The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-10-21
A Word by Farmer" to the Farmers.
ro tt,a edffor NJ Tho RaRuhtioan


To the editor OF The Republican.
Among the classes which 90 to
make up the sum of American citi-
zenship there are none more deserv-
ing than the farmers.
While they are the most indie
pendent, and while they possibly
see more real enjoyment than any
other class of people, they are, at
the same time, the hardest worked
and the poorest paid in proportion
to what they do.
They 60 late and early, through
cold and wet, through tempest and
sunshine. Accustomed to telling
the truth in a straightforward,
manly way, they rely all the more
implicitly on what they read in
their local newspapers. They have
but little time to devote to the
study of economic questions, and
it is all the more important that
they select such reading matter as
will tell the truth. and nothing but
TIE truth. The farmers are the
hope OF the nation and 1t is of the
utmost importance that the news.
papers which go into their families
rs public educators, as public in
structors and dispensers of knowl-
edge, tell the truth as it really is.
frhere is no one that wants to be
deceiyed by lie, even though it he
to advance the interests of the
political party to which he owes
allegiance.
The farmers of Garrett county
and of the country at large are IN
terested in the price of their wool
and other products and in having a
good market for the surplus they
may have to dispose Of. They have
as much right to the protection of
their government as anybody has,
and they should know what has
been done for their interests by the
two great political parties, which
are now eagerly soliciting their
favors.
Now let US go back a little and
sketch the history OF tariff leglsla-
ton in reference to wool, an article
which most farmers have material
interest IN.
When the government had mill
hon soldiers to clothe and blanket,
and was largely dependent on for
elgn countries for supplies Of wool
and woolens, they did not hesitate
to take advantage of our necessi-
ties, and to make us pay an enor-
nous price for what we were COM
PEELED to buy from them.
Wool was over a dollar per pound
and wooden goods in proportion.
When | was discharged from the
army went 70 buy a citizens suit
Of clothes and the price was sixty
dollars. could get as good a suit
now-perhaps not quite so fine
for ten dollars, but this is an illus
tratlon of how prices run when
regulated by the foreign producers
or when We were dependent. Tariff
legislation during the war was not
intended to be permanent, but in
1867 the Morrill, tariff was enacted
which had in view the commercial
independence of the United States.
A duty of IL cents per pound was
levied on foreign clothing woods,
and of IL cents per pound on comb
ing woods, and an ad valorem duty
besides.
Under the operations of this law
our flocks increased and our manu-
features multiplied until in 1888
we had over 52,0O0,O00 head of
sheep and were producing large
proportion of our wooden goods.
In 1883 the ad valorem duty ard l
cent per pound of the specific duty
was stricken from the wool schedule
and the price of wool promptly went
down to 20 cents per pound or less.
and in two or three years the num-
Der of sheep had been reduced to
about $4,000, 900 head.
The Democrats charged the Re-
publicans with legislating IN the
interest of the manufacturers as
against the farmers, and demanded
the restoration of the wool tariff of
1867.
But in his annual message in
1887 Mr.. Cleveland argued at great
length in favor of the total repeal
of the duty on wool, not for the
benefit of the farmers, but to give
cheap raw material to the manu-
fscturers. During the ensuing ses-
sion of Congress Mr.. Cleyeland's
tariff views were incorporated into
an act, prepared under his direc-
ton, called the Mills bill.
In the Mills bill wool was placed
on the free list absolutely, lumber
was placed on the free list, and also
coal, which, really, are the only
three articles of general consump-