The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-01-11
FORAKER ON CLEVELAND.
Extract from the Buckeye Governors
Message to the State Legis-
lature.

NV last annual message commenceu WIN
the following paragraph:
The re .ent elections did much to dspel
the distrust that has obtained throughout
the country during the last two Yeas as to
the policy to be pursued by our National
Government in regard TO the protection OF
American labor and industries. 1t can now
be stated with great confidence that no
political party will be allowed, however
much it may desire to do so, to break down
that wise and patriotic policy to which We
are so much indebted for the uneXampled
prosperity we have enjoyed during the last
quarter of century. The assurance thus
afforded is already beneticially manifesting
itself throughout all our business interests.
With complete restoration of confidence
in this regard there will be full return of
that commercial and industrial activity
which will bring the rich blessings OF just
rewards and happy contentment to all
classes OF our people. This is just cause
of congratulation for all.
1t was then generally supposed that we
had heard the last Of free trade, at least for
time; but not so. The recent message OF
the President of the United States commits
his administration and the party he repre-
sents to the most unqualified and hostile
opposition to the entire principle and policy
of protec tive tariff. He seeks to make 1t
appear that the blow he would strike is
aimed only at the manufacturing and WOOL
growing interests OF the country, but it is
manifest to all men of intelligence, who are
acquainted with our conditions, that If his
propo ,itions prevail the consequences will
be disastrous to every industry and
every section of our country, and to
no class more surely than our farm
ers, who must rely chiefly on our home
markets for the sale of their products and
our laboring people, who depend upon a
continuance of that general prosperity that
has obtained for the last quarter of cent
ury for employment ut remunerative wages.
But it should be particularly noted by you
that it is deliberately proposed to practio-
ally sacrifice together
THE wOoL-GRowING INTEREST
of the country by removing from it all pro-
lection whatever. Ohio ranks first of all
the States of the Union in sheep husband
ry. In 1883 we had 5,130, 800 sheep, valued
at $13, 2i9, 1876. The reduction of the tariff
on wool by the act of that year has already
produced to the wool-growers Of this State
the disastrous consequences shown by the
following table,
1881 Number of sheep 5,l3o92o Value sls, 24s, l6S
| 1884. 4,96S794 11,940, 720
| 1885. 4,925,332 9,345,S19
| 1886, 1895, S39 SS3S 430
| 1897 41Ojl77 $500, $50
! Toll decline since 1888, 1,025,743 4,4426 16
But 1t is not until ii is remembered that
not only has there been this decrease in
the number of sheep and their value, but
that there has also been a decline in the
value of the wool produced of about IA
cents per pound, that the full extent of
| this calamity to our WOOL growers is per-
ceved and appreciated. Our annual clip
| is not only about 5000, 900 pounds less than
| in 1888, but the 25,000.00 now produced
| bring 10 the owners of our hocks each year
I more than $4,000, 900 less money than for
merly. To put wool on the free list. as
proposed, and thus put our wool-growers
in competition with the free grass and
cheap labor of foreign wool-growing
countries is to unjuStly discriminate against
an honorable, industrious and patriotic
class OF people, and to utterly destroy one
of the most important industries of the
country; an industry, in fact, without
which no county can be independent.
The effect would fall with particular
severity upon this State, since it would
not only destroy the wool industry
but also injuriously affect every other.
While, therefore, you have no power TO
legislate with respect to national affairs,
vet ii should be remembered that in your
representative capacity you have an intiu-
ence which you should not fail to use for
| the good OF the people you represent, Dy
adopting resolutions of protest against
such unwise, unjust, and unpatriotic prop
ositions. You have also the right, and you
should exercise it, of requesting our Rep
resentatives in Congress to oppose all such
measures that may be offered. Other and
better ways can be provided for disposing
Of the surplus revenue than by breaking
down our home industry and exposing our
labor to foreign competition. All, there
fore, who think more OF this country than
they do of any other, and all who appreci-
ate the great blessings we have enjoyed in
consequence of the protective tariff policy
which has been pursued for the last twen-
ty-five years, should stand firmly together
III its support, and not on y should we con-
tnue to protect and develop every indus
try that is essential to our greatness and
independence, but we should afford direct
protection to our labor by carefully dis
eliminating against every kind of socialis-
tic, criminal or disreputable character who
may seek 10 immigrate TO our shores. Next
after our obligaticng to God, it 10 our
| biobact 6utv 20 fol- 20 ra Of r,ar;oa