Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-08-01

ton and settlement OF private land
claims in Colorado and the territor-
| les of Arizona and New Mexico.
THE FREE TRADE PLEA OF CHEAP
The free trade attorneys claim as
a chief merit Of proposed tariff re-
duction that it will reduce prices.
And in this they are at least partial
lY correct. The recent experience
Of England under the fiscal policy
now advocated for this country
shows that cheaper wheat from In
dia, cheaper meat from America,
cheaper wool from Australia and
South America, have made unprofit-
able lands at home; that values of
English farms have fallen off 40 to
70 per cent, while each year large
tracts are Withdrawn from tillage.
If a like result Of cheapness is to
follow an approach to free trade
here, an alternative is presented
which it is we'll for large class of
our people to seriously consider be-
fore aiding to strike down the poll
cy under which our country has
hitherto made such advances in
wealth and greatness.
We may we'll be appalled, in con-
templating a shrinkage in real estate
valnas in the United States to one
half the extent experienced in Eng
land, and the losses Of farms and
homes it would entail upon those in
dustrious toilers who have incurred
debts in securing homes tor them
selves and families. Under a de.
cline Of one fourth its present value
the man who had bought home fol
s2,o 900, and by years Of industry and
saving paid $1,000, would still find
himself owing $1,000 for property
worth but 81 800. In the midst OF
the sscheapness'' with which he had
been cajoled, the payment of this
sum would be more difficult than the
original $4,000 under existing con
ditions of ready sale Of products and
fair returns for labor. If the adop
ton Of the English policy by the
United States should be followed by
one half the reduction in real estate
values that England has experienced
within the past few years, mortgaged
farms and homes would revert by
thousands to creditors who, like the
landlords of England, would permit
what could not be rented to go out
Of tillage.
In no other country than ours does
so large percentage of farmers OWL
the lands they cultivate. In no 9th
er country is there so large a proper
ton of workingmen who own. thu
homes they occupy. In no othe1
country does the fiscal policy so de
cidedly favor the man who honestly
and industriously endeavors to better
his condition in life. Nowhere else
in the world can the laborer get sc
many of the necessaries and comforts
of life for a days work as here In
the United States. All this we arr
asked to menace by adopting poll.
! cy that has thrice brought disaster
to the business of this country;
policy, with but one aggressive ad
vocate among all the nations Of Eu
rope-and that one nation to-day
presenting within her borders some
Of the strongest possible argumen tt
against the policy she seeks to en-
force upon others. While the Cob
den Club and leading British jour
nails are preaching the benefits 0
free trade, the British farmer is de
pressed, 100000 workmen are idle
and the police of London are KEEP
busy suppressing uprisings OF mel
made desperate by hearing thei
. children cry for bread. Nothing
; can be dearer than "cheapness
: bought at such price; nothing NOR
un-American than a policy whicl
makes such condition possible.
Happiness and Health Il
Are important problems, the former dc
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