The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-02-11
PROTECTIVE DUTIES vs.. WHEAT Al
go GENTS PER BUSHEL.
From the s.. Loui. Repubiicsn.i

lf'N'h tHo oi' iIOui- ltepuDilcan.
Some days since the eGlobe-Democra.
following The lead OF Congressma
hasson, OF Iowa, proclaimed the tar
ihers OF the west solid for protection
This may be so, but if the farmers 81
the west or any other part of the couI
Try can raise wheat at 6O cents nc,
bushel, aud continue to pay the pro =
tective duties they are now paving
they Will prove themselves better
hnanclars than we think they are
According 10 the best statistics, IL cost .
oO cents per bushel to raise bnshel OF
wheat under the most favorable cir.
| cumstances, and from the present out.
look that will be near the price the
farmer will get tor it at the point ol
production for some years to como.
The foreign demand is our present
outlet for our surplus which, of course
makes and regulates the price, not
only for export, but for domestic con-
sumption. Till within few years,
this foreign demand has been supplied
iron America, The Black sea aud some
lew other points, but lately India ap =
pears III the market with good article
at low price, ,and lilnitless in quantity.
The Indian farmer has come to STAY.
and while his mode OF culture is no ~
OF the most primitive character vet
with his cheap land, aud labor at ii
cents per day, and his Ewing CORES
pondIngiy low, he is already an inpor-
tant factor i'll the worlds food market
and When To these are added, as will
| soon be the case, the modern applian-
ces III the way of agricultural imple-
ments, cheap transportation to the sea.
board from the interior, his infuenc.
Will be still grea!er. And if his Ameri
can brother expects to continue his
compctitor,anG keep his farm out of the
hands OF the sheriff, aud himself and
family from the slavery of debt, he has
got to he placed upon an equal footing
rs to the cost of his living and cult.
vatlon OF his crops. However roughly
it may sound to tho ears of the pro-
tectionist, he cannot pay 81 tor q barrel
OF salt he should get tor 81; 1926 for q
suit OF clothes lie should get for Sl5:
81 for an axe which should be half
that, and so On to the end of the chan
ter 1t Is true the American farmers.
mechanics and lHborer5 possess graat
resources, but they should not be ex-
pected to perform impussibilities But
put them on aM even or something near
The .Chtin9 OF their neighhors and
they will take care of themselves. For
the past fifty years the government has
'ent Us fostering care to the manufac-
turers, class OF producar5, and tie
minor in tho way ofprotective duties a5
against foreign competition, all OF
which have been cheerfully paid,
because they were deemed necessary 10
place The interests in question Oh firm
footing. But now the time has cou.e
for change. Other interests equally
large and equally as important require
assistance. Turn about and give all 4
cdance Is and should be the American
idea,
To Illustrate the one-Sidcdneas of our
present tariff take cotton manufactured
goods and coal. The duty on cotton
manufactured goods is 40 per cent. and
on coal 70 cents per ton. But before
any American cotton manufactured
abroad can come in competition with
American goods OF the same class it
must pay at least $40 per bale in treights
TO and from the European point Of
manufacture, insurance, interest, ETC.,
which is fully 20 per cent, making
virtually tax of 60 per cent. on each
dollars worth; and CO Il, IN the same
way, in addition 20 the IS cents per
ton, has to pay from 81 to So sc per
ton i'll freight, Insurance. etc., before
it comes in contact with the American
article. This list OF inequality and
Injustice can be extended almost iu-
definitely. President Cleveland, in his
admirable message, has pointed out the
remedy Let it be applied IL spirit
of fairness and moderation.
HoMEsPUN.