The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-09

policy with reference to the protec-
tion and fostering of home manufac-
lures by the imposition of a high tar
if upon articles of foreign manufac-
ture such as can well be manufacture
ed in this county, study as pro-
longed and as thorough as we have
been able to make. has changed us
from somewhat radical free trader
to a very thorough protectionist.
Within a few weeks past the state
ment has been made upon the floor
of Congress, by gentleman from
Tennessee, we think that the rem0v-
al of all tariff restrictions and the adj
mission of all kinds of foreign manu-
featured articles free of duty would
have the effect to open all our closed
factories and mills, and set to work
all our unemployed workmen. We
do not see how Il man of even Ordina-
ry intelligence and common sense
could hold such an opinion, although
we do not question the intelligence
or common sense of the gentleman
who avowed it.
The great law of supply and de.
mand is always operative and how
any sane man can suppose that n
great anu sudden increase of the sup.
nlx, mi n n n,,rrasnnpd;nrr; ,,or,,.o sc
the supply in the needs of the people
and certainly no increase of their
purchasing pc er could operate to
create a "boom" in our manufacture.
ing industries we confess passes our
comprehension.
If II shoemaker is fully able to sup
ply the people of his village with all
the hOnts and shoes they need, we can
not see how his trade is to be bene.
fitted by flooding that village with
boots and shoes made Ivy pauper la
Dor. and consequently sold at much
less price than his better goods We
know that the answer of the free ira
der would he, 1.-The shoemaker is a
mOnopolist, and is growing rich upon
the unrighteOus profits he makes out
Of his neighbors. Give the people
cheap shoes without regard to the
welfare of the shoemaker"
But that puts different face upon
the matter. Ifthat is what you mean,
if You are willing to starve the shoe
maker in order that the people may
haye cheap foreign shoes, why just
say so. Don't put it upon the ground
of making more business for the shoe
maker. and ohliging him to employ
more hands in order to supply the
demand for his goods. But when
yon have starved out the shoemaker,
what are your farmers, the class
whom you propose to benefit by
starving him out, going to do for a
market for their produce? Look at
the prices of farm products to day,
and then tell US where will the far.
mer find remuneratiye market for
the products of hTs farm when you
have destroyed his home market
You say, perhaps, that the foreign
demand viii he so increased rs to rec
Ompen,e him. This statement we
may he permitted 10 doubt. In tart
the farmers of u considerable portion
Ofthis country cannot pYofitsh bly, reach
a foreign market at all. Their most
profitable crops are the perishable
ones, the fruits and vegetables which
will not bear transportation. Every
man who has seen, as we and many
of our readers have, the immediate
effect upon the prosperity Of the far
mers produced by the building of
factory or the opening Of u mine in
their vicinity. will ut once see The
fOrce Of this statement. In face the
manufactures h the great beuefactor
Of the farmer. -KeySer Echo.