The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-12-01
A CRY FROM MANITOBA.

The formation off Farmers Union
at Fl. Winnipeg. Manitoba, recently
is significant of the feeling ofthe PEG
pie toward their home government,
They complain of two things. First
the high duty imposed upon agri.
cultural implements. Second, the
crushing effect of a railroad monopo.
ly. The high tariff imposed upon
agricultural implements and many
other articles of American manufac-
ure is for the purpose Of protecting
English manufacturers against Amer
lean competition. The Dominion is
simply playing the same game in
Manitoba to keep out articles of for
eign manufacture that our govern
ment plays here, and that is the i'm
position of such duties upon imports
Is to bar them out.
Manitoba is easily reached by
our manufacturers. A railroad
branches off from the Northern
Pacific at Fargo, and runs down the
valley of the Red River Of the North
to the British line. During open
water months q line of steamers also
runs from Fargo and Moorehead
down to the line. From these sources
all the best and latest improved
agricultural implements
and machinery may be obtained.
They are prefersn1. by Manitoba
farmers to the heavy, clumsy imple-
ments of English manufacture, and
are bought by them in preference to
the latter. But the duty levied upon
these implements as they cross the
makes them very expensive,
and this Is one of the grievances of
the Manitoba farmers COM
plain.
The business Of the complaint is
very readily recognized by American
consumers of foreign manufactured
articles. Under the specious plea
Of protecting American industries
prohibitive duties are levied
lpon foreign made articles. and the
between the first cost of
;hese articles with a fair profit added
hereto and the price actually paid
or them by consumers, represents
he SUM taken from the pockets of
he latter and given to the home
manufacturer. It is this injustice of
which the Manitoba farmer COM
In the next place he is placed at
he mercy of the Canadian Pacific
abroad monopoly. Competitive
abroad lines do not exist there. The
American lines of railway run to the
order and there they stop. They
an go no further north. They are
net by the Canadian line and farm
rs must pay just what that road
lay be pleased to ask for transport
alton of freight. They wanted to
uild local lines to meet American
mes at the border, but the
ill was vetoed in the interest
f the railroad monopoly. Here is
just cause for complaint.
'ut the question arises, what are the
,mplainants going to do about it? 8
hey may form unions and protest =
ntil they paper the road to the cap ,
al with their protestations. Little ,
ill be gained by them. The bluster ,
,out secession is nothing but bluster =
i'd may do them more harm than ,
,od. In the end they must rely :
BON the tact, good judgment, ability ;
I'd perseverance Of their represen- :
tives and the sense of fair play and
stice entertained by their rulers to
relieved of the disadvantages un- p
+ which they labor. The Canadian a
Icihc has q vlse-like hold upon that n
eat wheat raising country and it G
IL require more effective weapons tt
IN protests to make them let go. G,
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Nov. 3O.-Of the 600 gen.