The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-11-23
TARIFF AND THE FARMER.


and avoid all whom he is not familiar with.
TARIFF AND THE FARMER.
Tho Democrat, having shaken of, or been
relieved of its penderous political burthen
by the election, the moment it has got
loose from Greeley, the arch apostle of
system of the most sweeping protective
tariff, is out in the most denlagogue of ar
ticles, appealing to the FARMERS sympa-
thies, and by inference at least, ascribing
all the "hard times" they feel to the tariff
laws of the country. A moments reflec-
ton will serve to show what sheer den,a-
gogueism such appeals are. What mode
less oppressive than duties on foreign goods,
has been, or can be devised, to raise reve-
nue. for the support of government, and to
pay the interest on the public debt? Were
the Internal Revenue laws, which havejust
been repealed, Except the tax on tobacco
and whisky, and stamps on checks, more
desirable, as a system to raise revenue,
than by duties on imports? If SO, why
did not the Democrat party champion the
continuance of the system? Or if direct
tax on the farmers acres and stock is pref
cradle to tariff for raising revenue for the
Federal government, why did not the DEM
eeratic party in its palmy days champion
this direct mode as a just system of law
That it never did so, is evidence that it had
no faith that the farmers would sustain the
party in such a course. The Democrat
pretends to cuddle and sympathise with
the farmer and lament over his hard lot,
charging it all to the revenue laws by which
the taxes of the Federal government are
raised. The excise laws have all been re-
pealed which amount to anything, except
the tax on tabacco and whisky. Shall the
tax on these ruineus luxuries be repealed
too, and the amounts derived from them
be raised by taxing something else? If the
immense capitalists of European countries
bad the United States for free market
how many men would be employed in eur
iron factories of various kinds? How many
operatives would cotton and wooden fac
tories employ and provide bread for?
IN 1886 nominal tariff was tried. Pig
iron was sold at $50 ton or less in this
county by foreign manufactures, who sold
at loss to themselves till our furnaces and
FORCES, which were established with small
capitals, were closed, and no longer any COM
petition was feared from American manu-
features, when the price ofpigiron was put
up to $40 ton; by the importers and 9th
er imported goods experienced similar
rise when competition from American
manufactures vas destroyed. Do foreign
traders take single bushel more of grain
from the United States, or pay cent more
for what they do buy under a low than un-
CT high tariff? They do not. But when
when our manufacturing interest are de.
pressed and kept down by foreign competi.
ton, their thousands of we'll paid laborers
cease to make an extensive and profitable
home market for every product of the farm,
Why does every community SO ardently
desire manufacturing establishments to rise
up in its midst ? Because it brings many
consumers and buyers among them who
earn good wages and valuable market if
created at the farmers door, where he sells
to the actual consumer at prices which rule
in the markets of the country, without that
price suffering curtailment by freights AND
commissions, as when his heavy produce i:
sent to distant markets. If there were
half dozen or more extensive msnufac
turing establishments built up in Elkton
the farmers within circuit of half doz
en- miles would find here a profitable mar
ket where thousands of dollars worth o.
produce of various kinds would annually
be consumed, which now goes to waste OF
their farms, or will not pay the expenses o.
raising and shipping to distant market
If the Democrat means to be consistent
in condemning the system of raising reve
nue. by tax on imports, and does no
mean merely to act the demagogue, let i
advocate the repeal of tariff laws and pro
pose the only substitute for them, to create
revenue; which is direct tax on the lane
and stock Of every farmer, and see wher'
you will come out. A diversified industr.
must always make brisk homo trade, ant
the farmers main hope is for ready mar
ket near at hand, where he car sell ant
deliver his bulky produce, which if shipped
any distance is surely eaten up by freight'
and other expenses. This panin truth we
trust every farmer IN Cecil county thorough
ly understands. But the Democrats hav
ing exposed their dishonesty in taking ny
Greeley, will not be apt to impose upor
the farmers of the county again with thei