The Complaints Of The Farmers

Secretary Morton has Borne decided views about the agricultural situation, and they do not agree in any respect with thoee which the Populista are continually proclaimiog for political purpose. It is true, besays, tbat the general profits of agriculture in thi.s country bave material!? declined during the lasl ten years, not by reason, however, of unfriendly legialation, bul mainly becaose of friendly legialation, strange as it mav Beem. The openingof new tracta of territory to settlement and cultivation bave bo increased the supply of farm producte, he ëxplains, thai il bas run iar ahead of the demand, and the oatural reeult lias been a loweringof priees. Wben the tac1 ii eonsidered that ilie plowed area hah trebled BÏnce the lioineBtead law was passed, and that in the same linie farmini? iniplcinonts have been bo ünproved that wie man can ikiw do as much work as was formerly done by sis men, it is easy to underBtand why Agricultura] values have ui - creased. The statistical records show that the iparket lias nol increased in a corresponding degree with the production, and the surplus has accordingly reduced the profits. In short, the present conditíon demonstrates n a very plain and conclusive way the truth of tlie economie maxim that the relation of supply and demand is the Bole regulator of valne; and tliis Lncludea that other important fací that the law which ihiis adjusts prices cánnot be reaeryed or evaded by artificial appliances of any sort. The Bituatióo is lïnsatisfactory in thia respect, bat it is by no meaos bo bad, Mr. Morton insiste, as the calainitarians represent. He reminds these professional croakera tliat only about three per cent. of all thé meirhanls escape failure, whereas bardly three per cent. of the farmers fail. The statistics really show that agriculture is safer than banking, manufacturing ur railroading taking all things intu account. There is no farmer of good sense and good health anywhere in the West, Mr. Morton declares, who cannot make a living for himself and family, and t fiat is as well as tlie majority of men are doing in any other pursuits. The man who owns a farm and sticks to it is certain to profit by it in the future. There is practically no more land to he added to the area of cultivation. The supply of agricultura! producís lias almost reached its limit in the United States, and must uoiv remain stationary, while the demand will go on increasing every year. This implies a gradual improvement in prices and a steady appreciation of the value f farming lands. The outlook is not really so diseouragii;r, it wil] lio seen, as the pessimists ry to make it appear. Tliere is a beter time ooming unquestionably. It cantol he hastcned by politica! devices or ither contriyances ior the arbitrary regulation of natural forcee; but tliere are ogical and Bufficient reasons for expectng it, nevertheless, and the greal lesson to be learned by the farmers is that of latience and perseverance. Men can afford to walt wlipn tliey are sure to succeed in the end. - Ohio Valley Manufacturer. For twenty years or more this land II-; had a constant boom: For tuLiity yrars or more we've heard, The shuttle and the loom. Bat DOW the milis have closed their doors, And nooue thhiks it strange, For everybody knovvs it is Becaau we've had a"ohaage."