Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-07-30
The Farmers Party.

the government has, for thirty years,
been used to compel the farmers TO
contribute a part Of their earnings to
swell the profits Of certain other classes
numerically small, but very powerful
In their influence over legislation.
1t is mistake to suppose, however,
that the farmers alone have suffered in
this way. The excessive taxes which
they have paid have been taxes upon
consumption. This unjust, because un-
necessary taxation has fallen, therefore
upon all consumers; and only the ben
eficiaries Ofthis partial legislation have
received any compensation for the bur-
dens so imposed. The farmers have
suffered in common with all non-prJ-
tected consumers. The farmers are sim
ply the most numerous class of those
against whose prosperity the taxing
power of the government has been di-
rected for the last thirty years.
The golden age of the farmers of the
United States was the period from 1S46
to 1860. That was the time when the
revenue measures which Mr.. Blaine
calls 1.-The free trade tariff" was in OPP
Grafton. In that prosperous period the
agricultural classes received excellent
prices for their products and bought
their supplies at reasonable rates. Nor
did any of the disasters to manufactur-
iY,c TIT fe kor Is,o saI,
emies of the Walker tariff of 1916 had
predicted. On the contrary, as Mr..
Blaine has told us in his book, they
were so prosperous that all opposition
to the revenue tariff ceased. A still
further reduction of tariff rates was
made in 1857, with the consent of the
great body of manufacturers them
selves. When the Morrill, tariff bill was
under discussion, at the session of Con-
gress in 1S59-60, Mr.. Sherman denied
that the manufacturers were pressing
it. 1.-THE manufacturers" said he,
"have asked over and over again to be
let alone. The tariff of 1857 is the
manufacturers BILL" Mr.. Morrill, him
self admitted that his bill was coldly
welcome by the manufacturers. All of
which goes to show the Democratic
legislation had rendered the farmers
prosperous without hunting other in
terests at all.
During the civil war the demands of
the revenue required a high rate of
taxation. When the war was over,
other questions occupied the public
question long held a subordinate posi-
Nba 10 - A..
secure such a reduction of taxation as
would relieve the people of the excessive
burdens under which they labored, but
they were in a minority. While the
minds of the people were occupied
with the memories of the war and the
problems of reconstruction, the monop-
olists were diligently looking out for
their'own interests. When surplus of
revenue forced the reduction of taxa
ton, they were able so to shape legisla-
tion that none of their special privileges
were surrendered. Appeals were
artfully made to hide from the eyes of
the farmers of the Northwest the spolia-
tion to which they were subjected.
Even as late as 1883 they were persuad-
ed that they must not accept redress
of grievances rendered them by con-
gress in which Confederate Brigadiers"
held prominent positions.
The time arrived when appeals to the
passions of a past generation could no
longer reconcile the farmers to the long
delay in giving the promised relief.
When the promise that the tariff would |
be revised by the Republican party was
ke pit to the ear but broken to the hope
by the enactment of a tariff law immeas-
lrably more oppressive than any that |
had preceded it, the farmers of the
Northwest entered upon the revolt |
which had already been too long delay |
ed. The elections of the fall of 1890
showed the extent of the dissatisfaction |
with Republican legislation. The farm
ers of the country then signified their
no longer to pay tribute |
% monopolies.
Republicans fully appreciate the dam
yerous character of the revolt, and they
ire doing all they can so to direct it |
hat it will not work the ruin of their
party. The impracticable demands
which inexperieHce in legislation has
,aused some of the farmers organiza-
ions to put forward have been welcom-
ID by Republicans because they with
lrew attention from the real grievance,
! tariff not for revenue but for spolia-
ion. 1t is the Republican policy to
livide the enemies of monopoly, and
% to conquer them in detail. For this
purpose they have caused some of their
reatures to thrust themselves forward
nto positions of leadership in the new
movement. They desire so to direct it
hat it will hurt the Republicans as
title as possible, and will do the Dem
Gratis the greatest possible injury. 1t {
J to this circumstance that is due the
Ictivity of many Republicans from
ther states, posing as representatives
f the Peoples Party, in the present
anvass in Kentucky.
Farmers and friends of the farmers
hould not allow themselver to be de-
eived by the subtleties of the enemy.
he Democratic party was the farmers I
riend in the days when it controlled
he Government. Under Democratic
lle the farmers where prosperous and
Apply, rot at the expense of other
lasses, but under broad laws that gave !
hem all they earned. For thirty {
ears the Democrats have been struggl-
lg to restore the low tariff era from
346 to 1850. Now that victory is about
, perch upon their banners, the men
VI whose benefit this long fight has a
cen made are asked to desert thed Il
The army that, is sweeping
randy forward to assured victory is
1vised to disband in order to reorgan- !