River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-02-04

ill5 Wages Lot IT,
BENEFITS TO THE FARMER.
AS stated at the outset, the leading OBJ
iect of this article is to discuss the rela-
tons of the farmer to the tariff. Is he
benefited by the protection that creates
and sustains manufactures Has Ne any
interest in the digging of the mine and
the building of the mill' Does the clang-
ing hammer, the rattling shuttle, the
throbbing engine, and the rushing water
as it turns the busy wheel on its way to
the sea-do these sounds Of life, and
labor, and thrift bring welcome music to
his listening earss Does he share in the
general prosperity Does his toll re-
ceive richer reward when other industries
are remunerative? Are the products Of
the soil from which he gains his support
enhanced in price, and the articles of
consumption which he is compelled to
purchase cheapened by the policy OF pro-
lection to home industry? These are
the questions that interest the farmer
Let experience, that safest teacher and
most unerring guide, answer them.
"HE FEEDETH ALL"
IfAgricuIture, that great primal indus
/ try of the country, is hampered and op
/ pressed by the exactions of protective
tariff, then should tariff laws be instantly
modified or repealed. The soil is the
very foundation Of wealth. Its tillage
+ the most important vocation as are its
products the most indispensable nee
essities Of life When the agricul-
tural interest suffers every department
of human activity IS depressed. The
wise legislator will therefore never
aid in the enactment of laws that discrim-
mate against agriculture in any Of its
branches.
THE FARMER SHARES THE GENERAL
PROSPERITY.
/ 1t is assumed that the farmer shares in
the prevailing condition of general bust
ness. When trade is dull and manufac-
turing light, labor is idle, or poorly paid,
and the farmer suffers with others in the
universal stagnation. An impetus given
to general business, brings an increased
demand and better prices for the products
of the farm
Now let us see how the various tariff
laws, dating back to 1924, have affected
the general business Of the country. Con-
trast the general prosperity of the periods
when the principles Of protection were in
force, with the depression and suffering
which prevailed when tariffs "for rev.
enuc only" were established. This con-
trast is graphically shown in speech
made in congress April 80, 1884, by Hon.
John T. Waite, from which We quote;
Take the period previous to the pro.
tective tariff of 1924 Wages were
scarcely worth the name. Sluggishness
in all industrial branches was every
where apparent. The comparatively few
mills and factories which then existed had
partially shut down. Labor was without
employment. Foreign merchandise, I'M
restrained by the protecting barriers OF
high revenue laws, had flooded the mar
kets Of the country and ruined our man
uiacturers by their unchecked COMPETE
ton. Financial embarrassment wa
everywhere the rule, and the courts and
the sheriffs found constant employment.
The tariff of 1916, although partially pro-
tective in its provisions, was insufficient
to repel the flood Of merchandise with
which foreign traders had determined to
destroy our infant industries and control
our markets in their own interests.
II, II Al fgf nj
1924 was enacted Immediately the
gloomy condition of affairs was changed.
The throbs OF vigorous life were felt
throughout the great body of the coun-
try; the sluggish blood circulated with
increased rapidity. Mines were opened.
The fires roared in the great furnaces.
The factories were busy. Trade was
active. Debts we've paid. Wages were
remunerative. lfosperity such as the
country had never before witnessed sat
down BY the hearttstones of contented
people and in his annual message of
1879 President Jackson declared that
"Our country presents on every side
marks of prosperity and happiness never
equaled perhaps in any other portion OF
the world"
The following year the compromise
tariff, with its descending scale, was
passed, and the general prosperity van
ished like the rnisls of the morning.
Money became high and wages low.
/ Public and private revenues everywhere
I decreased. Foreign goods poured like an
inundation upon our markets. Panic,
/ bankruptcy and collapse followed, and
suffering and misery were universal.
/ Protection was again demanded and the
( high tariff Of IS42 again wrought an eX-
traordinary revival in trade, production
and general business. In 1876 another
reduction followed, and in 1857 the tariff
was again cut down, and during these
periods financial revulsion followed, the
progress and advancement OF the country
were checked and mpeded, bankruptcies
took place, revenues declined and the
public credit was Frustrated.
The more recent events Of our tariff his
tory are familiar to all. When the Re-
publicans came into power and Lincoln
was inaugurated in 1861, the public treas
ury was bankrupt, the national credit inn
paired, and business generally depressed
The breaking out of the war of the Rebel
lion made the enactment of high tariff
an absolute necessity, and while it was
advocated and adopted as "war meas
ure" by which to raise needed revenues,
it was of necessity protective, and gave
an immediate and lasting stimulus to the
entire business interests of the country.
This law, with some slight notifications,
has been in effect ever since, despite the
repeated efforts of Democratic members
of Congress to repeal It. We propose to
show that this protective tariff law, which
it is claimed has been robbing the peo-
pie, and especially the farmers, has in
fact brought to all classes, farmers in par
ticular, an era of Unprecedented growth
and prosperity.
INCREASE OF FARM PROPERTY.
The same business principles apply to
farmers that apply to other business men.
If a merchant or manufacturer finds his
capital increasing, his wares in larger de-
mand, prices improved, and his trade gen.
orally remunerative, he is satisfied. He
knows that he is making money, and is
on the safe road that leads to comfort and
independence. If farmer can see his
farm charging, his tillable acres increas-
ed, his land yearly growing more valua-
bic, the prices OF his produce gong up
in short his income growing larger and
his expenses growing smaller, he should
be satisfied, and favor a continuance Of
the conditions that are bringing him pros
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