The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-09-28
Friday, Sept. %, 1883.
Is the Farmer Laboring MANI


In this noisy discussion of high tariff
low tariff, medium tariff, revenue tariff,
tariff adjustment, free trade, etc., ETC., we
have been listening to hear some of the
champions fix the status of the farmer. We
had long considered him one of the laboring
class but he does not appear to be catalogued
as such by the politicians, who lay wake at
nights divising means SO pay higher wages
to "labor.'' AS the farmer does not receive
wages from the hand Of an employer who is
engaged in some important industry he has
leen virtually left out of this canvass. tits
about time for him to begin to assert him
sci for if he does not il is evident his iE-
terest will be entirely neglected ill the day
of election, AS the speakers who are I o 60
It among the corn6elds and hedge rows for
the next five weeks 10 inform farmers on
this tariff question, called respectively 'our
protective policy" and GLOVER taxes" we
suggest that the farmers ask the village ora
tors to explain how their 1.-THE farmers) in
terest Is to be benefited by either or both OF
these "policies." If the speaker fails to give
reasonable answer or attempts to evade
the question it is safe TO conclude that he is
ignorant of the subject he is attempting to
enlighten the public on, or else that he or
his party is trying to cheat you.
The farmers product land the farmers
real property were meyer so low as at the
present time. Insist on fair, square an.
swer why this is SO and the remedy. II
strikes us that by this time the farmer
must begin to think he is mere nobody, as
in all this din about the wages of s'labor''
his business or his interest has been scarcely
alluded to.
What under this late dispensation has be.
come known as ''labor" by our statesmen
and the daily press, has been forming asso-
Citations, called labor unions, knights oil
Labor, and other titles which designate var
ious combinations of wage earners, we
find that the greatest respect IS manifested
for their welfare, The whole policy of the
government must be constructed 10 subserve
their single interest. Nothing can be at
tended to until that is DONE The tariff and
all oru revenue laws must be adjusted 70
suit their interest exactly. 1t is to be placed
high enough 10 enable our manufacturers to
pay them high wages and under sell foreign
goods in American markets, and it must be
IL Il
clothing and other necessaries for their
families as low as those articles can be had
anywhere in the world. Our farmers sup.
ply this "labor" with breadstuffs, meat, veg.
etables, etc., lorer than they can be purchas-
ed any where else in the civilized world,
and perhaps this is tie reason that the
farmer is not mentioned, or asked to take a
hand in this tariff reel which the politicians
in Washington and on the hastings are now
danciug, and contribute anything more to
'slabor." The farmer has done his part by
s'labor" and he is dismissed.
If the farmer wishes to be some body and
to see himself discussed in learned editorials
in the great dailies,' and by the great
statesmen in Congress-some of them worth
from one to fifty millions-let him orgs mise
"unions, " join Oranges and Farmers Allianc-
es, and turn out on parade occasionally, car
rying bundles of hay and shieyes of wheat
And when the parade is over listen to a
flaming speech and pass string of resolu-
lions "demanding"-it doesn't matter what
and wind up the resolutions with one
pledging themselves to vote for DO member
of Congress or legislator who doesn't pledge
himself to comply, and our word for it the
farmer will find himself placed at the head
of the political table, and all the politicians
in the land, high and low, will be found cap
in hand humbly waiting orders from him
and tariff duties will be taken off, put on,
raised and lowered, just as he orders. Try
this farmers, you have been cuffed about
like servants for long time, don't you
think you would like to experience the SEN
sation of being masters for while? At any
rate ask these tariff orators to p lint out to
you that particular slice of the tariff cake
you are to enjoy all to yourselves.