THE FARMER'S ADVANTAGE. 89 



notice, and if he notices it, it may seem to bim less important 

 than it is ; and he may even doubt the principle itself, but the 

 principle will vindicate itself in spite of his doubts. 



Does it seem strange to any of you that I urge what may ap- 

 pear the disadvantages of farming as the farmer's advantage ? 

 The three differences which I have just explained between farm- 

 ing and manufacturing are not disadvantages to the farmer, but 

 differences which result in his great advantage. If he can but 

 hold his own, that is to say, produce his crops at no greater ex- 

 pense than before, these crops, in consequence of methods which 

 manufacturers follow, but which he cannot follow to any great 

 extent, will purchase more and more of their products. The 

 price of raw materials tends constantly to approach the price of 

 the finished goods made out of them, owing to the less and less 

 cost of manufacture through the increased perfection of machin- 

 ery ; and therefere, he who has the raw materials to sell has a 

 great advantage for the supply of his wants of finished goods. 

 This principle is very important, because it shows that there is 

 inwrought into the very framework of society a provision by 

 which the masses of mankind, who have always been the tillers 

 of the soil, may rise constantly in a scale of comforts as the years 

 go on. This " farmer's advantage" is the law of the progress of 

 the masses. 



But, gentlemen, this beneficent principle, by whose action 

 God designs a progressive improvement in the condition of the 

 masses, is more or less disguised and thwarted at .the present 

 time in this country by two things, which, if you know your 

 own interests, you will both hate and labor to remove, namely, 

 our depreciated currency and our so-called protective tariff. 

 The currency and the tariff, and if possible the currency more 

 than the tariff, make against the interest of the farmers of this 

 country every day they live. Daniel Webster said a good many 

 good things in his lifetime, but he never uttered, a truer senti- 

 ment that when he said this : " Of all the expedients for cheat- 

 ing the laboring masses of mankind a depreciated currency is 

 the most effectual." I hold in my hand what is called a two- 

 dollar bill. I will read it: "The United States will pay the 

 bearer on demand two dollars at the treasury at New York." 

 This, therefore, is not two dollars as we are wont to call it, it is 

 Q, promise to pay two dollars. The place of payment is speci- 



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