The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-07-10

And, on the other hand, manufacturing
interests are safely grounded where the
crops are good and farmers realizing ready
sales and good profits, for the farmer in
turn becomes the consumer of the wares of
the manufacturer. and his ability to pur-
chase depends on his surplus on the price
which he can obtain for what he produces.
There is no divorcing their interests; they
are fundamentally and essentially reciprocal;
there can be no great prosperity in the one,
without, in some degree, corresponding
strengthening of the success of the other.
The true system, the American system, is TO
SO legislate that both shall flourish; that they
shall operate side by side, the one to supple
ment and sustain the other. In this coun-
try, we have an abundance of rich soils to be
cultivated, and an abundance of raw mate
rial to be worked up, and ii is for the in
terest of the country that both should be
equally developed. Michigan, for instance,
has great diversity of products, grain, wool,
fruit, lumber, plaster, salt, iron, copper, etc.
1t is a great food-producing state, and that
the tillers of the sol shall prosper, it is nee
essary that she should hold within her bor-
ders q large population of individuals and
well paid consumers that her mines should
be thoroughly worked and her infant manu-
features grow and develop. BY building up
our mining and manufacturing industries,
we secure within our own borders market
for the surplus products of our soil.
Western Michigan is Justly celebrated as a
| fruit producing region; but the fruits which
are proving profitable, would be of compare
lively little value, but for the contiguity of
the section to the great city of Chicago, with
its teeming population of consumers, to alb
sorb these perishable products.
Chicago, with its great manufacturing in
terests, its blast furnaces and rolling mills,
| is primary fact that renders fruit raising
in Michigan a profitable enterprise. And
just in proportion as these manufacturing
enterprises grow and develop, as their ope-
ratives are well paid and prosperous, will the
fruit industry in western Michigan grow
and develop.
The farmer is both seller and a pur-
chaser. He produces food which he must
| first sell TO the manufacturer, or other con-
sumner, in order to meet his obligations and
to purchase the articles made for his use. So
far from antagonizing each other, they are
equally interested in promoting the interests
the one of the other. In no way can the
farmer cripple the manufacturer, without
detriment to his own interest.
Those cities and villages are the most
| fiourishing and prosperous, which contain
the greatest amount of manufacturing in
dustry, and the farmers living in the vicinity
of these manufacturing towns, are prosper
Gus in the same degree, and find their land
proportionately enhanced in value.
Our policy, therefore, should be TO pro-
mote home industries, to develop every va
riety of industry on our own soil, to build up
ho,,.a r,,orlatc 20
cles, to feed and pay the laborers at home
instead of abroad, thereby saving ourselves
the cost of transportation, developing our
own crude industries, and keeping our
money to ourselves for home circulation.
Hard times follow quickly on the heels of
a period of excessive foreign importation.
Nations, like individuals. soon go into
bankruptcy when they pay out more than
they receive, until their treasure is exhausted.
We, as a people, are abundantly able to
live within ourselves, TO produce almost
everything required, for the convenience and
luxury of our own citizens. Our mines of
gold and silver are annually yielding vast
amounts of the precious metals. 1t should
be our policy TO use this treasure to develop
our own resources, rather than to send it
abroad TO purchase articles that might bet
ter be made at home, thereby depicting the
country of money and allowing our own
great resources to lie dormant and idle.
The theory of protection is to sustain
home industries; TO place just that amount
of restriction upon the importation of for
eign goods, as shall permit the home manu-
facturer to successfully rival his foreign COM
petitor.
The result is 10 secure home markets for
the farmers produce; to save the cost of
transportation: to give employment to our
own workmen at remunerative wages, far in
advance of the earnings of the laborers of
the old world, and TO keep our money for
home circulation. To assume that protec-
ton TO home industry, is a system devised
solely In the interest of manufacturers is not
true: the result is reciprocal, and the benefits
accruing from an intelligent application of
the theory involve our agricultural interests
as well; they 60 hand in hand and mutually
sustain and support each other, and tend TO
make every community that secures their de-
velopment side 10y side, independent and
prosperous.
We have unlimited supplies of coal, of
iron, of copper, of silver, of gold, of soil rich
in capabilities of production-let us work
our own mines, operate our own furnaces,
manufacture our own steel rails, machinery
and fabrics: coin our own bullion and pay it
to our own workmen.
The great system of ocean commerce is a
costly burden, which, indirectly. rests upon
the labor of this country. AS we develop
our own industries, build up our own manu-
features, secure our own markets, commerce
becomes less and less a necessity, and we, as
people, become self-sustaining prosperous
and happy.