New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-01-04
Thoughts for Farmers and Me-
chamics.


The question as TO what change, If any, shall
be made in the datiet upon such imported
goods as compete with the products Of home
labor, in which farmers and mechanics are
most interested, is likely to be thrust upon the
people political issue, through the per
sistent efforts of the free trade league. 1t
is purely business question, which should not
enter into partisan politics, yet parties are be-
ginning to take sides upon it, and there Is
danger that the dearest interests of the people
will be at the mercy Of the blind prejudices
and passions entering into the contest for State
and National Offices.
The country is now in the enjoyment Of SUBJ
stantal prosperity under the existing tariff
laws, which have been recently modified by
very large Tin some instances, we think, in
jurious) reduction of duties, and by the transfer
TO the free list of many articles formerly paying
duty. 10 its present form, while the tariff offers
reasonable encouragement to most important
home manufactures, it is in no sense prohibi-
tory, for imports are large, and the power of
the country to purchase and consume foreign
products was never greater than at present.
During the past year more mines have been
opened, more factories erected, and more rail-
roads constructed than ever before; business
is upon a sound basis, every form OF labor has
been well rewarded, aud the credit OF the Gov
eminent has so much improved that there has
been q struggle between American and foreign
bankers to obtain the five per cent National
loan at par in gold.
We owe this real and substantial prosperity
to the laws which defend our workingnen from
the competition of cheap foreign labor, and
which reserve The home market for the products
of home industry. These laws are obnoxious
only to cur foreign business rivals who organ
ICED the free trade league in New York city,
and supply money to be used in any and every
way to bring into power men who will destroy
| the protective character Of our revenue system,
! and open eur markets to the full and free influx
of English manufactures. To accomplish their
purposes they have bought up American news
papers, furnished funds to defeat candidates for
Congress, employed Government officials to
fasrcate so called statistics favorable to their
views, hired prominent leaders Of the trades to
sedace and deceive the workngrnan, and they
are now preparing al. act to repeal the existing
tariff, which they will strive to force through
Congress at its next session.
Knowing that free trade is an utter impossi-
bility, for the reason that the country must de-
rive revenue from customs, the leaders of this
assault do not call themselves free traders, but
revenue reformers, their proposed revenue re-
e. L., - e
sort of foreign goods which completes with home
industry, and the imposition Of heavy duties
upon tea, coffee, and such articles of necessity
or comfort as are not produced in the United
States. OF the one hundred and fifty millions
of dollars which they propose to raise from
customs, they would levy eighty millions from
articles of food and drink! When accused of
the purpose Of taxing the poor man, one oil
their orators i'll Congress had the insoleuce to
say Let me inquire why it is that the poor
man should not pay his portion of the tax TO
sustain the Government Has he no honor in
the matterr Has he no patriotism in the
matter? | take it that it Is an impeachment
upon the patriotism of every man throughout
the whole country, laborer though he may be,
to say that because he is poor man he should
not have his tea and coffee taxed. Why, sir,
these are articles which enter into general con-
sumption they are articles which you can re-
/ fuse or you Can purcnsse. mere Is DO com
pulsion on any man to use them. The poor
man eau buy lhem, il he pleases, just as he buys
his glass of grog or his pipe Of tobacco. There
| is no compulsion in the matters
*See speech of Mr.. Asper, of Missouri, re-
ported in Congressional Globe.