The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-08-24

ever occur, for we are ignorant and stupid,
pr,tyr"ing the right honorable protection
lists taffy 70 common sense
Let Our agtIculturistS once comprehend
the true working of this protective sys
tenn and lis reign viii be short. Let Us
lock at il. | have few hogs, a bunch of
sheep, some corn. and more wheat. How
| have ploughed, planted, fattened, and
cured tor these tells a story Of hard labor
and exposure scarcely known to any other
pursuit. Now, why have | thus toiled
through the year? Certainly from no
phllanthropic on patriotic motive. | have
done so simply to secure a market no
more, no less. Does this paterna govern
fnent sympathize with me? Not much!
Congress is in session the larger part of
he year. Does Congress do anything for
the farmer: Again, not much. Sometimes
a member makes a speech ln which he
bespatters US with tiattery. And every
year the President sends in q message in
which he speaks of farming being the
great underlying prosperity of the land.
DO any of them concern themselves about
our markets: Again ! say, not much,
And yet the most influential committee
OF the House, that of the Ways and Means,
sits in almost perpetual session 10 hear,
consider. and devise how the mining and
manufacturing interests are 10 secure a
profit therefor through law Of Congress,
instead of leaving these interests to the
trade law of supply and demand. Ii Il
delegation of farmers were to go before
that committee and say, I've are losing,
not money. Dlt our labor, and We cannot
| live on the prices of this market of your
making. the delegation would be told
that he @re.t- American system Of protec-
ton was devoted 70 fostering mining and
manufacturing industries, aud when that
Was done II farmers would reap a c0use
Quential good which the committee hoped
they Wuuid be patriot c enough 10 accept.
Aud when the door closed on the disgust
&, delegation, roar OF laughter would
20 up over the hay seelers.
Now. let u SEE tioW The internal system
works as to the farmer: His market is q
foreign one All the surplus hat is over
the home demand goes 10 Europe, Is here
our Congress has no jurisdiction, and
where the price IS fixed, not only for W hat
Is sold there, but for all that is sold at
home This is free trade He is free to
sell, without tax or charge wherever he
/ finds a demand. And III this market he
comes in contact with the lowest form of
| pauper labor known 10 the world. How
is it when he comes 70 buy. Ii IS protec-
/ terial that goes TO give him a shelter, al
that is necessary to carry on ms work is
! increased, TO price to twice or thrice
/ its value He then BUYS UNDER PEOTEC-
! TIoN AND SELLS UNDER FREE TRADE.
Small wonder the poor man stands
acha, II the midst Of his oyertiled fields,
and sees the very ground slipping from
| beneath him. as, year by year, this fear
full abuse goes on. TO meet his loans lie
/ borrows money on mortgage, in the vain
/ hope that the next seasons crop may
prove more prosperous, pay him out, and
save his poor home AID few acres TO his
/ family. That season never comes ! READ
a story once Of a man confined TO solitary
Imprisonment III a round tower in which
was q circle Of windows The victim
woke every morning to the fact that hi>
prison 2reU smaller by the disappearance
of a window, TIL, at last, she mysterious
walls Of death closed in on him This is
the farmer; and the poor fellow cannot
understand the awful system that slowly
bui surely contracts aoOut him with It's
worse than DEATH fof i is perpetual servi
| tude to his childrenS children, wrought
out by a government that was built above
HIM by the patriotic fathers for the sol
| purpose Of atfOrd'ng him and his equ&
rights under he law.
| am writing this as any other old ma,
would who suffers III himself a public
wrong, while l know there are thousands
Of ADLER pens engaged in exposing tins
| crime 1t found worthy of publication.
hope YOU viii correct The sentences so a,
to make them readable, for my stiff finger,
and dull head are not accustomed to this
sort of work.
My main purpose, however, is 70 explain
and, as far as | can, set myself right il
reference 10 an unpleasant transaction
that lately took place at our village. Ga
member Of Congress came home from
Washington the other day, and a mee -
was called at Noodletoozy, our ncares
village, to hear him tell about the protec
tive tariff, and the attempt of Democratic
free traders TO fetch about its destruction
| was fool enough to attend that meeting
| ought TO have kept at home. | went
and took a back seat Now, before III,
war was a Henry Clay Whig. Ia tn
war | sent my sons to the field, and GeV
to the cause not only my taxes but all tn
donations | could get from the farm.
am Methodist class leader, and a MAJ
Of peace It has been customary to re
gard me as a Republican leader of on
township. and when a meeting is held
am called to preside. We had the town
hall full, and soon it was moved for ~
to take the chair. | got up and declined
said | did not feel well, and might b
forced to leave before the meeting w"
over This was strictly true; was sic
of protection, and expected TO be mad
sicker BY hearing the Hon. LycurLU
Ieatherlungs pour out his lying trash.
vas excused and Esq. Jones took tn
place.
The Hon Lycur3us took the stand, am
onencd his checks in the centre with tn
; old. old gush Of the grandeur and achiey
mcnts OF the Republican party. | coul
stand this, for was used to it, But whe
, he got Oh the prosperity Of our country
aud said it was all owing to a prOtectiV
tariff got as uneasy as if | was sittin
] Oh ne:tlas At last when he said th.
the protective tariff lowered the price {
+, goods, and appealed to the Democrat
present-aud there We're several on han
! for Noodetoozy is lager beer saloon {
! three hundred inhabitants, and Of cours
Democrats abound -! say, when he inad
: this appeal, got up like an old fool an
. asked il | might put a question.
The Hon. Lycurgus looked surprised,
a all at the meeting did, but he said, 'ol
G certainly we're always delighted to hes
from the NeStor OF Washington Tnwl
: ship.
5 ~ I'll" said very sarcastic, III
/ Ncstor wants you to explain if a rrote
4 tive tariff lowers prices, what's the goo
d OF protective tariff