The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-03-03
a I.opulis. on tI,e rar,ff.

It's we'll to bear in mind that the great
interests OF South Dakota are those that
pertain to agriculture. Whatever else
may flourish or may fade, South Dakotans
interests center around that of farming.
Let the man be a merchant, banker.
lawyer, doctor, or anything else, his
business rests, leans, depends upon the
prosperity of the farm. In considering
the Wilson bill, Or any other bill upon
the Subject of tariff, the central question
Is the interests Of South Dakota, how thsy
may he affected. The tariff has local
complexions according to the pursuits of
the people. Human nature is selfish.
but selfishness.is not wholly a bad trait
OF character. Each by it must look out
for himself. Legislation is practically
always selfish. 1t is the seltishness of
maJorities, and it has been said, truth
fully, we think, that tile tyranny of
majorit!es is quite as despotic as the
tyranny OF monarchy or any other form
OF absolutism. 1t follows that a wise
spirit OF sellishness in the Dakota people
would operate to force them into con-
sideration OF all tariff legislation in their
own immediate Interests. To South
Dakota it is not how will the Wilson bill
effect New England, buthow will it effect
South Dakota? We are willing to admit
this is & narrowness of statesmaush;p.
but i'll this intensely selfish age becomes
necessary for self-protecticn. The east
has declared war upon the west and her
interests, and it is absorbing the sub
stance OF her products. The West tolls
and the East reaps the reward We are
now. and have for thirty years heen un-
der tribute to her. Shall we continue ?
The Wilson bill isnot framed for the west
ern farmer, but the eastern manufact-
urer aud capitalist. 1t is, however, less
Objectionable than the Mckinley bill.
The mere change OF a duty upon wheat,
eats, barley, potatoes, cabbage. eggs, hay,
anu wool matters little, il anything, to
the Dakota farmer. All revenue charges
upon these articles is duty without a
benefit protection that does not protect.
With duty of 25 cents bushel upon
wheat, put there a;' the Mckinley bill,
and an increased duty upon Wcc!, neither
OF these farm products have been so
cheap as at present, i'll the past fifty years.
1t is a deception to say that the South
Dakota farmer is protected in the pre-
duction of anything from his farm. The
dGties are placed on these articles to de-
ceiye him, to reconcile him TO the extoyt-
ion that the thieYing manufacturing
practices upon him. The farmer in this
deal rcars from the partnership abont the
same ratio of gain that the Indian did in
halting his potato crop with his white
partner, The white man kept the roots
and gave the Indian the tops In the
very nature of things it is absurd to say
That the farmer can be benefited direct
ly by an import duty. The American
farmer is an exporter. This especially
is true of the western farmer The agri-
cultural exports 1892 exceeded SS0o,o00,-
coo. That is. the farmer produced that
mnch more than his own wants and tile
wants of his countrymcn required. He
had to go out into the world TO find a
market for his surplus. OF what advan-
tage could it be to them to know that the
eastern man had barred out the foreign
farm product by a heavy duty, seeing
he could not sell his stuff at home, and
had to himself seek q foreign market?
The thing is deinsion, a fraud n theft.
Protective duties are barriers to human
progress, but at times they are essential
in the economy of a state. 1t is not for
the Dakota farmer to concern himself
about the best methods to further enrich
the eastern man. The latter can take
care of himself. He has been well taken
care of. Tho Mckinley bill is legalized
method to enrich him. The Wilson bill
is little better, and in some respects
no better. The direct interest of the
western farmer is low tariff. but not so
low as TO close factories and workshops.
Yet, which is the worse, to.clese factories
or forclose farms? The higher the tariff
the more the foreclosures, but the jubilant
shout of the factory browns the wall OF
the farm.-Robt. Buchanan in Sioux Falls
Forum.
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