Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1891-02-05
THE IMMORAL TARIFF.

/ THE IMMORAL TARIFF.
4 Follower Of the Plow Pays His Re-
spects to Professor Van Buren Denslow.
The New York Tribune has given to
its readers a four column screed by Pro-
fessor C) Van Buren Denslow on the 'sFi-
nancial Crisis" and hasten to apollo
gize for the assumption that it is worthy
Of notice by sensible readers by the state
ment that its importance arises solely
from the manner Of it's publication, and
not at all from its matter, except 80 far
as both reveal one Of the demoraliIng
effects Of the ''immoral tariff" Let me
quote the following specimen of the acu-
men displayed by this writer:
"The principle Of democracy breaks
down when it comes to lending money,
and the other principle applies that cap
ital attracts capital, wealth alone in
spires confidence, to him that hath shall
be given, while from him that hath not
shall be taken away If we purpose to
lend money we seek to lend it only to
the rich, the very rich, the richest posi-
bic. Then we know we will get it
again" ,.....
There are other farmers Of my ac-
quaintance who have come to under
stand the meaning Of this statement.
Like me they inherited their political
faith, just as Van Buren Denslow did
his ignorance. And with me they have
come to new light within the last few
years. As we have watched the burn
ing corn in stoves guiltless of coal, there
has come to us light which has recently
been reflected in our action. We have
not read SO many old authors, and con-
sequently have not compiled so many
pages Of twaddle, as lumber the libraries
with the imprint of Professor" Dens-
low. But somehow we have gained the
knowledge that democratic institu-
tions have been committed to this peo-
pie, who have been not unwilling to
make certain sacrifices in their interest.
Down by the orchard there are two
mounds, meath which rest the bones of
father and brother who laid down their
lives when it had been found that 3tthe
principle of democracy broke down"
when we came to admit the right of
man to own his fellow man, and the de-
struction of the nation was attempted to
secure that right. For over a quarter
Of a century we have watched the bios
SONS fall on those graves, and has
known only the regret that our her1ue
could not have lived to take up the fight
which we now see impending between
the whole people and their enslavers
The SHOWS of more than twenty five win
ters have mantled them, but have never
destroyed the memory Of the men who
died that greater liberty should bless
this nation.
And now from all over the country
there is coming proof that the farmers
are awakening to realize that they have
been sustaining a system which has en-
boldened writer's in it's defense to impu-
IDENTIFY frame their arguments to prove
that when the principle Of democracy
breaks down" before the further de-
mands Of monopoly, democracy itself
must give way that greed may fatten.
This is the familiar argument of. the
tax eaters. They would protect with
high taxes the mill bosses in order that
they might be able to pay higher wages
to their employees, and then have so
framed the laws as to make it possible
for employers to buy their labor in the
open market and starve their working
men behind the wall of protection. They
have humbugged us with the pretense Of
protecting us with imposts on corn and
wheat to cover up the infamy Of a con-
stantly increasing tribute to the barons
Of monopoly. They have instilled into
the public mind the idea that the nation
must care only for the rich-the very
rich-the richest possible-and let the
poor feed from the crumbs that fall from
their groaning tables
They have made it necessary for the
farmers to mortgage their lands, and
then have devised means by which those
mortgages could only be held by men
whose exactions have made US burn corn
in competition with protected coal.
They have given of the public domain
and of the peoples treasure empires in
area and wealth beyond the dream of
avarice, and now sneer at the folly of
farmers who assume the possibility of
the government doing for them what it
has so freely done for more favored
classes. They have boxed the compass
of absurdities in financial legislation for
the benefit of a class, and now demand
further benefits for their pets that ''the
very rich" may be able to loan money to
bankupted farmers.-A Kansas Farmer
in Chicago Times.
Farmers and Lawyers.
Among theother revolutions the farm
ers' movement is to accomplish in ashort
space of time is to break up the fetiehism
which has given the profession of the