The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-02-02
FARMERS AND FREE TRADE

The advocates O." "a tariff for revenue
only" in their specious appeals to the
people, do not hesitate to tell the
laborer that free trade will raise wages,
and then turn to the farmer and say to
him that it will lower them. The argu
ment is inconsistent and contradictory.
Before there was any tariff, it is true
that the farmer enjoyed the luxury of
low wages. But the disadvantages I'M
der which he labored as to a market
for his products more than over-bal-
anced the advantages Of the low rates
of wages paid by him, and which ex-
tend into the cost of his products. 1t
is true that he produced cheaper, but
he also sold cheaper, for the reason
that he was so restricted in his market
that there was little demand for what he
produced. Farmers very early dis
covered that they could never get rich
by trading with each other. That moth
ing would be gained by merely ex-
changing commodities. That there
must be demand from some source
outside of their own class. That there
must be mouths to eat the products Of
the farm. In other words, that there
must be market for their commodi-
ties.
The first markets for these came in
the shape Of our large towns and cities,
themselves the product and outgrowth
of commerce. Their population, sup
ported by the transactions of CONNER
cial intercourse, consumed the products
of the farms, and became good Gus
toners of the farmer. Commerce thus
became the handmiad of agriculture,
and to encourage commerce was con-
sidered the same as promoting agricul-
ture. But it was very early seen that
commerce had limitations. So long as
the trade between large cities and towns
was carried by wagon trains on turn
pike roads, the business of transporta-
ton made market for the products Of
the farm. The builders of the wagons,
the teamsters, the harnessmakers, the
blacksmiths, and the tavernkeepers
along the routes, all became consumers
of farm products. But the abolition of
the old methods of transportation, and
the introduction of steam, have short
ened distances, and the local demands
incident upon the slow methods of
transportation no longer exist. Besides,
the substitution of steam and iron YES
sells for sailing and wooden vessels has
brought Europe within ten days of us,
instead of thirty, and has done away
with so much of what was called COM
merce, as pertained to transportation,
and, having thrown the shipcarpenters
and sailors out of employment, has
proportionately diminished the demand
for the products of the farm. To take
the place Of this demand, came that
from the manufacturers, who owed
their existence to protective tariff 1t
was thought a discriminating tariff
would introduce, foster, and protect
manufactures. 1t was tried. and did
Villages, towns and cities sprung up
like magic the hum of industry was
heard all about in places where formerly
the silence of death reigned supreme,
and the farmer secured a steady, relia-
Bile and profitable market in his own
country, at his own door, and avoided
the expense of transportation to other
lands across the seas. He has gained
something substantial, and can afford
to pay something for it. He is enabled
to sell things now at a good profit,
which before the tariff had no market,
and could have none. All fresh vege
tables, small fruits, milk, eggs, poultry,
fancy butter, wool, whisky, and many
other articles whose sales swell the
farmers gains were formerly of no ac-
count except within q dozen miles of
four or five leading cities. The ad.
vantage of home market that cannot
be cut off any day at the bidding Of
rival farmer in France and Germany by