New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-11
THE FARMERS QUESTION.

The annual addition to our adult population
from domestic and foreign can scarcely be cs'
mated AZ less than 1000 600 persons male and female Hall
nu0n 81 males thus annually coming forward seek
Ing pursuits Ivy means Of which they may be enabled to
provide subsistence for their families and themselves
Compel them all 10 cultivators orsthe soil and
they become competitors with already existing farm
ers with 10 all Enable them to apply themselves
TO the development our wonderful mineral resources
90 the building aud working Of furnaces and mills and
they become TO already existing farmers,
bringing the producer and consumer into close conucc
ton with each other with profit TO all That they may
be enabled must have public policy that shall
tend from year diminish surplus OF food;
10 lessen dependence evervarying foreign mar
kes to compel the foreign artisan who would supply us
with flushed goods and place himself here
among the Who raise the wool and the food lac SO
greatly needs. Such policy now, TO large extent
already have Fully and faithfully carried ont II must
result the establishment Of American independence
md therefore, probably It h that it has IN ne toStt tire
years become offensive TO the Special Commissioner OF
lie Public Revenue How sudden, aud how complete
las been the change his public opinions. VIII be appe-
rated by all who shall take the trouble 10 compare the
propositions or his present Report for dnmiaing The
preai steel manufacture Of ne U't0n. with tho following
passage from he Report Of 1857;
h7lc- duiy than those recommended upou
l7l .atuts Although ue.r ratios much tgher and are
Is.i scent b., pr, - Agsrs., ea.u e.. o. e , vel me W..
hsas Hid the deve.oTneui Of most important snd le.a
r,re1- sad The ID 7, scarcity skilled lsbo arrested
tn r-r,y O~r I'd o' e AIMED 10 be mere especially ,!ut IN
t'i g. - "it her adts o. qualities also presented 70
.Ht si'a ua sure 'ae ia-orc'on o. tae MsaAeat o.
nee -gs o. e ID ,hs Htalss OF since TO- ,.s %
', ,'e' nr Pas pen yer, IraSSa
u lslvi mare than slGelt 10 cuateroance the tsI
tor s,a Poe. COR Le A-srcaa steel manufacture, which has
Perfectly true was then all fills. it is so
a. TIE present MON, nt when American competition has
furc,d down the mice Of commodity destined soon
e. become q the important Of al manufactures,
a.. sf, Of
- uu. Since yc a5,o of that report, however tie
Conui..iJueg MS, ia some manner yet entirely uncy-
Tipuet had r= eyes fully opened 70 tho great facts:
t,f - Tariff isa AK that the tendency o; all tariffs is,
"VIt.o.t ~. liu Inn any sufficient compensation" to
Iucc-e he farmer OF his tools, his clothes,
l. fsc his icuci"g and his sheer" that the domestic
mglb.t, Finished by the millions OF people employed in
tie vuiou, manufactures u the Union is really insIg
Ii.caut; that surplus" Of food exists and must do
what may continue 30 TO do; that TO attempt to limit
the dependence ~ farmers Europe Is aD-
snrd y; and that bound, In all the future, 10
continue TIC nor iIOa OF products the proper
work o5 tie barbarian the slave and Of those alone.
Scl the result u which, after two years careful Wod-
tauun lerc and abroad. the Commissioner has arrived
6.G th'O lee o fact that the British Provinces
are bcu; depcrlated by reason Of the necessity ex-
Trucrd H. thcis peop, Tor seeking elsewhere the pro
t.,oa sca.ed 20 them al home. Anxious 20 amCLorate
te condition ~ those unhappy cutvators OF the soil
WHO being heavily taxed" for the maintenance OF
gr, consuming population, lie now proposes to col
let Ly ui Lu.ics imposed sugar. tea, coffee,
CO late, ul sarlncs, aud other commodities that do
Eot enter competition with the farmer, the large sum
q S5r 0o 90 time reducing the duties on
Ireir food That the form Of cloths, silks,
iror steel, lead. ana Tin aud that does compete with
a I'D. b't t.cy shall yield only the sum of $520ocol
korr.tu.. t..v may wen exclaIuI-" save from
friend ."-slc friends as Nh Commissioner Wells-"and
70 Will our,olycr take Of those enemies whose one
Cicat cry i Clep food and cheap iabor" and who de-
there shall be but single workshop for the
vorlL"
Quoting foreign authority the subject of wool. the
Commissioner advises Ills readers, that Ell IL tie last mil
lion pounds that makes scarcity ahunGance-the last,
., 10 vel knows. that determines the question
whether the farmer shall shall not, be compelled TO
tcl!L., products abroad for what they will bring"
Equally we'll Goes be know that, whereas, during the
dozen free trade years. from 1873 to 1860 the average
domestic product Of iron had actually diminished and
lss done in tle face OF a growth Of population
amounting ptr cent, the last few protective years
have given that decrease OF 100000 tuns which had
been required for causing abundance, willie enabling Us
20 millions upon millions OF fSod, that, had it
been exported. would have flooded the little foreign
markets 20 losses 10 the farmers Of the world
Gaplutng 10 Thousands Of millions Of dollars Clearly
ts.g a., jh he must. the Commissioner IS, never.
tasoss unceasug ia his efforts at exciting disruSt OF
to future regard To TIL, great fundamental manuac-
tc knowing. Lc docs. that the more 1t can be dis
T.
"the last million" ~ food forced npOn the British
H. 20 produce that "oycr,tock" 10 which our farmers
have often m tar past been Indebted for the ruin by
which they have been overwhelmed.
Common sense teaches that the larger the domestic
IraIsts the need for expectation and the
greater tie farmers independence. Common honesty
would. therefore led the Commissioner TO unite with
tie PIo,i2eut in urging upon great agricultural pOpu
Ia;ou consideration o. tie fact that The crS0n Of
TIroas q" Europe ana DE East bringing INTO competition
friG agricultural products l,e products Of other
tyats" and that "seicatresi If not selttroSeraton.
therefore Giciocs caution against disturbing any indus
fr,gl interest Of me coH,y teaches Glso 1e
en-, al i91L,,g TO OTHER MARKETS FOR THE
BUElLrs."
To look Cor honesty however to the who has Just
now furnished tables protesting TO prevent compare
tive view If tie British iIee trade year 1882 with the pro-
terouist lsy aud has in their preparation added
more tan per the wheat price Of the former
while largely dcductilg from that Of the latter, would
a. fear be quite proless has IN the past been the
search Tor the philosophers stone.
lis whole Report procssedy prepared for the instruc
ton % our farmers bas been in the interest Of
British manuf the who desire that food
may Dee cheap cloth ard dear aud who most
liberal IN their reward OF those who aid in establishing
their dominion producers OF materials through
Out iAe World
How TIE la', million" q qras' Of wheat Is ., This rooTs0t
.u.ng ds , s.ies - To- n lE ''osng Ia'sf-'1 gong
oaug TO ih lsr 'As Of 'a at ne ou,pos tnd to further
p-s, teolrucr prices downward h weather las bow.
s , r,-e c3 @ pc. I'm frl p.,e
IN ssas6t Of mort. since The
ofe haa a. veis ite9 VILE # fogT ,beie is an acr'.se
-,t.o, ~ ~ 10 20 cx on S5s eoTa her. has bp an
iBes,e Of 10000 c~ 10000 ear; bur barley beans,
Aael Ds bs British eors
sS,a gsi,ii,s St',prf faue Shfa Idtb