St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-19
THEFARMERLOST'
When Republicans Win He
Always Disappears in the
Grand Shuttle.
Protective Tariffs Leave the
Agrieulturist Out Of the
Question.
The Farmer Helps to Pay the
Taxes for the Bloated
Manufacturer,
But He Must Go Into the
Markets of the World
With His Wares.
The Tariff On Wheat and Corn
a Sham and Direct
Insult.
Splendid Speech Delivered by
Gen. j. II. Baker at Eagle
Lake.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
EAGLE LAKE, Mimi, Oct. 1S.-Gen.
J. II. Baker made the following mag
nificent appeal TO the farmers OF this
state from the platform at this place:
The war for the Union being over,
and all its important issues finally and
happily adjusted, the farmer is turning
his attention to close study and analy-
sis of economic questions, as they relate
to his own condition. He finds that
legislation seems to have been framed
in the interest of every class except the
agriculturiSt, and that where legislation
has been oStensibly made for him. it is,
upon examination, found generally to
be a delusion and fraud. As a con-
sumner he pays eXtOrtionate taxes in
every direction: but as a producer he
receives no like benefits. The economic
American world is not fashioned for
him.
Social Rank EauInbied.
Not only this, but the drift of things
makes the farmer feel that the social
character of his pursuit has lost its ar-
cient honor. 1t was once the fashion
for statesmen andm of wealth to own
and live upon farm. Washington had
his NJ punt Vernon. Jefferson his Mon
ticell0, Clay his Ashfield, Webster his
Marshfield and Jackson his Hermitage.
To men such as these, country life wasa
solace and delight. 1t is true that there
in our literature about the nobil-
ity and independent life Of the
farmer, written by those who sit III
cushioned chairs and know nothing of
the daily drudgery for man and woman.
But the fact is, that the farm has lost
its poetic attraction. Its social power
is on the wane. Old money Bags" has
got firm hold of this American world
of ours. The reins of social life are in
his jeweled fingers. The great law
yers, the learned clergy, the literary
men, the old yeomanry have been
turned down" socially. and the fell
lows who have MADE vast fortunes as
the pets of class legislation, or have
squeezed millions out of the people by
trusts ana combines, these are the men
who lead the high social life of America
today. The social SWIM of this dem
ocratic republic is far beyond the reach
of the farmers purse, and he is made
TO feel that he is leading the life of d
peasant, and is called in derison a
granger"
The question of a mans social posi-
ton ana dignity is of very great impor
lance to him. AS compared with the
social position of the American farmer
years ago. fully believe that he is los
ing social cast. as c0ntraSted with other
classes. Money and wealth have so in
creased that our American social condi-
tons have materially changed with
them. The existence OF the sacred
-Four Hundred'' in New York illus
trates social evolution; but while this
new phase of society sharply defines
enc tendency, there is another that tells
a grayer story. The great yeomanry
of our earlier New England, whose
splendid family life once gave birth and
education to that superb body of young
men and women who have scattered over
the Middle and Western states. filling
them with thrift and intelligence, have
well nigh persisted, and the New Eng
land farm houses stand sadly deserted.
The new social life of America de-
mandS wealth. The farmer has not got
ii. The sons of the farmer are less and
less willing to stay on the farm. Their
magnet is the city, where wealth ac-
cumulates. A plutocracy of money
controls the social realm. Now, what
ever tends to create these conditions is
the enemy OF the farmer. If there is a
tendency to class legislation, which con-
ferS special privileges upon select few,
creating milionaires at the general eX-
pense, those conditions are the muster
ing of forces against which the plain
people will declare war. [Cheers
Whether you believe it or not, 1 believe
that protective tariff is one of those
devils own evangelists, that is
spreading trouble over this re-
public. [Cheers.] By means of I'M
constitutional 'protection." the
government enriches petted and favored
citizens, and the principle gives birth
and shelter to trusts and combines.
'Protection" is the mother of a mercen-
airy civilization. 1t has grasped and Sc
cured control of our presidents. our
congresses, our senators. and every fac
tor in the administration of the govern
ment. 1t holds the power Of taxation
as its exclusive sovereign privilege. Ii