The National tribune., 1890-04-10
VALUE OF A HOME MARKET.

AShob "SSh oh httS"Pb Woo bisNNS III WV
columns of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE to
show the direct benefit which the farmer
derives from the tariff. Facts were pre-
sented proving conclusively that the one
thing needed just now by the American
many important farm products. The farmer
who listens approvingIy to the siren song
of the free trader should pause long enough
TO thoroughly acquaint himself with the
proposed program. He should recall the
and reflect for moment on the probable
effect of that bill upon the agricultural
bill took outright from the dutiable schedule
the products of American industries repre-
sented here at home by a capital of $780,
100000, and an aggregate number en-
ploycd of 100000 and put them on the free
list And this was not the worst of it, The
largest proportion represented the products
of our fields and farms, In fact the free list
proposed by those who believe with Mr.
Gladstone that we should produce more
grain and cotton, and manufacture less iron
and steel and cloth was almost wholly com
prised of agricultural products The relief
offered the farmer by the opposition party is
a reduction of duties on many of the prn
cipal articles which he produces, and as a
result, of course, increased importation.
Under such a policy instead of greater
diversifcation of agriculture, the farmer
will be held down more rigidly to the
production of staple crops which are
now bringing such low prices. lie must
produce more grain and more cotton
at constantly decreasing prices The only
hope for the American farmer to-day is
an extended home market and additional
protection 10 the commodities which he pro-
duces. A farmer who raises wheat cannot
hope to compete with India as soon as the
railroad system of that Asiatic country ena-
bles the Hindoo farmer to reach the market
of the world as readily as the American
farmer. The day is not far distant when
the cumbrous buIlock-cart now used TO
transport wheat in India must give way 10
the railway station. Then the American
farmer will be clamoring for protection on
his wheat rs he is to-day on barley. Tie
imports of breadstufTs have now nearly
reached SI0,000,000 annually, and are more
likely to increase than decrease. At the
best the market of the world is a delusion.
Free-traders pirate themselves hoarse about
it, but ignore the fact that IL il not open 10
us. With the exception of England, the
American farmer takes his commodities 10
markets which are protected by tariffs
as formidable rs our own. And rightly,
France, Germany and Belgium have dis
covered that judicious protection encour-
ages home production of all sorts, and hence
enriches the nation adheriug to this policy.
Experience shows that wherever the con-
SINNER and producer were ncighbors there
existed the most prosperity. In other words,
agriculture and manufactures must run
along the same lines ia order TO obtain
the most satisfactory material Development
The nation which attempts TO develop one
industry at the expense Of another makes n
made melancholy failure. For example,
Golden told the British agriculturist that
| ployed in that industry. The so-called
revenue reiormers of the United States are
virtually telling the manufacturers of the
United States the same fable. Has Mr..
| CObden's prophecy been fulfilled? No.
! free-trade reduced the industry one-hali
| instead. Just let me call attention TO the
whole population employed in agriculture
1851. 1861. 1871 1881
England aud Wales. 2O9 1870 H2 iit
| Scotland ..................... 22.7 POI l73 a..
Here we have in England a decline Of
almost half-from nearly II per centum to
III per centum. Sir James Card the
first authority on British agriculture, esti.
mates the loss Of income Of the owners oil
agricultural land at 30 per centum, OF $780,.
100000 annually. The land owner in agri.
culture represents the capitalist in manulac.
turing What Of the men who work these
lands2 Those who correspond with tho
mechanic and the artisan? How have they
Jared under the system which Mr.. Colder
assured the farmers Of England would knock
off the shackles increase the value Of farms
double the product and prove blessing Il
the class opposing him? Their loss hal
been, so says the same authority, Sir james
Card, 60 per centum, or $l00000,000 pc
annum. So the working mans loss in in
come was 60 per centum and the capitalist
80 per centum. Yet Golden and Bright
with as much assurance as our own revenue
reformers, positively asserted that not onl,
/ A L.. r.. n.