No. 4.] FARMERS' NATIONAL CONGRESS. 239 



and devastating wars are not likely ever again to occur to 

 hinder the work of the husbandman ; but with a stable gov- 

 ernment, a rich yielding soil, an increasing population, bet- 

 ter paid labor than elsewhere, a steady market is secured for 

 the products of the farm, and demands from abroad, at re- 

 munerative prices, take any surplus that may remain over. 



In importance, magnitude and value, the products of the 

 soil represented by the delegates to this Congress over- 

 shadow all other interests making for the comfort, happiness 

 and well-being of our country and its people. 



Transportation is of vital importance to the farmer, and 

 the development of interior portions of our country in agri- 

 cultural and other products. With the introduction of rail- 

 roads, the country's progress in population, wealth and 

 resources has been a marvel. Without their aid, farm and 

 crop beyond home consumption would be worthless ; with 

 their aid, both are valuable. In this connection, river and 

 harbor improvements by the general government are of inter- 

 est to the farmer for they tend to lower the cost of transpor- 

 tation by competition with the railroads. 



The time has come for the farmers, manufacturers and 

 commercial men to unite, and demand from our national 

 government an American mail service to South America, 

 and to other foreign countries, in steamships under our own 

 flag. It is well known that trade follows the flag of the 

 nation which floats and upholds it. South American coun- 

 tries are our neighbors and natural allies in trade and com- 

 merce, and yet, for lack of direct mail and shipping facilities, 

 Europeans supply them with the bulk of their imported 

 commodities. 



An American merchant marine, which is needed by every 

 industry of our country for the extension of our foreign 

 markets and as an aid to our navy, should })e urged by this 

 Congress upon the consideration of the United States Con- 

 gress. No country like ours, with an extensive sea coast, 

 with extensive exports and imports, can expect to continue 

 prosperous without an efiicient merchant marine. There is 

 too great a drain upon our financial resources without it. 



And there should be a canal constructed and controlled by 

 the United States to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, 



