The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-08-25
INCONSISTENCY or FREE TRADE
ATTORNEYS.


The free trade attorneys have several
strings to their colian harp. each set toa
different tune, accorolingto the presumed
necessities Of the situation. The voters
ear will be ticl,led with his favoiitest
and the music timed 10 bis crudcSt step
always provided that his toes point to-
ward the free trade camp.
The farmer is told that he, Of all men,
should stand for free trade; that protec-
tion but adds 10 tllc price 81 what he
buys, and that his trouble with the price
OF what be has 10 sell comes from the
fact that his market Is not Far enough
from home. The mechanic is treated to
the song Of cheaper food and ruimcnt
when free trade comes. The laborer,
after "A few solemn strains over the hard
ness OF his lot, j. melted with martial
notes To tumble down the wall OF pro-
lection Go home industries aud enter up
on the blessings which free trade has in
store for its advocates.
But the manufacturer * likely to de-
tert some discord insongS which promise
higher wages for labor and lower prices
for products. Another string j. touched,
and there comes 70 him the grand
promise 81 the worlds markets. lie is
told that goods which Americans are
unable TO buy will find ready purchasers
beyond the seas, and that ON the pinions
Of free trade increased wealth will be
borne back 90 him, ii he will but join in
the worship 81 the image the the Golden
club has set up
Who SO blind ms not TO see inconsis-
tency in all this?
The farmers profit is now diminished
by expense of transportation TO centres
OF consumption, md many are barred
the production ofcertain proiitablccr
by renotencss from markets. Ills OBJ
vious interest is 10 have markets nearer
to the farm, and when possible sell in his
own country rather than in Europe. He
should remember that every man kept
at work and earning wages i'm some other
occupation than farming lessons com
petition in growing farm products, while
increasing demand and prices for the
same
The mechanics interest lies in having
every dollar of wealth produced in this
country kept athomeand spent in build
ing better houses, more machinery, finer
furniture in short. adding Co the facilities
OF production and the ability Of our peo-
pie to purchase the products OF mcchan-
ical industry. Let him reflect upon the
disadvantage nj which he would be placed
il compelled TO depend for wages upon
some calling in which lac il not skilled.
In his own trade lac is an expert, at any
other work he would be a novice.
The lnboer, dependent upon Others for
his means Of support, is the first to feel
the pinch Of dull times. When building
factories, making railroads, improving
streets, etc. ceases, he is the first thrown
out Of work, and the least able Of all
TO endure enforced idlenoss. As his de
partment OF labor is one requiring
strength rather than skill, it Is the most
OF all exposed 60 competition.
And the manufactures, how Is he TO get
the promised hold upon the markets Ct
the world These are already occupied
by the manufacturers Of other nations;
otherwise they wouldnot bcso persistent
to got INTO the markets OF this country.
How ARE they TO be displaced2 OBJ
viously in but one OF two ways: The
American manufactures 90 secure mar
kets now monopolizcd by Europeans must
either supply better goods at the prices
now paid or he must supply equally
good articlesior lcssmoney. II lac makes
the sacrifice, thechcapening process must
fall either upon the material used or the
labor put upon the finished product.
In face Of the fact that $3.50, 100000
were last year paid TO foreigners for pro-
duets which could as we'll have been