The Wahpeton times., 1890-05-08

ducts az We now import, and that is that in
this they would meet an even more overwhelm-
ing and disastrous competition than they are
now confronted with in the raising OF cereals
and live stock. Obviously, then, the only
course possible to enlightened statesmanship
is to assure the farmer adequate protection
in the diversification Of his crops and the
production of larger proportion Of the ar-
ticles which We now import.
These may be summarized 40 follows, the Ag-
ures given being for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1889, and the values those at the
ports Of export:
Sugar and molasses. $93, ,3O1 ,694
Animals and their products. ex-
Fibers, animal and vegetable. SO, ,453, ,e36
Miscellaneous, including bread
stuffs, fruit, hay, hops, oils,
rice, seed, tobacco, vegetables,
wines, etc....... ,1S4, ,604
For obvious reasons omit any reference
here to the $9O,OOO,oO0 expended for tea.
coffee. and coca, but emitting these, We have
still the enormous sum of $266, ,273, ,738 i'm
ports Of agricultural products, the far great
$24O 200, 900 or $3.50, 900. 900, could, with
proper encouragement, be produced on our
own soil. The establishment OF our Agricul-
tural Experiment Stations, the energetic re-
search BY the Department Of Agriculture
into the different sections of this
country: Investigation OF their soils
general. of scientific principles to agriculture,
oil combining. make this assurance doubly
sure, provided always that this diversifca-
tion be encouraged and fostered by the ap-
plication of the principle of production to the
development of new industries on the tarm.
1t is simply the extension to our agriculture
Of the protection SO benefcially extended in
ho k0 ,fco o%nu; s,,I, cA,S~
In the days when the farmers were prosper
ous, when good crops were accompanied with
high prices, and the value Of agricultural
land went up accordingly, the farmers, to
man, stood by the principle OF protection
urged on behalf Of the manufacturers, who,
burdened then with the heavy load of taxa
tion imposed upon them by the civil war,
wore threatened with grave disaster in the
face of European competition. Now, in the
fGce OF the severe competition which to-day
confronts tho farmer in foreign markets,
duty, fairness. and in the long run self.inter-
est demand that we should afford him the
bensfts Of home market for oil that he
may be able to produce on our own soil.
This includes all the sugar and molasses, oil
animal products wool, silk, fax and other
fbers, all our breadstufs, fruits, hay, hops,
rice, tobacco, vegetables, and wines, but
many of these things will never, can never
be produced on American soil in competition
with the labor OF European nations, especi-
ally when, as in the case of sugar, the indus.
try abroad has bsen helped by liberal gov
ern ment bounties. II is worth while noting
that the price per pound of the great bulk Of
the sugar imported was, at the point of ship.
ment, 2.01 cents. 1t should bo borne in mind
that, while We estimate in our statistics the
value ofimports at the price in the foreign
port OF shipment, the value of tho export IL
on the Other hand, estimated at the price at
the port ofehipmentin our rcountry, so that to
the former must be added transportation,
which without the duty, would add fully as
to 30 per cent. more to arrive at it's value at
the point of eonsumption; this would bring
up the cost. to the consumer. Of our agricul-
tural imports to nearly $500, ,O0O, 900 or es-
timating solely such as could be. with prop
or encouragement, grown ON our own soil,
We have value of not much less than $780,
0oo, 900 az the possible reward Of diversified
agriculture. sum almost equal to our agri-
cultural exports estimated at farmsrs' prices
that is. less cost of transportation and
commissions or other chipping charges to
Before leaving this subject glance at tho
competition which our farmers have hitherto
been compelled to meet, even on our own soils
will be found most interesting OF the ST.
00O. 900 or $s, ,OOO. 900 worth Of live animals.
imported into this country. the greater pro-
portion were of ordinarily marketable stock,
40 contra distinguished from purs bred stock
imported for breeding purposes and admitted
Tree. Of oil animal products, including wool.
that is not now being raised upon our own
soil, tand yet, including wool and hides, the
imports of these animal products amounted
in the year referred to over $50, 900, 900: to
this add $4,000, 900, for fruits, $4,000.
900 'os sd barley, over g. .ooo, 900 for hay and
hops, $3, 500, 900 for rice. 81, ,o0o,0 for
tobacco. $3,o0o,0 900 for oils, $2,5OO, 900
worth Of vegetables, the same Of eggs over q
million dollars worth of cheese-these re-
present some of the imports, aggregatinr
nearly S115, 900, which in spite Of the
productiveness OF our own soil, are brought
into this country and sold in competition
With our farmers. The region OF the United
most severely felt, is in New England, the
seat Of manu- acturing enterprises which owe
their existence to the fostering care of pro.
tectivs tariff laws, and what is the eresult?
IL seems to me that oursystem oftaxation
demands Improvement in certain directions.
The cost of supporting the governments
needs to be most equitably adjusted among
the different classes of our people At pre.
sent in many States the burden Of local tax
alton presses heavily upon farm property.
it's very nature rent ering 1t easily oasessable
Every corporation created by the State, and
to whom special privileges are granted either
by State, county, or incorporated village or
earnings. and in all ways the principle Of tax
alton should be to place the burden of main
tanning the government, whether State, n,u.
nicipal, or National upon the luxuries and
comforts which the wealthy enjoy and to re.
duce it to minimum in its application to
the hardly earned property Of the poor man.
No doubt many more causes could be as
signed for the present agricultural depression.
still less is there any doubt but that other
and more efficient remedies than those suR.
9ested might bs found, may say will be
found, to relieved it. I have merely tried to
indicate what seemed to me the more impor-
tant causes and to point ont such remedies
a.. e. long and solicitous consideration Of the
situation, and may add, long familiarity
and synpathy with the hard working. frugal
class which is the immediate and chief suf.
feEer. have suggested to my mind a. both
necessary and feasible.
Il eandidly confess, that my personal sym
pathies are with the farmers, and they must
boar with me il offer them On earnest word
ofcaution. No possibls reiiaf can come to
them or the country, no permanent remedy
for present ills is to be found In measures
which are rather the outcome of resentment
than the product Of reason. would say to
the farmers, stand firm az the everlasting
bills in demanding what 10 right, and resist
Ing any possible infringement on your rights
as citizens BY any other class or combine
tion Of people, but beware. lest in your Just
eagerness to secure yGur own rights you In
fringe upon the rights of Others No meas.
ure that copficts with the rights Of any one
class Of citizens, but what u sure to follow
the courrs Of the boomerang and return to
injure the hand that shaped II. On the other
ea of our citizens. that the present con.
ditionR demand coneideration nov amd khnk