Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-02-02
sIMPsON's SPEECH.
An Eioquent Effort by the Populist s, ates.
man From Kansas.

An Eioqusnt Effort by the Populist s,ates-
man From Kansas.
In the tariff debate in congress Hast
week Jerry Simpson held the close att en-
ton of the house for an hour or more.
His argument was principally in favor ,of
the agricultural classes. Among other
things he gave expression to the follow
ing:
| am a free trader in all that the word
implies. | believe the right to trade 10
Thomas jefferson spoke Of; one OF the
rights that is born with man, goes with
him drought his life, and lie only laid
down at last with him in the grave. The
right to trade the products Of my labor
with the man that will give me the great
est return from the products Of his labor
is one of the rights Of the human family,
and any law that restricts or abridges
that right is an interference with the lib
erty Of the human race.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, this question is q
broad one, one in which I believe is
bound up the prosperity Of the American
people, and sooner or later we must set
tie it definitely. Either we must become
wholly q protective tariff country, build
ing up and shielding ourselves behind a
Chinese wall Of exclusion, or We must
tear down all the barriers and challenge
the world for the trade Of the world.
believe that in the discussion of this
question one very important factor has
been excluded. believe, inasmuch as
this is an agricultural country, and that
with more than one-half of, or nearly
ope-half at least Of, the population de-
pending on agriculture for livelihood,
that any law or system Of laws that re-
suits in injury to agriculture must finally
endanger every other branch Of bust
ness, for all depend upon it.
l have hot heard an argument from
the republican side on this question that
has to me given proof that agricultural
interests are benefited one particle by
this system Of protection.
The history Of the last twenty years
proves that the interest OF agriculture
has been constantly declining, until to-
day the farmers Of this country are pro.
ducing nearly everything that the soil
yields, that they cultivate, at a very low
profit, and great many at an actual loss.
This can be demonstrated by the facts.
figures ard statistics gathered from the
eleventh ceneus; and for republican pro-
tection-tariff advocates to stand here and
say this difficulty, this disaster to the Ia
boring classes that now confronts US, and
to the business interests OF the country
generally, has come upon us suddenly
within the year, is to ignore all the facts
Of the case
For more than fifteen years, Mr.. Chair
man, the interests OF agriculture have
been declining. Twenty years ago the
income which each cultivated acre OF
land in this country yielded 70 the farmer
was $14 70. Today the same quantity of
land yields him an income OF 1915. The
decline has been steadily downward for
twenty years. Eight dollars and fifteen
cents for cultivated acre means the
very lowest wages possible. 1t means
hut bare subsistence with the barest
necessities of life for the agriculturist.
1t leaves him without any surplus what
ever to buy the products of other labor
and that is the reason today OF the lack
of labor for the employees OF the various
factories; that is the reason that the fac
tories are shutting down today, because
this large class of our people is I'M
able to purchase the products of the fac
tories.
Another thing, your protective tariff in
this country has had the effect OF narrow
ing the profits of the agricultural classes,
cutting off the consumption Of wooden
goods, creating a demand for a cheaper
article, wooden goods being placed be-
yond the reach OF large mass of the
consumers of this country. When any
man says there is no shoddy used now in
manufacturing goods in this country he
states what is not true. Shoddy is more
largely manufactured in this country
than it ever was before in our history.
NV friend from Michigan Mr.. Bur
rows the other day, in his elegant way,
fourished here some samples OF shoddy,
remarking that by the Mckinley bill
these shoddy goods we're shut out; that
no self-respectine American lady would
wear goods of that kind. want to show
you sample Of the shoddy goods that
the American people are wearing. /
want to show you sample OF the goods
| that the American farmer and laborer
are we wing today under your grand sys-
tenn OF protective tariff. l want to give
you protectionists, 10 the language Of Mr..
Cleveland, an "object lessen." Yester
day | went along the market on the
south side OF the park, where the farmers
come in from the country to sell their
protected products" in the "home mar
ket. went along, viewing the mass OF
people collected there. | wanted to get
an average suit Of clothes, such as the
American farmer and laborer are wear
ing today under your beautiful protective
tariff. | made q bargain with one man
by which bought his overcost; and
have brought it here to give you gentle.
men an object lesson. There it 10 unty-
ing package and exhibiting an over
coat1 There it is, gentlemen. lGreat
laughter and applause
The man from whom ! bought this
overoost told me that he got up at IL
O'Clock at night and drove twenty-five
miles with the products OF his farm in
order to sell them in this great capital
city OF the nation. My friends, that is
the garment which he wore; that lie the
result of the profits which the farmers of
this country are enjoying under your
beautiful system Of protection-an old
shoddy rag with which this man has
shiyeyed tt Trough tie " inter blasts Zap
plause on the democratic side Talk
about prosperity to the farmerl l can
duplicate that coat by the million in the
United 6tqtes today On the backs Of
American farmers and American laboring
men,
Gentlemen, do not believe that this
great nation today needs protection from
any person on earth. With our steam
power, with our electric power, with our
water power, with the immense machin
cry that this country possesses, doing the