Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-09-12
TIE CONSUMER.

THE CONSUMER.
Undoubtedly, one Of the most potent agen-
cies contributing, hitherto, to the success of
pgotectionist ideas in this country, is the
fact that most men think of themselves as
producers rather than as consumers, as the
sellers rather than the buyers of commodi-
ties; and hence they do not consider the
purchasing power Of what they have to sell.
This is eminently true of the farmers In their
study of the tariff If they would reflect
that by reduction OF tariff duties the dollar
they obtain for bushel of wheat would
buy goods FOR which they now have to pay
DOLLAR and quarter, they would realize
that, without raising the price Of grain, their
incomes would be practically increased one
fourth, and they would also realize how un-
just thing this tariff tax is, when it is
raised to point beyond the needs Of the
government for revenue. Being the most
numerous class engaged in the industrial
pursuits, they are by far the largest consum-
ers of those kinds Of goods upon which the
tariff tax is highest, and therefore con-
tribute the larger part Of The public income
as well as the bulk of the unearned profits
of manufacturers and the tariff reformers
have contended that the farmers would be
benefited by the reduction Of tariff duties
not SO much by increasing the price OF their
farm products (which will be regulated in
any event by the supply and demand) as by
reducing the price of the things they have
to buy.
We are well aware that this argument
has been met by the counter argument, that
reduction of the profits of manufacturers
would paralyze the home market by diniin.
ishing the resources OF the purchasers ol
farm products; and if the benefits of the
tariff went TO the mass OF skilled workmen
instead of to their employers-who are few
in numbers-the argument would have
some force, perhaps But knowing as we
do how small part of the manufacturers re.
ceipts go 10 the account of labor, and that q
reduction Of the tariff would enlarge the
purchasing power OF the workingman's dol
lar as well as the farmers, we fail to SET
iniuriausly. Ii anything, it would be i'm
proved, because the farmers better condi
ton would induce him to purchase goods
in which he is now compelled to stin
himself, and the factories would be busy
which is, for the skilled workman, the besi
possible state of affairs. Active trade would
result from increased ability to buy, and the
conditions which conduce to active trade
would be more stable and enduring If equa
chances were given to all classes Of the
community, and existing antagonisms gave
way TO mutual and harmonious relations
The fault--we had almost said the crime
of the Mckinley bill is, that it is construct
ed entirely in the interest of the manufac-
turcr and dealer, not at all in the interest Of
ga Under the operation Of Il
1T afg manufacturers will be increas
cd, Use they would not be so clamor
a,ag / Ii, sud the consumer must necessa
b. the victim of any advance in prices
afroef of this, it is only necessary to cite
Daact that 10 view of rise in prices Ger.
D follow the passage of the Mckinley
he importers Of foreign goods are al
purchasing and bringing into the
Y unusual quantities of them, so as to
\advantage Of present customs duties
rich harvest when the advance
So the burden increases undel
fuence Of Republican ad
9ratic idea is q very different
hct, as embodied in Mr.. Cleve
- q and the Mills bill, was to re-
lIeve thel0 tssshy enabling him to &C
elsewhere loi - Goods Il our home manu-
iactnrers demanded exorbitant prices. ant
also by openias up for his surplus products
markets in which he would not be placeC
II double disadvantage by retalatory tar
iff duties In a word, while it left to th,
gin Of profit, II gave TO the consumers, who
are the many, the benefits Of competition
and fair market for agricultural products
These are thdNpeIicai issues which oul
people must meet b lie November election
They cannot be put eside. The demand
Of trade, the coalition Of the masses of ou
popu ation-.sae relations Of capital and la
cor, the necessities of one class of the peo
pie aud the supernuous wealth of anothe
class, all force it upon our attention, and /
mist be settled, We haye seen il statet
somewhere that the Mckinley bill will pass
nand. as the Senate Is likely to remain Re
lican for some years to come, a Demo
- of representatives would b
D. to give relief This might o
e. The eagerness with whicl
pas caught at the idea OF reel
lws that Senators, at least, ar
realize that the popular de
something, and that they ar
cape the pending denunciatio
opening that presents itsel
tic House of Representative
The peoples protest against thi
4 asdld cheer on those who hav
q 90 yalianty battled for thei
would be evidence that the peo
.ast understand their substantial in
and cannot be longer duped by those
sa6 all the profits of trade, nor b.
~ brow beaten by the consolidate
MON power Of lhe land. 1t would b
evidence that they still have courage t
Withstand those disreputable combination
bf the demagogue and capitalist which con
tinually threaten republican institutions ane
can be broken only by the uprising OF tn
people. We have abiding faith in thei
patriotism, and look with hope and conf
ienee for the result of the contest.