employment. They were not able
TO buy farm products, the factories be-
came idle. and the farm horses were not
wanted about the factories. in the towns.
nor anywhere in the United States. as
much as formerly. If the value Of horses
were reduced during this change Of public
policy. and the prices Of other materials
remained the same, we would be COM
peeled 10 conclude that some other cause
than general depression had lowered the
price Of horses. hut we will find in looking
over the productions of this great State
that everything else pertaining 20 the
farm decreased in value at the same time
The farmers were left with large sur
plCFes on their hands. Unfortunately for
us, our horses could not be put 10 any
great eXteHt upon the worlds market he
cause we had been producing such horses
as pleased us. and not such horses ms the
world demanded outside Of the United
States The worlds market for horses
fixed the prices for us. and we had so few
that the world wanted to buy. that prices
dropped to an Improbable figure. Ii we
had been producing heavy draft horses.
coach horses and saddle horses. Europeans
would have bought them at high prices.
They have agents in this country, aud
have had them for many years. searching
for the kind Of horses ! have named. but
are not able to find them as plentifu,ly
as they desire. We are undoubtedly able
20 produce horses in the United States
cheaper than any other country can pro-
duce them because we have the cheapest
grains and grasses, good water, and intel
ligent people to rear them. 1t is a cues
ton for the farmers in the future as to
how they shall breed and develop their
horse stock.
Sugar Beets.
We pay $10O,0O0,000 each year for su-
gar. HHue 10 great extent from sugar
beets grown in Continental Europe, since
the Cuban war began. People will re-
member that when President Mckinley
wss chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee in the House of Representa-
tive9 sene years ago, he secured legisla-
ton IN the interest of the farmer, giving
encouragement to the growing of sugar
beets. The attention OF American farm
ers was drawn toward that industry. |
Arrangements were made to test the ca
pacity Of our soils in all parts of the Unit
ed States. Some factories were built. and
within y reasonable time all the sugar
An ericnns require would have been mnde |
in the United States. Sugar, like but- |
ter consists OF labor and sunshine. The |
price of labor would have been raised ~,
along the line. from the growing Of the
sugar heets to the making OF the bags or
barrels for its final reception. The farm |
or would have been enabled 10 diversity |
his creps aud grow less what was least
profitable. Work would have been given |
to those who plew the soil. SOW the seed,
cultivate aud harvest. and deliver To the !