Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-06-20
A FARMERS TARIFF,
High Tariff Bill Gets a
Severe Scorching by an Old-Time
Republican. A Confidence Game
Being Worked Upon the People.

Once upon time, an old fable hath
it, while shepherd was sleeping on
the banks OF a stream after a bath, a
wolf put on his clothing and the flock
mistaking him for their friend, were
being devoured, when an untimely
growl awakened the shepherd who
Drained the wolf with club. The
wolf is at the door of my farmer friends
some of them have been destroyed and
others are in danger. l have heard
the growl and would come to their res
cue.
claim neither marvellous learning,
nor exceptional insight in public mat
ters; but some degree OF business sue
cess, attained at the cost of many
years of close application and careful
study of minute points, has given my
opinions weight which they would
not otherwise merit. Another thing
which is more important than any
other in emitting ME to hearing
from the farmer, is the fact that my
interests are entirely bound up with
his own. To those who supply agri-
cultural implements, the prosperity OF
the class is not less vital than to the
farmers themselves.
Our interests are linked together;
and my sympathies also. / was born
and reared on a farm, and love the
Godmad country beyond the man.
made town, and l find it easy to see
things through the farmers eyes.
was Republican, when that party
was the party of freedom. l only
deserted the party when the party
deserted the cause of freedom. l be-
came a Democrat when that party
championed freedom. Freedom is the
elimination OF cizilization. Ii the in
tellectual and moral training of the
world was perfect, no human laws
would be needed. Without property,
| at least some reserved capital, freedom
is impossible; and laws which prevent
our selling in the highest markets and
buying in the cheapest, impoverish us
and impair our freedom.
l have no interest in this wide world,
that could lead me to misrepresent my
genuine convictions or the facts as l
see them. 1 have not now, nor have
ever had any political aspirations for
myself. l have not now, nor have l
ever had any interest in the import
ing usiness-except for raw materials
l myself needed. My interests are all
in this country, and for this country.
Had NO other motive to place what
has come to me from my observations,
study, reflection and experience un-
rcservedly at the farmers service than
the fact that, upon all great questions,
their interests are in every way my
interests, that fact would be enough.
The thoughts that offer are the
best of my store, and all / have TO ask
in their behalf is that, before dismiss
ing them, my readers will convince
themselves on careful reasoning and
inquiry, that l have gone astray.
The Mckinley tariff bill was institu-
ted to fulfill the pledges made during
the presidential contest, to those who
furnished the money to buy the elec-
ton. P. d. Armour & Co. are to re-
ceive Is per cent. upon hides at the
expense of every man, woman and
child in America, particularly the
farmer who must use harness as we'll
as shoes.
The duty ON tin is to be advanced
ten million dollars, in order to enrich
some certain Pittsburg gentlemen, at
the expense of the community gener-
ally, and particularly the farmer who
furnishes vegetables and fruits for
canning purposes. Our canning in
dustry amounts to more than ten
times the value of the imported tin,
and this would be placed in jeopardy,
il not ruined, by the proposed tariff.
Under the pretense of helping our
woolen industries, the material in
carpets will be made to cost moro than
the furnished goods do now. Cloth
ing will be largely increased in price,
bringing exceptional hardship upon
our farmers and workingmen. As
sop the farmer is accorded protection
upon his corn and wheat, which he
largely exports and which we would
not import, were there no duties at
all.
The duty is raised upon hay, but
how far can hay be carried before its
value is absorbed in cost of freight?
Very little hay would be imported,
were it made free. The effect of this
can only be to advance the cost of
everything the farmer buys, and since
our exports depend upon our imports,
to injure the market for what he has
to sell, since whatever interferes with
the importation OF goods, must to the
same extent interfere with expectation.
You know that our tariffs are in.
tended to interfere with our foreign
trade; you know, too, that the agri-
cultural productions OF this country
are most important exports. But lit
tie reflection is needed to convince us,
that the farmer is ground to powder
between the upper and neither mill
stone. Neither do high taxes upon
imported goods have the effect of pro-
Yiding new customers at home, as
many thoughtless people seem to be.
lieve. And it is true that since we
manufacture and sell agricultural inn
plements and tools abroad, we can
only need protection at home, in Or
lder to enable us to charge the farmer