New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-08
THE ADDRESS TO FARMERS.


The Address to Farmers of the United
States. which we publish in this issue, is also
the final report of the committee selected to
examine several thousand letters of farmers to
The TRIBUNE in regard to the tariff. These
gentlemen, most of whom kindly consented to
come from distance to this city, and to pre-
pare detailed and valuable reports On the
correspondence concerning the several
branches of agriculture, have thought it ex-
pcdient to make known to all the farmers OF
the country what they find in this mass OF
correspondence. and to invite all farmers to
mako their influence felt by petitions to Con-
gross, If they approve the recommendations Of
farmers, Oranges and other agricultural Or
carnations presented in these letters. APP
pended to the report is a form of petition in
which the more important recommendations
contained in the report are briefly stated.
Millions of farmers, either individually or
through thousands of organizations. can now
make their wishes known to Congress and to
the country, if they choose. through petitions
Of similar tenor, and far more directly and
certainly than they can by their ballots. 1t has
happened too often, when farmers and others
have taken pains to elect Representative to
do their WILL that he has forgotten all about
his constituents when he reached Washington,
or has seen fit to put his own private construc-
ton upon their wishes. The written docp-
ment can be trusted to say precisely what It's
signers mean.
1t is not to be understood that the gentlemen
who submit this form of petition consider that
1t expresses all that they would like to have
done For. first they thought proper to con-
fine themselves to definite recommendations
contained in the majority Of letters submitted
to them, and therefore to pass over topics not
mentioned or mentioned but rarely in tho
correspondence. For the same reason, they
have not thought it needful to dwell upon the
often expressed desire that existing duties upon
lumber, upon cereals. upon dairy and other
products, should be retained. Tt has been
assumed that The whole tenor Of the address
and petition makes it clear that there is wanted,
not lowering or breaking down of the barrier
against foreign competition but careful I'M
provement and strengthening of that barrier
wherever gaps exist. If the millions who till
the soil in this land make Congress understand
that an overwhelming majority OF them want
the protective system maintained and per-
fected. they may be sure that no party will
give ear any longer 10 the notions or motions
OF free-trade fanatics
The committee consisted Of nine gentlemen,
of whom the chairman. ex-senator Miller, has
already rendered valuable services to all agri-
culturists in champiOning the OeOmargarlno
bill. Seven others are widely known as men
of mark and distinction in connection with
different branches of agriculture, embracing
two who have been Representatives in Con-
sress from great farming States. one who has
been Governor of Iowa, ono who is president
of State Bo1rd Of Agriculture another who
has been Secretary of State. another who is
Master of State Grange and another who is
president of TobaccO-G Growers Association.
Tn their report are set forth in brief the reasons
which have convinced host Of farmers, and
others as well. that the protective tariff ben
efits and helps every department OF industry,
and that it is even more necessary to the pros
perity of agriculture than to the success of
manufactures or mining. But the report urges
that agriculture has not the measure of defence
which It deserves and needs that farmers in
many parts Of the country, and in many de-
partments of that great industry. arc exposed
to crushing competition with the worst paid or
nnpad labor Of other lands. 1t is shown that
disaster to them means injury to all industries,
and that the changes which their letters pro-
pose are not unreasonable, but are moderate
and just.
The matter now rests with the farmers them
selves If they please, they can make THE
TR1BUNE's action the beginning of move
ment which will shape the history of the coun-
CRY for years to come. THE TRIBUTE has done
its part in bringing the wishes of many hun
dled thousand farmers to definite and COM
pact expression. If the farmers themselves
now take up the matter in all their organza-
tions, discuss it thoroughly. examine the re-
ports upon different branches of the subject,
which will be printed in TIE WEEKLY TIIBUNE
as rapidly as its space permits. and, where no
organizations exist. if individual farmers make
it their business to start petitions and submit
them to their neighbors, one result will GER
tainly follow with little delay There will be
changes of the tariff for the especial benefit
OF the farmers Of this country. as quick as
Representatives begin to comprehend that their
constituents mean business.
PEACE WITH ARMAMENTS.