The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-08-23

cost to the consumer. Col. Porter,
however, claims that sugar is com
peting agricultural product, and is an
important factor in explaining the
the present depression of farming in
terests. He includes it, therefore, in
the following table OF agricultural i'm
ports:
sugar .....................S J3,OOO, ,OUO
Animals and products Except
Wooi) .......:....... 4l.WOOOO
Eibers. animal and vegetable..... Go.000. 600
Fruits Observation-Disclosures. 10000, 900
Barley and cereals. ls............. 5000 900
Tobacco leaf Observation-Disclosures. ll.000, 900
Total. ......... ................ 1888 900 900
Mr.. Butler: What Ia that?
Mr.. Vest: That is the value of The
products imported into this country in
1889, according to Col. POrter's esti-
mate.
This is q formidable array, and is
psrsded by Col. Porter to show the
farmers that their present depressing
condition is duo 10 the importation OF
competing farm products and not TO
tsrifitaxatiOn, which increases the cost
OF living aud al the same time destroys
the foreign market for their surplus
Stopos thOtSAoiOy dtSVto
ing to Col. Porter, is an increase OF
duty upon these importstions, so as to
exclude them from the American mar
ket.
II is to be hoped that the census
which Col. Porter is now taking will
be more accurate than his statements as
a protectiOnist.
While l am disposing OF Col Porter
I 10 Ia osh
ment officials who have also found
time to use their positions for tho pnr
pose of preventing a reduction of tariff
taxation, and satisfying the farmer that
he is being plundered for his own
benefit.
STATIsTICIAN DODGE.
In the American Economist of April
| 1, MIR. j. Il. Dodge, statistician OF the
agricultural department, rushes into
print to show the farmers why they are
each year becoming poorer for the
want OF higher tariff taxation, and pro
duces the following:
The agricultural imports amounted
for 1889 10 over $34S ,OO0, 900 at ports OF
shipment and fully $400, 600 with
freights and commission added. These
imports are largely food and ibers
The heavier items for 1889 are al
follows:
| Sugar and mOlasses. ........89 893 ,297 ,S6s
| Animals and their products lex
| cept wOOD Observation-Disclosures. O,4l9 90.
Fibers, animal and vegetable. .... 5J,453 .93t
Fruits and nuts. Observation-Disclosures. 1S,i4O.4lI
Barley and other cereals. s......... S,07l,72:
| Tobacco leaf. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. lO.SOS. .22t
| Wines .................. :.7O6 u:
| Iotai. Observation-Disclosures. SZ5S 4Os, ,4f'
Ii will be noticed that the table o
Col. Porter falls short of the $3.50, 600,
600 which he states as the aggregate o
agricultural imports tor 1883 SO only
$i7 900 900, while that OF MIR. Dodge
shows the SUN OF $l08, ,536 ,557 out o.
tho $34S. 600, 900 which he claims 10 b,
imported utterly unaccounted for.
These little discrepancies, however
must be disregsrded in the statement'
of overworked government officers
whose intellects csnuot be expected tC
operate with entire accuracy.
SECRETARY RUsK.
Before analyzing the tables abov,
given, II will be interesting to motto,
another remarkable and conclusive ef
fusion from the secretary of agricul
ture, which it was supposed woult
silence Immediately all discOnten
among the farmers.
This unique and interesting produc.
ton deserves full quotation, but | Cal
only give the following:
OF all the wonderful phases-
Says Secretary ltusk-
of development OF which the United
States furnishes such striking examples
none is perhaps more remarkable thai
the wonderful increase, totally dispro
portionate to our increase of lopula
lion, in our imports of products which
are distinctly agricultural. In 1850 th
imports of such products amounted tC
$40, ,O00, 900; for the tiscal year endin.
in 1889 they amounted to the enorinOu
SUN of 1856, ,000, 900, All increase 0
nearly 900 per cent, while the increas
IN population during tho corresponding
period was considerably less than 30(
per cent. To any reasonable man tn
conclusion must be obvious, namely ,tha
in the line of products, with the excep
ton of cotton, upon which our tarInerl
chiefly depend, there has grown up ,
|, we'll nigh ruinous competition,in whicl
the labor of the peasant OF Europe, .
the miserable fellah of Egypt, and o
the unfortunate, half starved lndial
! ryot, working for pauper wages, neg
lecting all the amenities Of lite in Ordol
that women and children as well y
men may work in the fields, is pittot
against that of the American farmer.
, am sorry to be compelled to spoi
this magniIOqueni production, but til,
J peasants OF Europe, the fellahs of Egyp
, and the ryOts of India do not cOmpet
, in this market with any of our agricul
tural staples. The report of the treas
ury department for 1889 shows tina
not a bushel of corn, wheat, rye, oats
\ or a pound of -four was brought her
from India, Egypt, or any pauper labO
country.
, Some limburger and other ioreigl
cheese is brought from Europe, but
Is SO entirely different from our ADeri
can cheese as to forbid all competitio
, between the domestic and iorelg
article.
) The treasury reports show no direC
trade Of anv sort with Egypt, whil
from India sugar is imported to tn
value of $54 900. with tlaxseed, baggine
c bnrlaps, jute, potash, tin, fine woods
} spices, India rubber, essential oils
catechu, gambia, gums, cotton an
. indigo. These in all foot up 1900,
/ O0O, OF which $l2 900 900 has been plu,
+ ed by the republican party on the IRE