Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-10-24

duce tariff taxes, was the great bugabo,
made use of by Republicans year ag,
to frighten farmers and laborers int,
support Of the Republican candidates
They asserted and made many voter
believe that a reduction of the tarif
would impoverish the country because
they said, it would lessen the marke
prices ofall kinds of farm produce, com
pei manufacturers to close their shop
or reduce the wages of their operative
the "pauper labor of Europe" grade
and send business and trade to the dem
milton bow vows. Their pictures of the
disastrous results that would follow s
reduction Of the tariff taxes were dire
full indeed.
On the other hand they assured theil
credulous hearers that the high tariff
tax was absolutely essential to general
prosperity and its continuance would
insure increased activity in trade, stimu.
late manufactures and create demand
for labor at better prices, enhance the
value of real estate, increase the de.
mand and consequently increase the
market prices of farm produce because,
they said, the high tariff would build
up home market. In short everybody
in city, town and country would wax
and grow fat on the great benefits that
would certainly follow the election of
Harrison and the continuance of the
high tariff tax.
The Mills bill passed the House but
was defeated by the Republican Senate.
Harrison was elected and for seven
months has had his hand on the throt-
tie that controls the machinery of gov
ernment.
But where are the promised good
times?
Will any man say that the business
of the country is as good now as it was
under Cleveland's administration?
Will any man say that manufactures
are flourishing, labor In as good de-
mand, or wages as high now as they
were q year ago?
Will any man say that the prices of
farm produce are as high now as they
were a year ago?
If not, why not? Why have not the
promises of the advocates of Harrison
and high tariff tax been verified?
Since the Inauguration of Harrison
and the return of the Republican party
to power over seven months ago more
than fifty million dollars in gold have
been sent abroad-to Germany, France,
and free trade England-to purchase
the product of the alleged pauper labor
of Europe. Millions of dollars worth
of woolen goods, worsted goods, silks,
and so on, wrought by the hands of Eu-
ropean operatives have been imported
into this country that should have been
made here if Republican promises were
for anything. American dealers have
given employment and paid millions of
dollars to European laborers in Europe
while thousands upon thousands of
American skilled laborers and opera
tives have been absolutely idle, or
working on shortened time at reduced
wages.
How is it with the farmers? Is their
business as prosperous and are they
realizing as good prices for their pro-
duce as they did year ago. Then the
tariff question was under discussion, ,and
everybody knows that agitation of the
tariff question has tendency to embar-
rass trade and unsettle values. Repub-
licans assured them that a settlement
of that question in favor of protection
would rebound to their financial advan-
tage and they would for years to come
ride on the high wave of prosperity.
Do they or was the promise to their
ears broken to their pockets? They
have titled as many acres, and toiled as
many hours this year as they did last
year, but they cannot possibly show the
anne financial results. A year ago
wheat was worth $1.10 a bushel; to-day
it sells in open market for 45 cents, a
loss to the farmer of "a cents bushel.
Then clover-seed was.i demand at $5.75
a bushel; to-day the farmer gets $3.40, a
loss of $2.35 bushel. A year ago hogs
sold for $5.75 per hundred; to-day they
sell at So. so 70 1916, a loss to the farmer
of $500 to 1928 hundred pounds, and
with cattle, and corn, and oats and
nearly everything else that farmers
raise to sell.
On the other hand sugar, coffee, salt,
lumber, binder twine and so on, the
Prices of which are controlled by mon
Opolists, but which are indispensable to
have advanced in price.
Now, all things are true. They can
can be successfully gainsaid. They are
solid facts that cannot be drowned by
the sophistries and sneers and dema-
gogy of interested, because largely
profiting, protectionists. 1t is high
time for farmers, mechanics and labor
ers, to investigate the condition of Of
fairs, carefully compare the present
situation with that of year and two
years ago, contrast Republican promises
with Republican fulfillment, and cut
loose from a party that has no interest
in common with them, and no use for