The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-10-31


Their tariff has worked Just as it was intend
ed to do-not to aid in the development OF
this country, for it has rather retarded 1t
not wholly to check our prosperity, Tor, with
the most enterprising people and the greatest
natural resources that ever blessed nation
and with absolu lie free trade between all parts
of our own vast country, we have prospered
in spite of restrictive laws; but to secure to
the manufacturers and mine owners, who
procured the tariff to be enacted, the lions
share of such prosperity as tpermitted.
The farmer is, unfortunately, too bitterly
familiar with the facts, as to which there is no
dispute-can be none. During each decade
since 1850, the wealth of the country has
greatly increased, both in ratio and extent
During but one decade, 1S50-1S60, has the in
crease in farm values kept pace with the in
crease in other respects. That was the de-
cade when we had practical free trade. We
have had high protection ever since 1861, and
in every decade since 1860, the prosperity of
agriculturisls has fallen far behind that of
the other classes of our citizens. During the
last decade, 1880-1S90, the increase of wealth
has been greater than ever before, and our
manufacturing wealth has grown faster than
ever; but during these ten years the wealth
of our agricuturists has actually decreased.
This is not merely the case for the country
as whole, but from Maine to Kansas, from
MARYLAND to Minnesota comes the same news
of the loss of property, of prestige and of in
ffuence on the part of farmers. During the
last ten years. manufacturing, mining, rail
road and banking stocks have steadily risen
in value, as has real estate in cities and
villages, and expensive improvements, new
and elegant dwellings, beautiful parks, all
paid for by somebody, are making more and
lo ba IF ort1x
increasing numbers who live at the farmers
expense. On the other hand, the farmers about
these very cities and villages are steadily get
ting poorer. And these contrasts are nowhere
more general and more marked than in the
very quarters where, before this era of "high
protection" our agricultural communities
were longest established and most prosper
Gus, and where, since our miners and manu-
facturers have been allowed to tax the rest
of us, manufacturers and miners have most
thrived, and the number of wealthy con-
sumers (who were to give the farmers such
wonderful home markets) most largely in
creased-in New England, New York, Penn
sylvania and New Jersey.
The farmers are coming to the conclusion
of a farmer in Yates county, N. Y, who, the
other day, said to his neighbors: 81 don't
know much about the tariff l never thought
| did. Maybe it has been good thing for
the country. I'm afraid it hasn't, but l hope
it has. But I'll bet one thing-that it has
been good thing for the fellows that got it.
| don't grudge them that either, but it
seems to me like this: / know it don't help
me- If it's a good thing for the country
though, / think we ought to stand it as long
as We can afford to. But | don't believe
there is farmer in this town that can afford
just now to do more than take care of him
self, and want a letup on this tariff that
takes up contributions from me to help some
body else-God knows who-but suspect"
The Remedy.
"Where then, is the remedy from the
heavy burden of so per cent tax on the
necessaries of life, both imported and domes-
tic ? There is only one element or class able
to remove it, and that Samson is sleeping in
the lap of Delilah and will not awaken. l,
of course, mean the farmers. The plundered,
unprotected, twenty-five million of geese
like farmers who permit themselves to be
plucked of almost every feather by hundred
thousand protected" monopolists. While
the ploughmen act like Issachar's ass, and
crouch between two burdens. both will be
kept on their backs. The lubricants live
localized in the cities and plot and scheme
for the promotion of their selfish interests
and bring their united lobby influence to
bear on members of Congress, whereas the
farmers live isolated and scattered, and can't
or don't combine in defence of their interests.
Hence, they are unprotected, rnrepresented
and unconscious of what keeps them poor.
They are captivated by the specious cry of
"prote ction TO American industry" tho they
get none oft; and ofthe value of the protect
ed home markets to them, as if protected
monopoists eat any more than other men,"
Joseph Medill, editor of the Chicago Tribune,
the Republican organ of the Northwest.