The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-08-11
FREE TRADE rs UNJUST TO THE
Farmer.

The advocates OF free trade are es-
specialy earnest in their appeals To the
western farmer, as the voter most likely
to furnish aid in overturning the exist
1ng fiscal policy in this country and once
more trying that Of England. In their
efforts to this end they are untiring, in-
genious, INSCRIPTIONS. No possible re-
sort remains untried, no Illustration I'M
used, no appeal long neglected. They
seek Co infiame the worthy ambition To
better ones condition in life by picturing
a mythical market which is at once
both the cheapest for the buyer and the
dearest for the seller. They seek TO
create sectional prejudice by presistant
repetitions in speeches and writings OF
the antithesis western farmers" east
em manufacturers" just as il the west
had no manufactures, the east no agri-
culture They ignore the common-sense
inference that, il the people OF the United
States paid the duty on foreign compel
ing articles sold in this country, the for
eigner would be by no means so presist-
ant for the removal Of our tariff. In
view Of such tactics il is well for farmers
20 keep in mind certain facts which with
practical men are likely to outweigh all
of the theories 81 British free traders and
their attorneys in the United States.
Money il necessary to the existence of
a government. Under our fiscal system
the main mliance OF states, counties and
municipalities is upon taxation OF pro-
perty--the exception being the sale OF
licenses for carrying on certain lines OF
business. Money raised by taxation
comes from owners OF factories, machin-
cry and other personal property, as well
as from farms and farm equipments, and
il the price paid by the owners for the
defence Of their rights in property and
the peaceable persuit Of the business Of
their choice.
To exempt any one mans property
from taxation would be injustice to all
compelled To pay taxes. Yet this is just
what free trade proposes TO do. Ameri-
can owners Of farms, houses, machinery,
etc, are TO be taxed. while the same
rights they enjoy are to be given free TO
others--to men who owe no allegiance to
ourgovernment and who seek profitsirom
trade here to be spent in other countries.
Hay, barley, wheat, wool, etc, are
grown in large quantities ny Canadian
farmers who never paid q cent Of taxes
toward the support OF our government.
II these men prefer TO send their products
here To be sold in our markets, why
should they not be taxed, at least as
much as our farmers are taxed, for the
privilege? But the free trader says no.
let the foreigner have our markets with
out cost, although the American farmers
taxes need he increased in consequence,
and complacently suggests that II growing
such articles under this one-sided ar
rangement proves Improbable our far
mers can turn their attention TO some
other productions.
Protection insuIcs for our own citizens
not only the first, but always the best
chance in the markets 81 the country
they have helped &C. build up. This liz
both patriotism and good business
policy. It's opposite il the un-American
policy advocated by the president and
other free trade advocates, and for which
they have received the plaudits Of the
Golden club and every prominent jour
nal in Great Britain. IL remains 10 be
seen II the majority Of American FAR