Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-03
Tn. Farmer ana His Mortgage.

81. Louis Republic
A Harrison organ which protests 10 one
issue against collecting the statistics OF
farm mortgages, follows IN the next with
a long editorial in which il processes TO
wonder what is the matter with the far
mers. 1T Is melancholy fact" it says,
that the American farmer is forced TO
sell his corn and wheat al uuremunera-
tive prices--not because OF insufficient
protective duties. but in spite OF ample
favors OF that sort. The explanation OF
bis misfortune must be sought elsewhere
he not only has adequate protection at
home, but there are foreign markets that
are free to him. No export duty is re-
quired OF him by bis own government,
and no tax is demanded OF him 10 Euro
pean ports TO which he may ship his sur
plus. And yet he cannot obtain a fair
return upon his labor and investment.
Consumption is increasing faster than
production, but The prices do not rise in
proportion. On the contrary, they grow
lees, in curious violation of the logic of
supply and demand. Where does the
trouble liey That Is question easier
asked than answered"
All Of which is sham and false pre-,
tence.
There is no prohibitive tariff against
the importation Of any article needed
by manufacturers TO break down
the prices Of similar articles pros
duced by American farmers. Wool
is seeming exception. but as far as
protection is concerned, the wool tariff lie
fraud. 1t does not prohibit imports to
compete with American wool Ii simply
makes the farmers clothes higher with
out protecting him from foreign compe
tition.
The republican party has never pro-
hibited the importation Of single article
Of raw material produced on American
farms. All import taxes on such raw
material, with one or two alleged excep-
tons. are "for revenue only"-for what
republicans call free trade"
Where the republican party has inn
posed taxes on the pretence OF protect.
ing" the farmer. it has systematically pct
them on bis staple exports, such as wheat
sn1 corn, taking them of articles that are
imported to compete against him. 1t
has established absolute free trade in
hides-a great staple Of farm production
- and in so doing built up an export
trade OF Sl0.0OO.0O0 a year in leather
goods, which are sold cheaper abroad TO
foreigners than similar goods are sold TO
the farmer at home.
The raw materials OF manufacture pro-
duced by American farmers are unpro-
tected against foreign competition. The
republican party does not attempt TO
prohibit the importation Of such raw ma
ierisls in the degree or in the sense 10
which II does prohibit the importation of
manufactured goods.
II republican robbery is to be the rule
OF our finance, the republican farmer
will be excusable IN demanding his share
He can do It only By demanding pro-
tective (prohibitlve) duties on all raw
material, competing with raw material
produced; or Of imaginable production.
on American farms.
This will be OF no material benefit,
OF course, however comforting il might
be.
There is no mystery about the farmers
trouble. Production has increased i'm
meusely under invention in machinery.
with an inevitable decrease in cost OF
production and in selling price, except
where price has been maintained by law
Our tarif laws put up the price OF manu-
featured goods and put down the price
Of farm products.
This is the secret" of the farm mort
gage, and there is no mystery-no room
for wonder-sbout IL. II is as glaring in
its truth as the interest on the mortgage
is 10 its reality. The farmer who re
fuses TO see IL deserves TO sit by fire Of
corn and devote his mind 10 midnight re-
lection on the question Of how he IL TO
pay ten per cent penalty interest on his
past due notes.