Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-26
FOR PRESIDENT,
JAMES A. GARFIELD.
OF OHIO.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
OF NEW YORK,
OF OHIO.
The Farmers and the Tariff.
FOR PRESIDENT,

The democratic free traders assert that
protection Injuries the agriculturalist. II
this were 80 farmers would have good rea-
son to complain of the tariff and vote for
Hancock. But the assertion is not true.
In the first place the products of the
farmer are directly protected by the tariff.
as witness the duty on wool, potatoes,
and other articles which he raises.
But the direct benefit is more than over
balanced by the indirect advantage which
he receives The tariff builds up manu-
factories all over the country, which draw
operatives and others into communities
that make home markets for farmers,
enabling them to get better return for
their crops than though they had to ship
them and pay the inevitable cost of trans
portation to distant markets. IL there
were no manufacturing communities, the
number of tillers of the soil would also be
increased, giving larger production and
causing large surplus for which there
would be no buyers except possibly in
foreign countries. There would be no
home market, for all would be farmers.
and each would supply himself from the
products raised by himself. II he had
beef, hay. corn, butter or W Dol, more than
he wanted for his own use, he could not
turn the surplus into cash as he does now
by driving to the nearest town. If he sold
his products il must be in \ distant mar
ket, the cost of carrying to which would
leave but little perhaps to the farmer.
The farmer reaps n profit likewise
from dealing with well paid instead of
poorly paid laborers. As the tariff enables
the laborer to get better pay, so he is
able to pay for a better living and has it.
His wife spreads n better table every day,
and by her more liberal purchases addsto
the gains of the farmer. The pauper Ia
borers of Europe would be poor class of
customers for our Maine farmers to deal
with.
The stimulus to the mechanical genius
of our people which is created by our fac
tories, mills and shops of various kinds,
has had as one of its results the improve
ment of all the implements with which
our farmers work, until the labor of pro-
duction is greatly reduced in cost and the
beast.
The withdrawal of men from tilling the
soil to other employments suggested max
ing good the loss of agricultural laborers
by machinery, and hence came one-horse
mowers and other labor saving imple-
ments for the farm.
II farmers would look at the condition
of tillers of the soil in other countries,
where free trade prevails, they would see
that the farmers are ground down with
poverty. just the same as the common
laborers and factory operatives. Poverty
is the common lot of the workingmen of
England. English farmers, as class. are
little better than serfs. and England is the
boosted land OF tree trade. Irish farmers,
under the same government. are worse off
than English farmers, and in their desper-
alton are in a state of semi-revolt a large
part of the time. There is a wall con-
stantly going up from the free trade coun-
tries Of Europe. from the laboring class,
on account of poor wages and poverty.
and every steamer that comes from their
shores to America is laden with those who
have fled from their father-land, free
trade and misery. to seek here better
wages and comfortable homes. where
labor is protected by the government, and
workingmen have all the privileges and
necessary to citizens OF free
republic.
A farmer who votes for Hancock and
"a tariff for revenue only" votes as the
British Free Traders would vote if they
could, tor principles to maintain which
they are furnishing money in large sums.
If they could overthrow our tariff they
would be willing to spend millions. They
could afford the outlay.
A farmer who votes for Garfield votes
to keep poverty away from his door and
dismiss free traders to England and Ireland
where they belong. He votes to sustain
the dignity and rights of labor. He sees
the interior of the United States dotted
with prosperous settlements, our coast
lines marked by seaports of great activi-
ty. inducements everywhere for people to
come from other countries and make their
homes with us. and in voting for Garfield
he votes to have this State of things con.
hnue.
As government is to secure order and
personal rights; as the army and navy
are % defend US from our enemies and to |
givs - the enjoyment of peace; Is uni
vetad saueasion i for the diffusion of in