New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-02
THE TARIFF AND THE FARMER.
AGRICULTURE THE CHIEF BENEFICIARY
OF PROTECTION.
AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT FROM MR.. JOSEPH
| NIMMo, JR.-FAcTs AND FIGURES.

AN INFORMANT STATEMENT FROM MR. JOSEPH
NIMMo, JR.-FACTs AND FIGURES.
TO ne EdNor Of rae rrfoun~
Sir: In article, entitled Protection and the
Farmer Senator cullo of Illinois, has made most
valuable contribution TO tariff literature. lie
clearly demonstrates the following points:
First-Our protective tariff, called in dersion a war
tarin'-not bad name. when the objects and re-
suits of the considcred-has developed An
enormous home market for American farmers almost
entirely their own.
second-This home market, close at hand, Is from
three to four times large all available foreign
markets, commonly known as the markets Of the
world which far away and hotly competed for by
other countries.
ThirdThe effect Of the protection Of manufacturers
In this country has been greatly TO reduce the cost OF
manufactured goods 10 our people.
There IS however, line of argument showing the
benefits conferred upon the farmer by protective
tariff not embraced in the particular treatment of the
subject, to which the distinguished Senator has d.
rccted his attention. The pivotal idea of the Free
Traders Of this country found expression in exPres
dent Clevelands message of December g. 1887 as fol-
lows: q Our present tariff laws +. e.. raise the
price TO consumers Of all articles imported and sub
tect TO duty by precisely the paid for such
duties' Many OF these things however, raised
manufactured in country. and the duties now
protection Of these home manufactures. because they
render it possible for those OF our people wh1
manufacturers TO make these taxed articles and sell
them for price equal TO that demanded for the I'm
ported goods that have paid customs duty He adds
that our people pay for articles Of domestic production
nearly or quite the same enhanced price which the
duty adds to the imported artcle.'
When We consider all that this implies. Il Is clearly
seen, II true TO present argument overwhelmingly
In favor of protection Mr.. Cleveland spoke of things
rased' or manufactured" This includes products
of agriculture, for In specific terms he included WOOL
Let see how the rule works corn. which is
much the product Of intelligent labor is WOOL
are furniture woollen goods.
If our people pay for corn nearly quite the same
enhanced price which the duty adds the imported
article" it is Of interest to inquire what this enhanced
price amounts to- and to know into whose pocket 1t
goes The duty imported corn IS 10 cents bushel.
According to the pivotal Idea of free tradism and
adopting precisely similar language to that. used by
Mr.. Cleveland The duties levied upon foreign corn,
called protection to home agriculture rendered it pos
sible for our people who farmers TO and
sell 1t for price equal 10 that demanded for imported
corn which has paid customs duty
In the year 1888 raised 1887, 5000 bushels
OF corn. The 10 cents bushel duty according the
Cleveland idea added nearly or quite' 10 cents to
enhanced price" caused by the duty was $l0s 49,,
900. This a grand addition 10 our agriculture
and no Free Trader may soil 1t. In this manner Of
computing the benefits conferred by our tariff upon
the farmer, have compiled the following table: