The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-06-22

the farmer as well. Our Consular reports
show that the rate of wages in France, Ger
many, Denmark, Spain, and Italy are only
about one third of the rates paid in the
United States, and in England and Scotland
only from one half to two thirds of the rates
paid here. Now, if we have low duty, or
no duty, on iron, the foreign manufacturers
would be enabled by this cheap foreign labor
to supply the American market, and ruin the
American manufacturers It is to prevent
this that the Republicans have placed duty
of from 81 to $50 per ton on imported iron.
This is not prohibitory tariff, for ii does
not prevent the importation of iron, bat 1t
enables the American manufacturer 70 pay
American prices, and yet secure the chief
market for his products. Remove this duty
and foreign manufacturers, with their cheap
labor will supply the market, crush out
American manufacturers, throw American
laborers out of employment, and then having
secured the market for themselves. charge
their own prices, and the result would be
ity resulting from our manufacturing inter
ests, but would be compelled 10 purchase
foreign products al the same, or even at a
greater cost than we now procure home man
ufactures, while the thousands Of operatives
thereby thrown out Of employment wouid be
forced into agricultural pursuits, and become
producers instead of consumers, thereby de-
stroying home markets for the farmer, and
lessening prices for all agricultural products
and thus working irreparable injury, not
only 20 the manufacturer, but TO mechanics,
farmers and lsborers also. All OF our differ
eut industrial occupations are so intimately
and closely connected, that it is utterly
impossible that one should receive an injury
and the others remain undisturbed.
In 1880 there was paid as wages to persons
employed in the iron and steel industries of
the United States the sum of Sjj,j00,O0o.
Remove the tariff and this industry will re-
ceive its death blow; and not only is this
true of iron, but il is also true as 20 machin-
cry, and all the manufactured products of iron
and steel, wooden, cotton and silk goods, paper
glass, pottery, and all other industries where
America would be brought into competition
with foreign manufacturers. protective
tariff has multiplied our factories, and given
employment to a multitude of operatives who
must live from the productions of our soil
and upon the results of the labor of that por-
ton of our people who are engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits. In 1880 Il per cent of
the individuals engaged in the various Of the
country were following agriculture in some
form, % per cent were engaged in profession
occupations and personal services, per cent
in trade and transportation, and % per cent
in manufacturing, mechanical and mining
interests This state of affairs has created
large home demand for agricultural products
and largely increased their production.
IN 1880 there was more than double the
amount of corn produced here that there
was in 1870, and nearly as great an increase
in the production of wheat oats anu other
crops. That is TO say that while our popu-
the growth of our manufacturing interests
and the consequent increased home demand
our agricultural productions increased 100
per cent.
This is very satisfactory state of affairs
indeed.
There are various good reasons why a
home market, such as has been created by
our protective tariff is better for the p-oduc-
err than foreign market Only small per
cent OF our agricultural products are exported
to foreign countries. Take the corn crop
for an illustration, less than c per cent of it
is exported. If we destroy the tariff made
home market farmers would get bat little
pay for their corn crop. II is so bulky that
the expense of transportation to foreign
countries would leave but very small mar
gin 10 the farmer who raises it. A home
market brings the producer and the consum-
er near together and saves the cost of trans
porting the food to foreign nations and of
shipping their manufactured products TO
this country.
A home market is permanent. Men
engaged as manufacturers. mechanics and
laborers in our factories must consume food
and wear clothes, and they eat and wear our
own productions, many Of which. like vece-
tables and fruit, are of perishable nature
and could not be exported at all,
Foreign market, on the other hand. is ex-
tre1nely unreliable. 1t depends on short
crops in other countries. When foreign
Nations have abundant crops they have no
heed Of ours. Foreigners will not purchase
American breadstufs, bacon, or beef when
they have an ample supply at home.
The prosperity of all classes of community
in our country wonld be greatly enhanced if
our manufacturing interests should increase
until every bushel of grain which we can
grow. and every pound of beef or bacon we
can produce, were needed to supply the
home demand.