The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-01-30
THE FARMERS AND THE IA
RIFF.

sAA
The farmers demanded a hear
ing before the Committee or
Ways and Means in regard tC
the tariff. We rejoiced wheI
we saw the announcement. II
was exactly what they ought tc
have done. Day after day, del.
egation after delegation Of farm.
ers ought to hive stood before
that committee and made the
farmers plea for instice-justice
to the great agricultural inter,
est Of this country at the hand.
Of congress. They should ask
for no more, and be content with
no less. We were exceedingly
glad when the news come that
the farmers were moving in
that direction and we began {
hope that they would thunder
SO at the gates as to make theil
demands heard.
But it was q case of the noun.
tain being in labor and a redic
ulOus little mouse being born
Mr.. bingham, Of Ohio, spoke
for the farmers.
He stated that the organiza
ton which he represented wa:
composed Of every shade of DO.
litical belief. They differed on
the question of protection and
free trade, but they were sub.
stantially agreed that whatever
policy might be adopted fol
other industries and interests
should be applied to agriculture
If the manufacturers were to be
protected the farmers should
also be protected. Whatever
protection should be accorded
to agriculture ought to be given
He asked for the imposition OF
the following duties on farln
products: Barley, Is cents a
bushei; beans, SO cents a bushel;
peas, % cents a bushel; hops, =
cents bnshel; potatoes, % cents
a bushel; hay, 81 ton; hides 1C
pc cent. ad valOreIn; eggs,
cents dozen; apples, % cents a
bushel. He thought that ade.
quate protection should also be
given to raw silk and live ami
mails, but could not give the ex-
act duty that should be im-
posed.
Such was the burden Of his
song If others are protected
save the farmers OF this coun-
try from competition in barley,
in beans, in hops, and hay, and
eggs!
The great wheat aud corn and
cotton and tobacco interests
were not once mentioned. Why?
Because it is well known that
all the tariffs in the world can
not avail them anything. We
hope the farmers of this coun-
toy will repudiate this move
ment made apparently in their
interests and on their behalf.
1t is a reflection on their intel
ligence. The suggestions Of Mr..
Bringham, of Ohio, will proba
bly, be adopted by the tariff
committee, and thereafter they
will claim that they have done
for the farmers all that was
asked in their name, and that
hereafter the agricultural PAL
OF the community is estopped
from asking that the tariff be
reformed. The unclean thing
is thus to be saddled, in part, on
the backs of the farmers.
MIR. bingham misrepresented
the farmers before Congress.
He is a fool, or worse. When
protection is given any one in
dustry an injustice is done eve
ry other industry. The farmer
cannot afford to have the injus-
tice done him for the last quar-
ter Of a century partially off get
by the pittance above refalred
to. 1t is like a man who has
been stealing one bushel of corn
per day from his neighbor for
twenty-five years and when
caught agrees to compromise by
allowing lis neighbor to steal
back II peck per day, OIL the con-
dition that he can continue t.
his stealings Of a bushel per
lay. The farmer wants Justice
and not chance to help steal a
little.