The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-29
rERsE TALKS TO r1LLERs.
A Letter Every Farmer Should Read.

Correspondence Doyesto,rn, Pa, Democrat
1t is condition which confronts us-not a theory.
President CIeUeidRds Message.
Farmers lend me your ears" I've got something
to put into EN-. It's unfortunate that this revenue
reform business is mixed up with partisanship.
wouldn't say this to Republican or Democrat but
do say it to you. fellow farmers It's unfortunate
because when come to talk with you abouthow the
tariff affects your interests, you Immediately become
Democrats Republicans while. if should talk to
you about the benefits of an improved method of
filling the soil, you would listen to me simply as
farmers. This question, however is in politics and
don't see any way TO get 1t out 1t looks though
it would have to be settled by party politics. But
farmers, forget your politics and be farmers still
while you read what may have to suggest in these
lines.
Four years ago there was not prominent leader of
either party if except Messrs Blaine, Randall and
Kelley who did not favor tariff revision at least TO
the extent of correcting the inequalities enlarging
the free list and they record as favorng
these objects. To-day, an overlooking majority of
voters atleas favor moderate wise careful revision
of the tariff but some still allow partisan bigory
warp their views of right and wrong and others give
willing or unwilling ear to the predictions of
nopolys favored benefciaries, who cry out tariff
reform will destroy our industries" But the masses
to whom you and l. fellow farmers are proud to be-
long arise in their majesty and with terrible earnest
ness demand tariff reform.
The two great parties in American politics are
for the first time since the arrayed against each
other upon this issue, and farmers must chose be-
tween them. The Democratic party, always opposed
to Capitalization of power and wealth. says a reduc
ton should be made in the tariff in order to relieve
the manufacturing, commercial and agricultural in
dustres from excessive tax burdens, thereby causing
Ll.l H.
employment reviying our foreign shipping and
giving people access to markets from which the
present tariff excludes them. They say it is wrong
TO tax the great mass of our population the re-
naming few may grow rich rapidly. Read what
the Democratic platform of 1888 says:
OF all the industrious freemen of our land an i'm
mense majority, including every tiller of the soil
gain no advantage from the tax laws, but the price
of nearly everything they buy is increased by the
fayortism of an unequal system OF tax legislation.
1 find this in political platform, but it sounds TO
me as if was true
The Republican pary's position on this question
pains me extremely. don't calculate TO "kick the
bucket" in consequence, but there O warm spot
in my breast for the Grand Old Party and regret to
see her going wrong. Without showing why or how,
the Republican party claims that present pros
perity and advancement in manufactures is due
mainly to high tariff. There is surplus of over
SlS0OOOOO0 now lying idle in the United States
Treasury, and they think it had better be added to
from day to day than be reduced by revising the i'm
port duties They propose to reduce this surplus by
removing the internal revenue tax on oleomarga-
rine tobacco and 'whiskey. That is not right,
farmers; must fight that to the bitter end. How
would our names look signed to petition headed :
We favor the entire repeal of internal taxes rather
than the surrender of any part of our protective
system.
That is the Republican platform.
Now it is straight fact that the tariff bears heay
lily upon the farmer without giving him any COM
pensation in return. We are taxed more heavily
than any other class of workers Nearly everything
which the farmer buys. costs him little bit more
than it ought because there is an import tax either
upon the article itself or the raw materials that
enter into its construction both. These little bits
of tax put together in year amount to a judgment
note, in ten years to mortgage on the old farm, in
fifteen years TO a sheriff sale. The tax cloud no
bigger than a mans hand which appears on the
horizon of the young farmers life, develops into a
cyclone that sweeps away his little farm at middle
age.
In 1850 wage-earners were divided thus:
Agriculture. 1iOlUi $50
Professional and personal service....... 4.0742
Engaged in manufacturing and minng...... 1887 lip
o.