The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-04-26
FARMERS AND tn TARIFF.

1t seems srpeit.,.ors to say that
Minnesota is an agricultural state.
or the o55.ls5 persons Of 10 years OF
age ami over--accoidlng to the L. ).
census 1880, engaged therein in gain
full avocations, I3l5G5 Ntre engag. d
in agricultural pu,suits--more than
one.half. Upon the condition OF
these depend the prosperity AMI ma
terial comfort of the whole. These
eat, burn fuel, wear clothes. build
frame houses, use machinery, and the
articles embraced under these clas-
siiications a,e nearly all "rrote >
In other words, the farmer pays tri-
butte, as Hon. Knute Nelson said in
Congress, to all the industries from
which his wants are supplied. What
is the other side of this picture! The
state commissioner Of statistics tells
us that in 1886 we raised in Mime
sota, over 50 million bushels of
wheat and taking the acreage re-
turned for 1887 we will put the wheat
crop of that year at SO mil ion
bushels. This crop covered more
than one-half the total cultivated
area, and forms the bulk of our sur.
plus product. for which reason we
will for the present and for the pur-
pose of this article ignore the rroduc
tion of other grains, seeds and animal
products. Is the farmer of Mime
sofa compensated for his contributions
through protective tariff to the
other Industries of this country!
Does he receive for his wheat u price
commensurate with the world wide
excellence of his product. based on
the value of the finest flour in the
world manufactured in Minneapolis?
He does not. HIS wheat, after the
further contributions levied by trans
portation companies. comes into COM
petition in the markets of the world.
with the product Of degraded labor in
eastern Europe and Asia. The price
at LIVERPOOL, less the cost of getting
it thither, fixes the price of it at his
railroad station. Can he buy where
he sells, if he finds it to his advant-
age! He can. but lie will be met at
the gates of his own country by the
minions of protection, who will levy
tribute in the interests of "'infant
industries" which, notwithstanding
that they have their being and
flourish in the greatest country on
earth. whose resources, only partially
developed as they are, are the Won
der of nations, must be protected.
He is confronted with that most un-
American thing, the 'American
SYSTEM" fashioned by its inventors
from the institutions of the despo-
tisms of Europe. Were all this in
the interest of large proportion of
his fellow countrymen, bread winners
like himself, he might patriotically
submit to the imposition, but when,
instead of the producers of wealth.
the 'laborers themselves, deriving the
benefit from this governmental pro-
lection, he sees his tribute go into
the pockets of capitalists engaged in
artlficlaily stimulated industries. his
mind reyolts. Were every dollar of
the revenue derived from customs
needed in the conduct OF the govern.
ment and payment of obligations
maturing, even then could tie farmer
with justice protest against the in
equality Of the burden, but. abstract
ing as the system does millions month
ly.from legitimate business circula
| ton to he boarded, unproductive tC
the people, in the treasury vaults OF
| the Golfers Of nat ional banks, a con
| slant menace to commercial stability
it is time for farmers who bear the
| unjust share Of the burden to cut
loose from musty prejudices and act
with those whose watchwOrd is 1.-THE
greatest good of the greatest number