Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-06-16
DON'T ENDORSE THE IDEA.


ed before Pomona Grange, we do
not endorse all the speaker said, but
allow him the right to his own views
and maintaining the same to ours
aud those OF our readers who think
the same way. The claim that the
farmer is not protected by protec-
tive tariff is Democratic doctrine as
deceptive as the Mills bill, and is
free trade delusion. In England
where FREQ trade has had undisput-
ed sway for years, the farmers are
The poorest and most dependent
class of people, and landed estates
go begging for tenants. If England
is willing to destroy her home agri.
cultural interests because India can
produce cheaper wheat, would she
he more likely to buy OF America if
this country were open to the free
commerce of the world The great
cry of free trade is CHEAPNEsS,-
cheap products for the consumer and
producer. II the farmer cannot
raise wheat at 20 cents a bushel,
how much less so at 80; and if every
thing else comes down the farmers
products must come down in proper
ton. Under a high protective tar
lit and no free trade tinkering,
wheat was 80 bushel and every
body got along better than now. If
men have no money and no work,
CHEAP THINGS are high-priced lux
uries. and the government is appeal
ed to for bread or work." Besides,
the farmer is not depending on
wheat alone, but is raising cattle,
sheep and wool, and is going large
ly into fruit culture, with increasing
attention to the provision and vege.
table market. If our home indus
tries are sustained this country is
large enough and great enough to
help itself, and with proper legisla-
ton will work out it's own destiny,
and the different branches of trade
and industry will shape their own
course in harmony with the whole
IN due time. Since the tariff agita-
ton and free trade tendency have
made themselves felt in this country,
thousands of men have been thrown
out of their homes and spheres and
driven to agricultural resources in
the limltless West. Agricultural
production there has gone far ahead
of the supply and demand of manu-
features, and by cheap railroad
rates over the unjust eastern dis.
elimination, Western produce is
shipped to far distant markets at
less cost than we can reach our home
markets. Laws have been enacted
and in time will remedy this evil and
equalize rates. But free trade will
remedy no evil; for the good we
have it will bring nothing better,
and for the bad 1t will leave worse.
American labor cannot compete with
the English manufacturer and main
tain the living and pay which it
now enjoys. Our laborers will have
to seek new resources, and after
common labor and skilled are de-
Stroyed, what is there to fall back
upon except agriculture, and that
is already overdone. But with man.
ufacturing employment there will be
a home demand for all the market
supplies the land can furnish. We
pay high prices for early vegetables
and provisions and the country does
not supply the demand. Cabbage is
brought here in large quantities.
Potatoes are shipped here by the ton
as ballast, though there is duty of
fifteen cents on the bushel. With
ten cents duty. thousands of bushels
of wheat come in from Canada. How
would it be under free trade E? Two
great foes of this country since the
days when the patriots threw Brit.
ish merchandise overheard in Bos-
ton harbor, have been English lnfu.
ence and English trade. They will
continue so to the detriment of
our peace and prosperity, until an
American statesman of the stamp
and calibre of Blaine changes the
course of this country from foreign
to strictly American basis.