The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-11-03

Farmers and Protection.
OF all the people in the world that
ought specially to be in favor of pro-
lection, the farmers stand pre-eminent.
The farmers have been so long used to
incidental protection that 1t would be
hard for them to realize the need of
protection unless 1t was entirely
swept away from them, and il only
this country could afford it, a little
touch OF absolute free trade would be
beneficial so far as showing the differ
enae In the benefits arising from pro-
lection and those Qf any Arising from
free trade.
But let farmers look this thing
straight in the face and ask themselves
what effect FREQ trade would have upon
the country and upon their industry
specially. In the first place it would
destroy the manufacturing industries
of the country. 1t requires no double
ienzed glasses to enable farmers or
anybody else to see that manufactur-
ers could not enter into competition
with frce-trade and still keep up the
wages they are paying without pro
lection. Manufacturing then, could
only be kept up under free-trade by
reducing wages to a rree-trade basis
1t has always been a most profound
mystery to us why laborers under any
circumstances could oppose protec-
ton, they cannot do it consistently.
It ls hardly necessary to stop hero and
tell the farmers that these manufac-
tories make their market. Break them
up and the markets are broken up.
But won't there be the same number
OF mouths to fill under free trade as
under protection? asks some free trade
farmer. Yes, but they would not be
very well filled nor their backs would
NOT be very we'll clothed. The pictures
Of suffering in Europe under low
wages, should be enough to satisfy
anybody as to how low wages would
work in this country. But that Is not
all.
Break up these manufactures the and
millions engaged in them would have
to look to agricultural pursuits. What
this means Is very clear. Under pres
emit conditions 81 per cent. of Amerl.
can agricultural products are con.
sumed at home and find ready
market for consumption by those ell
gagged in manufacturing, while the {
per cent. surplus that is exported sell
dom finds sure market, and even II
it does, transportation freight, and
middlemen's charges have taken away
almost tho entire profit from the far
mer. II such is the case, what then
would be tho result of not only TAX
ing from him his home market but at
the same time giving him as eompsti.
tors all those who formerly engaged
In manufacturing and were his Gus.
toners? 1t could only be glut, q
elgn market.
1t is not hard 10 see then that as the
result OF this immense over produe
ton of agricultural products, tht
price would have fallen to starva.
tlon point and when at The same time,
az a result OF the greatly increased do
mand for foreign manufactured goods
the price Of those would hive risen t.
IN e&Cortion point. What then woult
be tie ratio OF exchange? II could
mean nothing ut ruin-rain complete
and disastrous for tue american pro
ducins classes. But this is not all o
the dark picture. What would becum,
of the capital driven out OF the manu-
featuring industries. This question
would he used in buying up farms
aud u land holding class would be es
tlblished with great estates MS In Eng
land and nm the ntltar hunf op,tI,