The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1890-04-19
ssObservcr's'' Interesting Let
ter.

to call high tariff; operating IN their
minds as the cause of all the depression
among the farmers interests IN the
United States. Notably, writer's figure
among the great lights in the ranks OF
the free traders; who for a number OF
years tried TO ruin the best govern
ment the world ever saw; and failing
in this, after they had subjected their
country to the loss of hundred OF
thousands of valuable lives, and thous
and of millions of treasure, tried for
score of years to open the flood gates of
cheap labor from foreign countries; as a
gainst the American labor to the manor
born. By a system of free trade, that
should at least practically admit to
our markets, the ally who gave them
aid and comfort when freemen were
battling for God-given rights and a
country where manuel labor should be
as honorable as any scholastic profes-
sion. These writer's forget, that des-
pite all the ways that are dark and
tricks that are vain, the people in 1888
and 1889 pronounced against this
studiedeffort to sell ard deliver to fore
ign governments .the right to food our
land With the product of foreign pau
per labor; and then forget the onward
March of prosperity for years under
a protective policy, until the tariff
thinkers, thinking themselves strongly
intrcnched in free trace strongholds'
begin to undermine the foundations
of great manufacturing centers, by in
viting foreign manufacturers to put
their poorly paid operatives against
American labor. To this attack on
the protective policy that had carried
the country the greatest trial the
world ever saw; and which saved the
nation from bankruptcy and enabled
the nation q am aware that the
word nation is obnoxious to some) to
paw it's debts, and establish credit
not enjoyed by any other nation on
the globe and at the same time give
prosperity to its people such as none
other enjoys. To this alone, or mainly
is due, whatever depression exists
among the farming interests, outside
of the visitations of uncontrolled
causes. A covert attempt is also ap-
parent in an article, from the pen of
an ex-speakrr of the house of repre-
sentatives of the United States in the
same April number of the Agricul-
turist to block the wheels of congress
sional legislation against any aid In
favor of irrigation in the arid regions
of Arizona and other territories. 1t
seems a little strange that no mention
is made of the fact that home con-
sumption lessons the volume OF ex-
ports. Mr.. Roger Mills says (see
Agriculturist for April, page 2l9)
"that in 1881 we exported 1912, OOO,-
900 of cotton, breadstuffs and pro
visions, or about 500 per head of
farming population" land in 1889 we
Exported $464,O0O,000. With at
least six millions more farming popu
lation, our exports were 5000, 100000
less than in 1881" 1t may be true
that we exported less in ls86-7-8
than in 1881, but the manufacturing
interests were trembling in the bal
ance during the time when free trade
ruled by a large majority In the
lower branch of congress. This agl-
tation reached the producing element
as surely in the agricultural depart
ment; as it did in the manufacturing
industries of the nation. 1t sent out
thousands from the various manufac-
turing centres and as non-producers,
too, to consume the means accumu-
lated in the years of their prosperity
With the tariff agitation reform
$50 called) began the depression
With the beginning of the depression
began the monopoly of trusts to make
the rich richer, and the poor poorer.
The remedy is not in free trade-sc
called but to remove unjust and oP.
pressIve and unequalled taxation
Tax a dollar where the dollar Is
owned. Tax it the same on a rich
mans premises as on a poor mans
acre; whether it is hundred dollars
in the shape of velvet carpets and rich
furniture, or bank stock, or land thai
makes men poor to own it. [ remem
Der well the cry of America for Amer
leans" some years ago; and to day
that sentiment, though apparently in
active, is still a latent power tina