Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-22
MEMPHIS APPEAL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1888
an INnusTRY WITHOUT a PARIY.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1888
AN INDUSTRY WITHOUT A PATTY.
The soil is the source of all wealth, but lie
tillers have no champions. The debates in
Congress on The tariff question develop the
strange fact that the monopoIies have party,
the manufacturers have party, all the other
varied industries have party, but the farm
er has none. There il nobody in Congress
asking protection for the farmer. He is
taxed for his trsce-chains, his pillow, his hoe,
his barbed-wire fence, everything, but he is
protected in nothing. The following figures
from the New York Ward, which is doing
good service in daily exposing the iniqui-
Ties Of the present tariff, shows THAT the
farmer is without party, and what be has
to pay as tribute TO other parties or in
dustries:
The iron the stove is made Of IS per cent hol-
low ware pots and kettles, 53 copper and brass
utsnsils, ii aoy, As; CTockeiy, of the comm onest
table cutlery aud spoons, 49, picked or sailed fish
Is salt, 36; sugar, ~; vinegar. &c; pickles, 30;
20 carpet If made of druggets, "a; carpet, II
made OF tapestry, IS; furniture, IS; wall paper
GO; ornaments OF knick-knacks, IS; mems clothing
of wool, As; wooden hosiery and undershirts, Is;
cotton hosiery and undershrts, IS; wooden hats
and caps, rs; the farmers wife's black silk dIess
So gloves, 5oj blankets, co. alpaca dresses, 60;
scissors, a. brass pins 5O hairpins IS: penkniyes
so needles, %; steel pens, As; ink, Is; paper, 20
I;Tors. %; castor Oil, l02 CASTLE soap 81; dose
"a: the commonest window-glass for the house,
50; paint for the farmhouse. 81 brick. IS roofing
hAnd-saw 10; files, 40; spool thread, co. bags for
basging for gain, 40: burr-stone, 20; combs and
brella, 50; any iIcn or steel farmer may need,
average Of IS.
These figures are startling, and il is strange
that the great farming interests Of the coun
try have borne these burdens in silence.
The taxes imposed upon them is not only
an injustice but an outrage. They pay
tribute TO other industries but derive no
benefit. The money Heeced from the farm
ers simply passes from their pockets TO the
bank accounts of the monopolists, who grow
rich on the sweat and toll of the farmer. In
discussing the above exhibit of the imposi-
ton imposed on the farmer, the st. Louis
Republican says:
Ia proportion to the toll and the responsibilities
1t is pretty plain that the farmer and his wife and
children have fewer of the good things of life than
any 0tner class OF American producers. He and
those dependent on him labor more hours and
endure more privations than artisans or laborers
in other pursuits. They have fewer and cheaper
clothing palmer and less agreeable food less fire.
quent holidays and rests, and smaller educational
facilities than persons in other callings. They
have more sickness, break down earlier, and fewer
computations at every stage Of life. The single
advantage which is claimed for them is their real
or supposed independence: 1t is not OF course,
independence of toll and effort, but simply secur
ity of the work upon which they rely for subsist
ence, and which, as q rule, does not rest upon the
viii OF an employer. This is something, and
must in fact be the chief attraction found in
the American farmers. life. But ought not
farmers TO be in fact in condition as favorable in
all respects as are any other producers in the
united states? The soil of this country Is good
and the breadth at the command Of each tiller
greater than anywhere else; The very circum-
ence of the life of those who cultivate the land
has bred stalwart, selfreliant and capable race
of men. That they do not attain 60 tho most com
Portable and enjoyable condition possible to peo-
pie who devote their lives TO production is owing
70 the determinations Of government against theif
whether y Is beef, pork, grain Gotten or the pro-
rope, while that Of all they buy is fixed by the
p9Otectonists in Congress. That is they must
make bushel Of wheat and pay the freight on 1t
from Missouri TO Liverpool, and compete in
the English market with the wheat raised
in sight of that city; and they must buy the
increased any per cent. in New York and
augmented by the costs and risks Of
VIII fools which are taxed fifty per cent, and sell
the fruits Of their toi IN foreign market In which
commercial system which seems 10 aim at nom
intercourse. is 1t strange, therefore, that the
months in the year iii they are twelve years old.
while those of The tradespeople go nine and ten
months every year till they are sixteen years old?
Is it strange the farmers wife wears calico or
nnsey-woolsey, while the artisans wears cash
scantily or not at all of butter and eggs, while
common laborers in other callings deem these
strange that the graces and attractions OF life are
so widely wanting In calling which allows itself
TO be thus put at such disadvantage in COMPARE
son with Others? Until the agricultural class shall
assert themselves and demand fair field and free
fight in the industrial contest the boosted superb
or1ty and delights OF their calling will remain
myths and receptions.
Bat the farmers of the country have
abundant cause for congrstulating them
selves ON the relief that is coming. There
is but little hope that the present Con-
orA-- .-iu i;sLtsn ,hs pusdeas or the farmer.
A great reaction has taken place in the
public mind, and a protective tariff will
soon be declared an "obsolste idea" The
people are opposed TO the injustice which
robs the most deserving and at the same
time the most tax-burdened class OF the
country--an Industry upon which the coun-
try depends-for the sole purpose of en-
riching capitalists engaged in msnufac-
turing. During the past ak months there
has been wonderful change in
public opinion on the subject of
the tariff. Pending the last presidential
election, the Republicans were avowed pro-
tectionisls. The Democrats evaded the sub
ject, were inundated by the threats Of the
monopolists, who we're enriching themselves
by robbing the people. But now all parties
are denouuciug the tariff. Even the Tariff
Commission, made up of protectionist., was
forced to recommend a reduction of the pres
ent tariff. The people have discovered, by
facts and figures, that the protective policy
does not increase the comforts or the wages
Of the laboring classes; and, even if it did,
the people have learned that there are
ouly 3,S37,ll2 men engaged in mining and
manufacturing TO be benefited by an increase
of wsges, while there are l3, 554 1887 men and
women workers outside of factories whose
wages would not be increased, but the price
of whose living, whose bread, whose raj
ment, and whose shelter would be raised
without any compromising advantages. In
the next presidential election the tariff will
be vital issue. The manufacturing monop-
olies can no longer awe the people into cub
mission; they can no longer intimidate those
in their employ. A protective tariff is an
exploded fallacy, and the burdens of the
great consuming masses are 10 be lightened
This is another triumph of the Democratic
party.