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


We could quote many more tables OF
I figures showing the same result, would
not this article grow too long. Boots and
shoes, crockery, glass, we might safely
say all the articles of common use on the
/ farm or in the house, tools, machinery
wearing apparel, bedding, etc, have been
largely reduced in price since the ''pro-
lection" theory has prevailed in our legis-
lation. Tea, coffee and sugar are the
/ principal articles of food that the farmer
has to buy. There is no duty on tea and
coffee, and Notwithstanding the tax on
sugar it has greatly reduced in price in
the past few years a bushel Of wheat at
the present low price will get IS per cent.
more sugar than bushel OF wheat would
buy when it wheat was IS per cent
higher
Thus the facts and figures, the basis
Of all true reasoning, show that nearly
everything the farmer has to buy, whether
to eat, to wear, to use on his farm, has
been cheapened under the present pro-
tective tariff---that a7gfHl faa which the
freetrader claims is so "burdensome" to
the farmer.
But we cannot close this branch Of the
discussion without making a couple OF
short extracts from two speeches made in
congress, one by prominent Republican
and one BY leading Democrat.
The Hon ]. T. Updegrah Of Ohio, in
his speech of April IL and -, 1882, in the
House of Representatives, said
"Mr. Chairman. have been a farmer all my
life and every year for thirty years have sold
the products Of the farm. WGe- manufacturers
were fully protected and hourishing nave never
seen the time when judicious agriculture was not
prosperous: and when manufacturing under
revenue tariffs was crippled or broken down
never saw agriculture fourishing. lsthere any
gentleman in this house who hasI Sometimes
a &c tain product may be In demand temp oTarily
our the uniform rule Is az have stated il II
any member has seen ii otherwise, Let hiri de-
clare II. (Applausel No; the real and parma-
uent industries Of a people are always q har-
mOny and independence with each other. Each
member Cf community profits by an Increase
IN the productive power OF the whole body.
That advantage is Increased and multiplied By
every increase in the diversity OF employments.
The farming interest above every other Is bene-
fted by this diversity, which saves the necessity
Of carrying bulky products 10 distant market;
for every intelligent farmer knows that the man
who is compelled TO go TO market must, Ia some
way, pay the cost OF going, and that the very
frat OF all the charges paid, by labor or by hand,
IL that for transportation.
''But Mr.. Montgredien says, In his Coooen
Club pamphlet, the farmer neither receives nor
seeks legislative protection False again. He
does both. The farmer has carefully AID intells-
gently studied this question. not merely by
theories Of bookmen. but IN the school Of prae-
teal affairs. He asks, and has received fair
protection for bis industries. Il is just that be
should, for many agricultural products are pro-
duced in other countries by pauper labor, against
which IL would be a monstrons outrage that the
American farmer should be forced 10 compete.
Surely this English teacher could not be Ignorant
Of the fact that protective duties are imposed on
al leading agricultural products where protect
ion Sc practicable. American farmers know
that these duties were laid to protect these arti-
cles in the home market, which consumes nearly
o. per cent. OF all the products OF the farm
'It fs not necessary 10 give full catalogue OF
ali these products and the duty on each, bat
mention enough, taken from orr tari1 list, 10
show how carefully the Interests Of the farmer
bavs been considered The duty on Indian
corn fs 10 cents 4 bushel; on wheat 20 cents a
bushtl; oats 10 cents bnshel; barley, Is cents
bushel; rye, IS cents bushel; peas and beans,