The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-04
FARMERS AND EXPORTS.

While the season is very backward
in the intermountain region this year,
the crops are looking fairly well. This
is the case in Idaho and northern Utah,
in particular, and in many of the val
leys of Colorado. The southern part of
Utah is threatened with drouth,
which, however, may be relieved by an
occasional summer shower.
Unless some unusual and unforeseen
change takes place the farmers of
Utah and the surrounding states will
prosper again this year as they did
last, and if fanines occur abroad the
prices of agricultural products will help
the people of this country out again
this year. 1t is to the farmers of the
United States and TO the miners more
than to the bankers and corporations
that whatever prosperity We enjoy IS
due. True, the great mechanical indus
tries have contributed largely to the
volume of business transacted, but our
farmers fed rs, 100000 of people at home
last year, and sent almost 81, 000, 600, 900
worth of agricultural products abroad.
And the farmer has been able to do
this, not because of any financial policy
of the administration, which hardly
could have furnished the foreign con-
sumner with money to buy this produce,
nor yet because of a tariff policy which
exacts from the American farmer
percentage of all goods he receives in
exchange for his exports, for that cuts
down his profits; but he has been able
to do it because of surplus at home
and a foreign demand.
This trade was not built up by the
fostering care of paternalism; it repre-
sents the industry, the self-denial, the
long hours, the hardships of the Amer
lean farmer and his wife and his chill
dren. He never asked any favors of
the government except an open door
for his surplus and a chance to supply
his needs wherever he could strike the
best bargain. No staple of agricultural
industry is controlled by the trusts.
These are the offspring of that system
which levied tribute upon the farmer
of this country while it afforded him no
protection whatever, his prices and
profits being regulated by the markets
of the world.
This contribution of the American
farmer to our national wealth and to
the business of the world is nothing
new. 1t has been going on for many
years. He is meeting new competition
almost constantly. When there are
famines abroad he finds a better de-
mand for his wheat, corn, cotton and
meat. But famines abroad do not oc-
cur every year. Good crops at home
are not raised every season. 1t is we'll
for the farmer to make the most of
good crops and good prices when he
has them. Next year may be another
of depression; there may be drouths Or
floods at home and an enormous yield
abroad. The American farmer should
not be misled into thinking that poll
ticians and officials are giving him
either his prices or his crops. He has
to work hard for the one and take his
chances on both. The most that poll
ticianS can promise him is a lower tar
if on the things he needs and con-
sumes, and the most that the govern
ment can do for him is to- remove from
his pocket the hand that takes por-
ton of his earnings and bestows it upon
some trust or MONOPOLY.
In the sunshine of temporary pros
perity the farmer should not forget
that the dark clouds of adversely are
apt to cover the land at any time; he
should never cease to pray for relief
from the discrimination of trust-protec-
ton, or to work for the restoration of
the money of the people.