The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-07-19

They seem to think that il farmer can
only wrap himself in a cheap blanket
and stick a ROSTERS feather In his hat,
and march around the country like an
Indian, he will be all right. Where the
money to buy the blanket is to come
from after his business has been destroyed
they fail to inform US. Even IL under
such circumstances he has the money to
purchase blankets and clothing, he can
buy goods made by our own manu-
facturers as cheaply as those made in
England, and far cheaper than he could
II without protection home competition
were withdrawn.
We have heard great deal here, from
those whose principal interest in the
farmer is to obtain his vote, about the
depressed condition of agriculture.
Whatever the truth about that may be,
can conceive OF no action that can be
taken by Congress better calculated to
do the farmer direct and serious in.
jury than the destruction of tho forty
four millions Of sheep in this country.
It will not aid our farmers II you trans
fer all the profits Of that immense busi-
ness to the farmers of Australia or the
Argentine Republic. 1t will not benefit
the other farmers in the United States,
and certainly not the wool growers, If
you compel the million men now en-
gagged in that industry to go into other
branches of farming already sufficiently
occupied and lower prices by overpro-
duction.
The wool.growing industry is one
which has in it hope for the future II
properly protected. The present duty
on wool should not only be retained, it
should be increased, SO that within a
short time we will have one hundred
millions instead Of forty-four millions Of
sheep in this country, and two millions
instead Of one million men engaged in
the business, and furnish the entire
supply Of wool required by our manu-
facturers.
It would prevent the deterioration of
the soil; it would be to the advantage
Of all the farmers it would add to the
number of homes for the people and to
the manufacturer, who should also have
adequate protection it would increase
the home market, the value Of which
depends upon the prosperity of the
people.
Mr.. Chairman, while the bill now
under consideration protects the South
ern planter, its effects will certainly be,
and its object seems to be, to injure the
Northern farmer by placing many of his
most important products in competition
with those Of the cheap land and labor
OF other countries. The protection he
has hitherto enjoyed is to be withheld,
and the doors are to be thrown wide
open to all who may choose to pour
their surplus agricultural products upon
US. Notwithstanding the hypocritical
lamentations that have been ut tered and
the crocodile tears that have been shed
over the Northern farmers by the ma
jority OF this House, there is no other
class Disseminated against, and whose
rights are so disregarded, and yet they
comprise large proportion of the best,
most substantial, and patriotic citizens
Of the country. The purpose would ap-
pear to be to arouse in them antagonism
to those engaged in manufactures, and
to secure their assistance in forcing upon
all the advent OF free trade. III ! know
those whom represent, and their
views accord with those OF farmers gen.
orally, it will not be accomplished.
They are fully informed as to their own
interests. They know the better market
protection will give them, and how it
will enhance the value OF their lands
more to have great manufacturing es-
tablishment with thousands of en-
ployes in their immediate neiehborhood,
or as near as possible to them in their
own country, rather than in Europe.
They know it is better that one.third OF
the people should be producers, and
two-thirds consumers OF what they raise
than that all should be producers. They
know that they can buy cheaper and
sell dearer under protection than under
free trade. They know that if the mere
per cent. of their produce that is sold
abroad and comes in competition with
the produce OF cheaper labor and cheap.
er lands, decreases the price OF the 04
per cent. sold at home, it would be we'll
for them II the fostering hand OF the
Government was still further extended
to develop other manufactures that can
he carried on successfully in this coun.
try, so that the increased number oi
employees and and consumers would re.
quire the per cent. now exported, and
relieve the farmers from that unworthy
competition. They know their welfare ID
dependent on that OF all other citizens
and they will adhere to the policy ol
protection for themselves and for all
[Applsuse.]