Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-09-25

chance mill.
The leaders of the Republican party
were the first to get away from the
traditions of the past and practically
to perceive that the conditions of life
had changed The principle adopted
by them ought gradually and wisely to
be extended further, so that the eXpen-
ditures necessary for the maintainance
of roads, county improvements and
county expenses should be provided for
not by relieving one class and imposing
the burden upon another, but by sys-
tenn under which all property, corporate
as we'll as individual should contrib
ute according to its value.
PERIODS OF DEPRESSION.
"The history of the world shows that
every once in while occurs a period
when such a spirit Of unrest seizes up
on the people that they have been will.
ing to abandon their homes and their
lands in quest of other and better for
tunes. Time and again there have
been great depreciation of the value
of lands in England and in all Other
countries. Somewhat similar causes
produced in earlier ages the inpouring
of races into Europe, the emigration
to and settlement of this country and
the flow of people from New England
to the far West. About 1890 land fell
very much in value and there were dur
ing the next few years extensive emf.
grations from Pennsylvania to Canada.
to the Genesee county in New York.
and to the Shenandoah Valley and
Kentucky. During the last twenty
five years we have been going through
a period in which the conditions were
such that in the East at least the val
ue of farm lands was decreasing, the
amount of farm mortgages were ac.
cumulating, and the farmers were un.
rewarded for their toll, unhappy and
discontented
"The general cause of this condition
of things is easily to be seen. The
opening Of numerous railroads through,
out the country affording facilities fol
the transportation of grain from the
interior to the seaboard, has brought
the Eastern farmer with his high
priced lands into competition with the
West, where a rich soil hitherto un.
used, and, therefore, productive with.
out fertilizers, could be secured for O
nominal consideration 1t was a tenn.
porary condition, and 1t is rapidly pass.
ing away.
"The governmental and railroad
lands of the West are occupied, with
each year they become less productive,
and great centers of population like
Chicago, st. Louis and Denver are call
ing upon the territories surrounding
them for food.
THE MAN WITH THE HOE.
when the world catches up with its
supply of wheat, and the time Is sure
to come, and is not far distant, the
man with the hoe, or if you choose with
the plow and reaper and binder, will
have his grip on the situation.
The great revival of business which
began with the return Of Mr.. Cleveland
to private life, which has given the
manufacturer wealth and his employees
abundant and well paid labor, IS now
beginning to affect the farmer. Every
wave which influences for good or Ill
financial affairs reaches first the stock
market, then the mills and marts, and
last Of all, the farmer, who represents
the most conservative and stable of all
classes in the community. Already
we feel the zephyrs which precede the
blast, already we have the ripple
which is the forerunner of the great
wave. Within the last two years corn,
oats, horses and cattle have all en-
HANGED In value, and it is inevitable
that with the increase of the value OF
farm produce, unless we do something
to interfere with existing conditions,
there must be an advance in the value
of farm lands.
Like every one else the farmer
reaps a benefit from the general pros
perity, but he has double reason for
being interested in the success of the
Republican cause.
THE REPUBLICAN POLICY.
1T has ever been the policy Of the
Republican party to build up and main
tain the manufactures of the country.
and around every mill for the making
Of iron, steel. carpet, silk and even
tin, which latter we were told only a
few years ago could not be produced
In this country, are gathered the
homes Of the laborers and their fam.
lily. Since that party came into pow.
er the population has grown more than
in the century before, and all are con.
sumers Of beef. corn. wheat and pota.
toes. All must live upon what the
farmer has to sell them. That policy
Is now doing even more. Tie sue.
cess which has followed upon it has
developed strength and courage upon
the part OF our manufacturers and
merchants, and they are reaching out
In all directions for the trade of the
WOIIu. EN6Iy yWueIC Tue american
products are being introduced, and not
only the wealth which is created al
home, but that Of farther India is
being poured into our lap
A PICTURE OF THE FUTURE.
ut means, unless we are unwise
enough to interrupt and interfere with
the tide which Is carrying us forward
that this Is In the near future to be a
country of immense wealth, teeming
with happy and prosperous people
The great centres of population which
have arisen along the Thames and
Seine will be dwarfed in comparison
with those which will be found along
the Hudson and the Delaware The
development we have seen within the
last few years around Pittsburg and
on the Pennsylvania Railroad outside
of Philadelphia, where farm lands
have risen in a brief period from a
hundred to thousands of dollars per
acre in value, is but a manifestation
Of what is sure TO happen in many