The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-05-25
PROSPERITY OF FARMERS.
Into the ENpanding
Tax Niii.

There j. not single occupation,
business or profession to which b not
attached by the republican organs the
label prosperity" Every individual
man knows better than the statisii-
clans whether he r. prosperous or not.
and IL Il useless 10 expect an aggrega-
ton of individuals 60 loudly express
thanks for prosperity when they do
not come up 10 the label. The notion
has been going about that the farmers
are afflicted with astounding prosper
ity," simply because prices Of farm
produce have. Ia the last two or three
years, partly recovered from the low
level they reached In some previous
wears. Now the farmer ought 60 know.
and the records of mortgages in the va
roius county clerks and recorders Of
flcesdemonstrateth the fact. that AL these
increased receipts. II anybody can show
q bank account demonstrating any in
crease, are more than absorbed by the
increased price be must pay for every
thing for which the farmer exchanges
his produce. lie must pay tribute 10
the trust. and no better illustration OF
the truth Of this can be made than IN
the case of the American Steel COM
pany. Six thousand men were thrown
out OF employment because Of the lack
OF demand for implements which the
farmers could not purchase because
of their high price. u there was 80
much prosperity. why could not the
farmer afford 10 purchase the necss-
sary implements? The fact T. that a
heavy impost u laid upon nearly every
thing the farmer needs In his house
hold and la his business. while the
prices Of his own products are ~ the
mercy of spectators. combines. cor
ners. etc. The farmer has To meet
the worlds price In disposing % his
product. but he encounters different
state Of things when he comes 90 pur-
chase for himself. The range Of price
sst up by the spectators IA artificial
and what they gain In the speculative
market they pocket what they lose
the, mcrcilcssly force the farmer 20
pay by an increase Of prices In manu-
facturcs. This seeming prosperity
will be discovered tho more you look
behind II 10 be aeiyth. aud although
the misforiunss OF the rest Of the earth
have cnebled the farmer 20 dispose Of
more ~ his products than formerly.
still there are combinations "a b.
brukcn down. trusts 60 be abolished.
and ihe financial system eliminated be-
fore the snrmer can really saN that
a period Of prosperity has been inaugu-
.afcd.
How much 81 the enormous balance
N trade iu our favor han reached the
iarmcr9 Has he been enabled ia rrduce
his mortgages by pay mcnt Of the prin-
cipal. or even 60 pas the interest In
FUN without securing an extension ~
time? Arc his wife and children bet.
ter dressed. b. bis farm, In n more Hour-
ishinr condition. has d. purchased any
new carpets. curtains. furniture for his
l. be enabled 20 employ
more help 90 relieve his aching bones
and those Of his wife aud children from
Inc arduous labor thry continually an.
icrro 10 save their homes from the
nav of the mortgage?
We trov not and the proof 81 u j.
hat beyond the mere means Of exist
'nce. whatever he makes or earns MUS
go into the ever expanding tax min
which 4 grinding him into poverty
when he u not paying into the trusts
and combines.