Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-27
from the Honest Truth.l
Facts For Farmers.


census taker in this State is. that the pop
ulations of the cities. towns and agrlcui-
tural districts in the neighborhood OF
cation. wooden and other manufactures
have largely increased. and the taxable val
uations have corresponiingly Improved.
For the laborer and artisan, this is very
interesting point, for it points the way,
through the continuance of the present pol
icvof the Government, to still farther devel-
opments of our manufacturing industries
that shall bring relief to both ends OF mrs
account. namely: the Increase OF the
demand for skilled labor, and the growth
of taxable values. thereby increasing the
aggregate. Of tax PAYERS, and decreasing
the individual burden.
But the class in Maine which has the
largest interest in this development is
the farming class. Maine is an agricul-
tural State. but it cannot maintain itself
As such in foreign markets alone nor can
it prosper under the tree trade policy OF
Democracy, which would admit. free, TO
compete with our people. not only all the
products of the farm, but all the manu-
features in which our people now engage
with so good results The farmer must
have home markets, and the result of this
census is one of the evidences of their
benefit.
How are home markets made and main
tanned? BY the establishment OF manu-
factories chiefly, where the natural high
ways of commerce do not OF themselves
make markets. Maine. being on the ex-
treme east, is not i highway. and must
depend on the industrial development of
her own internal resources: but left to the
course of free trade and foreign compete
ton, these resources would he mere dead
weight: manufactures would decline and
die, and agriculture would follow an I'M
thrifty career. The population Of the
State would fall with its industrial de-
cay, and the taxpayers and tax paving
values being reduced in the same way, the
individual burden Of taxation would in
crease to an unbeatable degree.
This deporable condition would be sure
to follow the introduction of the Demo-
cratic policy of free trade. inviting destruc-
tive competition in all branches of indus
try-in the products of the farm, as well
rs the articles now manufactured in our
growing and prosperous market places.
Following the rule in the other direction.
we know what has produced the opposite
effect, built up our market places, furnished
communities of consumers for the benefit
of agriculturalists, and increased the
taxable property. It is the fostering
policy of the Republican party, whose
Legislation has encouraged the man.
ufacturers of cotton and wooden goods.
OF paper, of boots and shoes, of
leather, and all the products of skilled
labor rs well as of the farm. There has
been great advance in the industrial in
terests of Maine, and the Democratic Con-
gress. held in check by large and vigilant
Republican minority and Republican
Executive, has not been able to strike
down the good results there produced. A
continuance of the protective policy is alb
solutely necessary to the life of our indus
trial interests; but further than that, it
will develop our resources, and improve
our home markets. more rapidly in the fu-
ture than it has in the past. because the
demand will increase with the supplies,
and our population will be attracted at
home instead of driven abroad, to develop
the markets of other States, offering no
better inducements than our own State
now does.
Agriculture and manufactures must 90
hand in hand, and Maine must prosper
under the benign policy which the Repub-
licans maintain, to encourage all industries
alike.