The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-25
REPUBLICAN poppYCocK.

springfield Ill
REPUBLICAN PopPYCoCK.
While the wisest of republican news
papers are promptly clearing out iron
the wreck caused by the cyclone OF No
vember the fourth, there are still few
pleiocene relics who cling to the bed
rock. According to them the Mckinley
bill is the wisest and most statesman
like measure that has ever been passee
by any congress. It's benefits are to b.
incalculable. and every class is to profit
by them. Especially thu farmers. The
republicans dearly love the farmers
when they want votes, and if the agr
culturists would only just put thei,
hand in the long stocking and furnish
campaign funds sufficient for '92, the g
o. p might be tempted to throw over
the grasping manufacturing interest
and bestow on the farming class some
real and actual benefits. But under re-
publican rule the majority of farmers
have not all become millionaires, and
campaign Doodle from that source is
likely to be scant. Well, If fair words
will propitiats the farmer, he is to be
propitiated. He exports 80 per cent. OF
his products to-day, and the demand OF
the home market is steadily and regu-
larry decreasing. The farmer has lost
his faith in the Wanted home market
Sad experience has taught him that his
prices are regulated by the free-trade
markets of Liverpool and London. He
feels with Mr.. Blaine that widening
foreign market is for him an absolute
necessity.
Is he going to secure that market
through the agency of the Mckinley
bill. France has been heard from. A
bill has been introduced providing for
two tariffs, maximum and minimum.
The latter is to DO imposed when re-
ciprocity provisions are in force. Raw
materials for French manufactures are
to be admitted free. On agricultural
products the maximum tariff is
to be levied That is how France
proposes to help the farmers of this
country, and Frances action is directly
due to the passage of the Mckinley bill.
From Holland and Belgium comes the
notification that the flour merchants of
these two countries will buy no more OF
the second-grade baking flour made in
this country. The Mankato mills alone
lose an annual market for $4,000 barrels
by this decision. From Russia and In
dia England hopes to obtain larger
supply than over of wheat. She is ran
sacking every available source Of pro-
duction, and with success. Wheat has
gone down two cents in Liverpool, and
English agents inform their New York
correspondents that America can keep
her surplus wheat at home, il she is so
inclined.
This action is not purely retaliatory.
It is the result of sheer necessity. These
foreign countries cannot afford to import
our agricultural products unless We take
payment for them in goods. Any at
tempt to pay gold for them during a
single year would sweep Europe bare.
Imports must decrease with exports.
Our farm products are shut out, by the
Mckinley bill, from the markets Of the
world, and we use only 70 per cent. at
home. The farmers market is mar.
rowed, and he pays higher prices than
ever to the manufacturer We are in.
clined to believe that it will require q
good deal more than empty talk to in
duce him to regard the acme Of republi.
can craftsmanship with any feeling that
even approaches complacency.