Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-03
Farmers and Protection.

Nearly all reading and intelligent farm
ers have discarded the assertion common
ly made bv free traders that protection
benefits nobody but manufacturers. Hor-
ace Greeley's writings in the Tribune gave
them new light upon the subject. showing
them that the home markets afforded Tor
their farm products, by the growth OF
manufacturing centres, were OF immense
advantage to farmers. These are the in
direct but certain results of protection.
Let manufacturing start on large scale
in any town, employing many workmen,
and there follows of necessity home
market for all the farmers in that vicinity
tor many miles around, according TO the
increase of the population engaged in the
new industry.
We notice that the Farmers Congress,
recently held at St. Paul. which
was attended by leading farmers
from all over the country, and
which took steps for the formation and
incorporation OF 1.-The Farmers Congress
of the United States" to which delegates
are to be sent by farmers assemblies in
each State, 10 attend annual sessions,
adopted a resolution in favor of protection.
Forty years ago such an assemblage of
farmers would have taken different action
Very likely if they had expressed any
opinion in regard to protection they
would have asserted that it was policy
to enrich the few at the expense of the
many, to enrich manufacturers and impov-
erish the tillers of the soil. But expert.
ence in regard to the working OF a protec-
tive tariff. and the circulation of the writ
ings of Horace Greeley and others who
were ardent protectionists, have wrought
change in the minds of farmers. The
proofs of its benefits may be found near
any manufacturing locality.
The resolution in the Congress at St.
Paul was adopted after full discussion
with hearty applause. 1t especially asked
the restoration of the duties on wool,
which the democrats propose to place on
the tree list.
1t is not forgotten by the farmers of
Maine that the democratic leader of the
House of Representatives, Mr.. Morrison,
brought bill before that body at its re-
cent session which reduced duties on wool,
how pototoeo and otbar nroductS 90 hat
it would have been a stunning blow to the
farmers of Maine, by bringing them into
direct competition with the cheap labor
and cheap products of the Canadas. This
bill had the support OF President Cleve
land, but it was defeated by the republicans
with the help OF few democrats who rep
resent protection districts. Our Maine
representatives. voted unitedly against it
1t was defeated, we repeat, but the free
traders have gone to work and will do all
they can in the coming fall elections to
secure if possible free trade ma orty so
that at the next session they NAV be able
to pass the Morrison bill and make it the
law of this country. 1t becomes farmers
therefore to be earnest ard wide awake in
the elections in order to take care of their
own special imperiled interests. If they
will not defend their own interests when
they are assailed how can they expect to
have them defended
1t is important for the farmers of Maine
especially to be active for the republican
ticket. Being border State the Morrison
bill would particularly damage them
should it become law. Then the vote of
Maine, the election being among the first
to occur, will have significance that will
affect the vote in other States. A rousing
republican majority in this State will help
the republican vote in other States. Thus
the farmers of Maine may exercise great
influence beneficial to themselves by doing
all they can to swell the republican ma
jority as much as they are able. They
will beat their enemies at home and help
to beat them in other States. Will they
improve the opportunity before them and
strike a ringing blow on the day of cleo
ton tor the republican ticket? We have
confidence and faith that they will.