Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-09-06
More Tariff.
Te tle Edilor OF the Ielser.

the Editer OF the Ledger,
MEXICO, Me-, August 80
The controversy between Mr..
Hathaway and myself has strung
out to Il length and run into so
much ofmere expression ofihdivid-
ual opinion that with this note it
shall be brought 10 Il close, 50 far
as the writer is concerned.
by way of u conclusion, allow
me to say that free trade is no
bugaboo TO me; and it is hard TO inn
agine how Mr.. Hathaway should
think so. The real free trade adj
~vocatos of America are few in
numbers, and about equally scat
tered between the two political
parties. Gen. B. +. Butler, Geo. VIM
Curtis, the late Henry Ward Beech
er notable among the Republicans;
last and least, of those who fully
believe that free trade is the true
policy of the American people,
holding that We are fully compe-
tent to go into the markets of the
world, and standing alone, is your
humble servant, who would be
quite well pleased to think with
Mr.. Hathaway that the Democratic
party had accepted such opinions.
But such is not the case. The Mills
bill still grants too much to
Eastern interests, Is very gradual In
its reductions and has the sole merit
of being better than the other fell
lows offer, who stand committed
to do away with the whisky tax
rather than abatc one i0ta of their
unjust determinations against
agricultural interests.
AS to the S1-2 cents per capita
on wool which farmers ars asked to
abandon. it is more than offset by
the reduction on woollens, at least
IS per capita being saved to such
wearer of woollen garments, and
our farmers generally wear out more
wool than they produce.
What l have written on this sub
Iject, has been with the hope of
showing men habituated to voting
Republican, from issues of the past;
thatsstimes have changed. The union
was saved, slavery abolished long
ago, and now they have time to
look to their own interests; and
even if they be willing to grant
some protection, surely the pres
ent, Republican party, departing
from the opinions of Grant, Arthur
and Garfield, goes too far. Capital
and manufacturers must be con-
tent with a less share of the pub
lie wealth; and let the farmers
get rid OF their mortgages. To show
that some Republicans do see
things in this light l copy part of
a letter from a farmer,
born in the Republican party, and
a faithful member of the same up
to the present time. He says
"Owing to the absurd position
taken by the G. o. p. in regard to
tariff reform, I am forced to cast
my vote and what little influence
| have on the other side. It is
possible that the immediate effect
of the passage ofthe Mills bill may
be to reduce the price of wool but
the reaction is sure to follow, and
the increased demand will cause
wool to rise higher than now; and
in the meantime a farmer with a
family of five persons will much
more than make up his loss by the
lower price, and improved quality
of his clothing blankets, etc.
"There is no other possible solu-
ton to this question. Clothing is a
necessity and every one should be
allowed to purchase as cheap as he
can, no matter where it is made.
We farmers are going backward;
every year mortgages are increasing
in size and quantity. We sell our
products in competition with the
world, and buy in eur home high
protected market. The Mills bill is
certainly in our favor, let us try it,
1t is as I believe an honest effort on
the part of the Democratic party tc
relieve us of some of our burdens;
it is time for us to look at the
matter a little more selfshly, and
have less solicitude for the wealthy
manufacturers"