, 1873-01-31

mighty multitude OF laborers, UNTIL If Above.
| to continue, they will relapse into condition
little better than servitude. Upon careful con
6iderntion Of our status, in general and detail,-
! the startling increase in power aud wealth o1
some industries, and the rapid decay Of others
| tho aggressive activity Of vast monopolies, that
have combined like magic, presenting a defan
front to both State and Federal authority, swal-
| lowing up millions Of acres Of the most fertile
lands belonging to the people, and debating
prices and profits to the produ.
| GERS; willie an appalling paralysis has
fallen upon the farming industry of the country,
making it, especially in the West, scarcely re-.
muneratiyo,-we see much to startlo US, and to
awaken fearful approhensions with regard to the
future. The tendencies OF to-day arc certainly
uudemocratic and non-republican, and, with this
bitter reality before us, we should be awake and
active. The tempest Of war SO famiIarized ne
with extravaganza, corruption, and power, that
no have become deadened to their portending
dangers, and, as is always the case after dcs'
perate encounter, q lethargy has fallen upon the
nation, which, il not soon broken, will develop
wide disaster.
That great balance-wheel OF the nation; that
sturdy indestructlble force; the element slowe5t
to move. but the most powerful when in action,
and the least Influenced by political aspirations
E11u pEeAEIl0EHkt-kA5 an16IlCaA 1dlAuGI au1 u45
colaborer,-may get hold within their grasp the
destiny Of the Republic; yet it is this class that
ia nov subjected to the worst form ct extortion,
to foster Industries that haVo bacone 30 power
ful as to bo rapidly absorbing the main bulk Of
the National wealth. It is high time that these
facts woro presented in all their startling reality
to the people, and agitated until reforms
are secured discriminating in favor OF no
class or industry. Particularly in the West
is this policy producing it's most disastrous cf-
1rI Er3 ,+
ing hia high taxea and expenses for labor, sur
plus barely sufficient to secure him the ueccs-
saries and comforts Of life; lu1uries are entire
" out Of the question: and in no case has real
estate productive power sufficient to pay tho
lowest rate Of interest upon the capital invested.
While, on the other hand, those industries,
clamoring for protection in order to exist. are
paying large dividends, and rolling up wealth
With IN enormous rapacity. It is but necessary
to show'to the people the injustice Of this bar
sassPa PoSs ss h59sasas ;ss. Wi '!s e.
Irresistible. The utter fallacy Of the
assumption, that Protection, in fostering the
growth Of manufactures, will increase the profits
OF the farmer by securing home market for his
products, is patent to every thinking man,-for
in the past, ut present, and in the future, go
long "a wo hare unoccupicd and undevelopcd
lands, the price Of every buBhel ut grain is, and
will continue to bo, governed By quotations from
Liverpool or London. This the farmer will
from his farm to those great centres deducted.
Yet the freights will be high or low in proportion
to the duties on materials that enter into the
use and consumption OF the various modes Of
transit. Railroads, to be ab1o to pay the high
duties On. coal, iron etc, which they use SO e,-
tensively. must increase their freights according
1y, and obtain compensation from tho proceeds
Of tho farm for every cent added to freight is SO
much deducted from their value; every manu-
facturer of agricultural implements, On account
+hn fnriT f.r or,Af Is
he uses, must increase the cost of the manufac-
tured article, to which is added the excess
si7e freights,-thus actually doubling the
duties, all of which must be, paid
meet ta he a dacson and eons 1ae r.rss
other needs, must have higher wages for his
labor in fact eyory increase in the cost Of labor
occasioned by oxcessiTo Duties whether in the
Workshop, manufactory, railroad, Or farm, is
agriculture, It is utter folly to pretend that thoy
aro paid by the capital and wealth of the coun-
try. 1t is q fnlse assumption. The farmer alone
pays this enormous taxation, and without ro-
ciprocal advantage, while all other interests
possess the power OF restoring every dollar 3D.
vhnced,-tho importer, By adding it to the price
OF hia merchandise, together With percentage
for tho money advanced; the merchant, by in- |
creasing his profits; the practitioner, BY aiding
to the value OF his services; and so on, to every
branch, profession. and industry, except the |
tho business world, is compelled to disgorgo the |
hard-earned fruits Of his labor into tue capacious
rnaw OF Protection. Not only does he pay the !
freight upon his own productions, but also upon !
completely il ho hommcd in by the tolls Of this !
that le cannot feed his stock, gather |
hs crops. OF improve his farm, without paying |
tribute to 1t, and ell without relief.
Protection IS m lncumbrance upon every
tsrm,-. lar mo mortgage 1eld ,S ky the " wealth of
ands belonging to the- laborins MASSES Its J
.cudency is to "mako the rich richar and tho /
ooor poorer, taxing the West for tho benefit |
II the st,-until ne find the normal financial !
money and low rates Of interest in the East, and !
scarcity and high rates in the West. We ask
hat the Great West bo aroused to q gense OF !
heso living facts, for she ia the great tax
,aycr to this infamous system, and ia |
early, filing the Golfers Of, the already
8 rapidly impovorishing our rich prsiries, and,
t not oTerthrown by tho virtue OF the people, t
vill, sooner or later, glvo blow to agriculture,
md precipitate a crisis too extensive and disas-
rous to bo regarded indiirerently. A great fall
acy obtains among many of our public men, and
large proportion Of tho masses, which las beon,
nd is, taken advantage OF by tho advocates OF
he "Americau System, go called, to perpetua.e /
Is existence, and, extend and increase its rami-
led evils, and that is that money, or gold, conati
hould be to hold it, by Ill possible means,
sithin our own borders. Yet it would
eem that the experience OF the past, |
nd i knowledge Of the Office Of money as me-
ium Of exchange, would be sufficient to dispel
he hallucina.ion. The value of farm dopcnds
Ipon its productive capacity, and the wealth of |
Nation depends upon it's productive power,
rhile that productive power depends upon leav-
ne all it's energies and industries equally free
nd untrammeied: subject only to the natural
ill find its level. whether between Nations,
t.tes, or individuals, ,-governed by the same
ans that control the exchange Of products.
Any attempt to 1egislato in faJor of q new in
ustry, or to giyo an Official direction to any e.
ensivo interest, can only bring disaster, BY
ti1nulating speculation On ons hand. a-:d /