Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-28
FREE TRADE FOR FARMERS.

The American Economist takes Score
tary OF Agriculture Morton TO task for
his speech before the worlds fair con-
gress, and punctures his free trade falla.
cies. Ii says:
We have already drawn attention 10
the address made by the secretary OF
agriculture. Dir. X Sterling Morton. be-
fore the worlds fair congress OF sgricul-
ture. and shall refer 70 IL again. He
breads the acquisition OF knowledge by
farmers, and would have them shut
apart. separated from the world. and 10
remain in Ignorance He objects 20 the
meetings OF their oranges and alliances.
where agreeable social events combine
with the free discussion OF topics that
bear direct interest upon the farming
industry.
Speaking Of free trade. Mr.. Morton
says: Free trade does not compel any
body 10 trade; il docs not even recon-
mend anybody 10 trade. IL simply al
lows those to trade who hnd II profit
able TO do 30. Why. then. should not
the laws Of the United States. in their
majesty and justice. permit each citizen
TO decide for himself how, when and
where il is profitable for him to make
has tradesy Is II asking too much. In
the land which boasts Of the liberty OF
its citizens. that the citizen be permit
ted 20 exchange the result OF his ser
vices for commodities in those countries
whore he can secure for himself the
most remunerative returnsr
This is Secretary Morton's theory Of
free trade. Now let ne turn 10 the prsc.
tice Of IL as described In the English
agricultural paper. Bells Weekly Mes
senger and Farmers Journal. Of Novem-
her q. 1898. In an editorial article ad-
dressed 10 farmers on the subject os
agricultural Organization we md the
following; I'VE have built up IN many
respects the greatest Empire that has
yet been known. but II isleSs secure than
Rome under the Second Empire. Weare
positively more unsafe than beleaguered
garrison without provisions We have
just seen France and Russia shake
hands and bug each other. We know
France 90 be prepared much more fully
than ne arr for action. Let both these
great nations conspire 10 cut on our
food supp'ire how long can Britain
hold outs Day by day the number a
mouths 10 Be fed increased bu, the sum
total % food We produce diminishes
This has been a great evil. steadily III
crcasing since Britain ceased 10 export
corn.
We are az this moment more depend
eni than AZ any previous time uPon TOR.
esgn sources 81 supply. not m~rely Tor
car iuxaries. bot for our necessary food.
let We steadily aliow neeassaries n
enter cur ports st prices that ne cannot
~ any honest possibility compets with,
g. the gaia ~ ths fss AID b. the immi.
neat FiAk = the whole community
Mean ~hile ss tar The lasartse that ve
canaot rso.lues. What matters
10 u Manchester car set brad
ose penny iaef cssep<f. - The
cs'st - The utter ruin Il oet cafn
Irssaaeefs. AID IRE cnnseaaesi sesasicn
nsnt q eur afaiss iaadf We sressi
sesses - niitans D. asslanAia oaf uuter
hup. q asfen~e. Esd &c ssfsf ear is
i~sual F~~sefe~. - - oftsslf shsit<red.
III. srs.-s psesfsets = ssssJ mai IN Lao
sa~hirs aea ssssy feanasy shd "a ~
The Msalsnas eosia Rssef Fccsag ths
f',shtfui seNsflef ssd iess teseised IT.
. thfs@ pseeihs esase sad btsscs asit -
esif rssFsa 1hss> 49, tsrts sec~A ~
sfrts zee. ana sssesaiiY ssmiifs-t