Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-10-05

order that the men who would be employed
there might consume our farm products, the
only possible gain to the farmer would be in
the cost of transportation. In any event we
cannot increase the output of our mines and
factories, for according TO the proprietors
our markets are glutted portion of the time
with their products. We cannot sell much
abroad, for in the census year Of 1880 we
only exported $24 ,OO0, 900 worth of manufsc-
tured goods in metals and textiles
as against Englands export trade in
the same kind of goods of over 500 000, 900.
Why is it that in this home market which
protectionists tell us has been created so
largely for the benefit of the farmers, who
constitute over 1905, 600 of our entire popu-
lation, farm products should be selling all the
time for little less than the market price at
Liverpool, while the products of the mines
and the factories should be selling for much
more as rule than the price at Liverpool or
at any place in Europe;
A market wherein the price of what the
farmer sells is low and Of what he BUYS high
is not the kind of market that he wants Ii
is not the kind of Il market that the mine or
factory owner has He buys the farmers
products cheap and sells his own products
back to him dear
The question Is not one of freet trade We
are confronted by a tariff system that Is a
monstrosity without form, harmony or con-
sistency. 1t is as arrant piece of quackery,
humbug and pretense as was ever used to OPP
oS% kob b,, l.
added to it through the lobby at Washington
until it has lost in that bad company what
ever semblance it may once have had OF jus
0ce or equality. 1t is now used largely as
means Of spelling the people for the
benefit of few. Whatever might be done
TO increase the prosperity of the nation under
system of duties imposed by wise and up
right craftsmanship nothing can be done in
that direction under the present system be-
cause many of the existing duties have been
placed upon imported goods by spoilsmen
and demagogues ever ready to do the bidding
of some mine or factory owner, who has
sought to increase his profits.
We have greater diversity of climate,
greater natural resources in soil, timber and
AAe'"h "SeAieh shoh any Guilty. III bAS
world. Our waterways extend into the
heart of the country, and we are bounded
east and west by two great oceans, upon
which we might build upa commerce equal to
that of all the nations of the earth, if we
would.
If we have prospered, it has been because
Of these wonderful advantages and in spite
OF this odious taxing system, and the restric-
ions which we have placed upon trade.
The benefits of all these resources have
been attributed by protectionist doc
trinaires to the god they worship
With many others I am sick and
weary OF this superstition and |
will not bow to this shrine any longer.
| believe that with our free institutions and
republican form of government we need not
fear the competition of any other nation in
the race for commercial supremacy.
So long as the republican party maintains
its present narrow and illiberal creed upon
this question l shall do what can to defeat
it, and shall ignore all questions of lesser i'm.
portance. Yours truly, NEAL BROWN.