The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-08-08
Free Trade Unjust to the Farmer.

The advocates of free trade are eS
pecially earnest in their appeals TO the
western farmer, rs the voter most likely
to furnish aid in overturning the exist
ing fiscal policy of this country and
once more trying that of England. In
their efforts to this end they are untir-
ing, ingenious, INSCRIPTIONS. Nopossi-
BILE resort remains untried, no illustra-
ton unused, no appeal long neglected.
They seek to inflame the worthy
ambition To better ones condition in
life by picturing mythical market
which is ut once both the cheapest for
the buyer and the dearest for the seller.
They seek to create sectional prejudice
by persistent repetitionS i'm speeches
and writings of the antitheSis western
farmers eastern manufacturers, -
just rs if the west had no manufactures
the east no agriculture. They ignore
the cOmmOn-senSe Inference that, if the
people of the United States paid the
duty on foreign competing articles sold
in this country, the foreigner would be
by no means SO persistent for the re-
moval of our tariff. In view of such
tactics it will be well for farmers To
keep in mind certain facts which with
practical men are likely To outweigh all
the theories of British free traders and
their attorneys in the United States.
Money is necessary To the existence
of government Under our fiscal sys-
tenn the main reliance of states, coun-
ties and municipalities is upon taxation
of property-the exception being the
sale of licenses for carrying on certain
lines of business. Money raised by
taxation comes from owners of fac
property, rs well rs from farms and
farm equipments, and Is the price paid
by the owners for defence of their
rights in property and the peaceable
pursuit of the business of their choice.
To exempt any one mans property
from taxation would be an injustice to
all compelled to pay taxes. Yet this is
just what free trade proposes to do.
American owners of farms, houses, ma
chinery, etc, are 10 be taxed, while the
same rights they enjoy are to be given
free TO others, 10 men who owe no al
legiance TO our government and who
seek profits from trade here to be spent
in other countries.
Hay, barley, wheat, wool, etc, are
grown in large quantities by Canadian
farmers who never paid a cent of taxes
toward the support of our government.
If these men prefer To send their pro-
ducts here to be sold i'm our markets,
why should they not be taxed, at least
as much rs our farmers are taxed, for
the privilege? But the free traders say
no, let the foreigner have our markets
without cost, although the American
farmers taxes need TO be increased i'm
consequence, and then complacently
suggest that if growing such articles
under this one-sided arrangement
proves Improbable our farmers can
turn their attention TO some other pro
auctions.
Protection insures for our own citi
zens not only the first, but always the
best chance i'm the markets of the coun.
try they have helped to build up. Thi.
is both patriotism and good business,
policy. Its opposite is the un-American
policy advocated by the president and
other free trade advocates, and foI
which they have received the plaudit.
Of the Golden club and every promi.
nent journal i'm Great Britain. II re.
mains to be seen if a majority OF
American farmers agree with them. - >