The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-23

Wharves; and second, all this merchan-
disc came to America through second
hands with added prices, trusts, cor
ners and combines. Corners made IN
Europe and corners on top of corners
in America. Thus the consumer was
taxed by foreign oppression and home
oppression. A single item will illus
trate: Our consuls abroad in the coffee
countries reported through the Agri-
cultural Department at Washington
that coffee vas raised at a prime cost
of five cents per pound What does
the consumer in America pay ? Five
times five. What does the consumer
in Europe pay for cotton, wheat, dairy
products and meat =? The bare cost
of production and carriage. Why
does the American consumer pay from
two to five times the cost of produc-
ton for all foreign products while her
products abroad are sold often at
prime cost of production l have al
ready told you. The governments of
Europe-Brittain, France and Ger
many made a combine for the carry
ing trade of the world. Then British
merchants cornered and American
merchants >cornered. The loss to
America cannot be appropriated.
But we can safely put it between
(SlOO, OOO, OOO) one hundred million
and $500, 600, 0OO) two hundred mil
lion dollars per annum
This is the disease. Now for the
remedy: Our remedy is radical and
perhaps rash. Therefore we offer it
only as a suggestion. We farmers
are simply scanning the field and will
concert upon our plan when maturely
considered and cOncurred in, so |
would be glad for some one to origi-
nate a remedy and give it form and
practicability.
Our remedy is for the United States
to establish lines of steamers at gov
eminent expense, plying between the
importing ports of the United States
and such countries of the world as her
trade will justify. These vessels to
be manned and Differed by the mill
tary marine, and paid as such, and to
belong to the regular naval forces.
AL freight and fare to be paid into
the United States Treasury. Fare
and freight shall be regulated so as to
pay expenses, if possible, and no more.
| do not insist on the military feature
of this proposition, for it was simply
put in to give exercise to our idle
navy and to increase it's numbers and
discipline.
This is my remedy to prevent cor
ners on the class of articles No. 2,
against which there is no home COM
petition. This proposition will allow
buyers and sellers to export and i'm
port on individual account. Let some
one Of your readers criticise this
proposition and suggest a better, for
we are only discussing a problem,
and W. won't cry eureka till all is
heard from.
Our third class consists of home
products against which there is no
foreign competition to hurt. This
class is very numerous. 1t consists
of corn, wheat, meat, cotton, cotton
seed oil, tobacco, whiskey, and many
others. 1t not only consists of the
products of the forest and field, but
also various species of manufacture
against which there is no foreign COM
petition. How can the producer sell
and the consumer buy at reasonable
prices? This is the question which
the Farmers Alliance is mainly en-
deavoring to solve. We know no
better plan than that already inau-
gurated. Organize, form mutual buy
ing and selling companies. Build
factories to supply home demand. Be
Independent in regard to the sale and
purchase of these articles, and that
will bring things straight.
Now let me repeat. Glass No. l
consists of articles manufactured at
home and abroad. The prices of such
can be regulated by the tariff judi.
ciously laid. Glass No. 2 consists of
foreign products and manufactures
against which there is no home COM
petition. The prices of such may be
regulated by the government trans
porting such as a public carrier.
Glass No, 3 consists of products of
forest and field and home manufac-
ture against which there is no foreign
competition. The prices of these can
only be regulated by combined effort
and reciprocity among farmers and
consumers themselves.
Let me conclude by saying that in
as much as the farmers and con
sumers have so much to be done, and
OF a character the most difficult,