Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-04
Protection for Farmers.

Farmers are often appealed to by the
advocates of free trade rs though they
were not benefited by protection. where
rs. the truth il. that the farmer receives
double benefit from the protective system.
He gets protection directly upon many of
the products of his farm. and a greater
benefit indirectly from the building up of
home markets. Wool one of the great
staples of the North, has always been
protected. The present tar Il laws also,
impose the following direct protective du-
ties on agricultural products: Rice. cleaned,
2 IL cents "A pound whe It, % cents per
bushel Indian corn. 10 cents per bushel
oats 10 cents per bushel; rye. Is cents
per bushel; barley. ID cents per bushel
butter four cents per pound; cheese
cents per pound; potatoes Is cents per
bushel; poultry, 10 per cent in value;
peas. from 10 TO 20 per cent; tobacco un-
manufactured. 50 cents per pound; un-
stemmed. 80 cents. in addition to Il reve-
nue. duty of q cents per pound; on horses.
cows. bulls. oxen. steers. calves. sheep.
lambs, goats. hogs and pigs. except for
breeding purposes. % per cent; those for
breeding purposes are admitted free to
benefit the farmers; beef and pork.
cent per pound; mutton. 10 per cent; and
hay 20 per cent
This shows the direct advantage to the
farmer from the protective system. The
indirect benefit, resulting from the build
ing up of home markets. is greater. The
value of farms near manufacturing towns
and cities is much larger than those re-
mote from such places. With the growth
of Lewiston. Waterville. Biddeford and
many other places in our State. as the re
suit of protection TO manufacturing. the
farms in the vicinity of those cities have
increased greatly in value. because their
products are worth more to the owner by
reason of the homo markets The ex-
pense and waste of transporting farm pro-
ducts long distances to markets are very
large and leave but little profit to
the producer. all of which are avoided
by the farmer whose products are grown
near to y good market town. Everything
raised upon the farm finds ready sale
near by. Fruits. vegetables, poultry, hay
straw. are sold when they are in the best
eontisien for sale and the demand is the
greatest Large quantities of articles
!. fvm the farm are turned into ready cash
that woullbe utterly wasted if there We're
nothing but foreign market to he de-
pended upon for their sale.
~ Every farmer of intelligence will there
lore readily see that his interest lies with
manufacturers and Others in support OF the
protective system. The more factory
towns the better for the farmers. Maine
has the most ample and safe water power
of any of the States, and when the time
comes that these privileges are improved
as they may be by manufactures. great
and small the State viii be prosperous
aud wealthy. and agriculturists will be
better recompensed for their toll and the
value OF their farms vastly increased.
With suitable protection and encourage
ment by our government that time will
soon come. but if the doctrines of the free
traders and the leaders of the democracy
in Congress and the country prevail it will
be put of far in the future.