The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-10-26
understanding for Farmers to
Think Over.

In the market reviews we find the
statement that American wool has no
certain, fixed value, owing to the fact
that the London wool market is in a
very unsettled condition. This is one
of the advantages we now have, ac-
cording to Mr.. Wilson ct al, by having
"broken down the barriers" and got
ourselves out into the worlds markets.
We do not export wool nor wooden
goods. Our farmers sold their wool
here at home, and it was used up here
among ourselves; and the prices OF wool
in London concerned us very little, only
so far as our own supply came short OF
our requirements, and we were com
PEELED To purchase from abroad to meet
the deficiency. But now all things are
changed The American wOol-grower
is out in the world Successful Democ-
racy has placed him on par with his
brethren of like vocation in Australia
and South America. Now he can look
10 the London market to see what his
wool is worth. Formerly he had his
market right at home and he was sure
TO get fair price for his product. But
his home market has been given up to
the foreigner. This was done, they
who did it tell him, in order that he
could get out from behind "the bar
rers" and be among folks = have his
wool quoted in London and sell il
alongside of Australian, New leland
and South American wool Gin the mar
kets of the wOrld"l To be sure he don't
get as much for his wool. In fact, it
looks as if he should have to give the
whole business of raising wool over,
the price of the product, now that the
foreigners have possession of his mar
kets, is so low For thirty years." to
quote the oracle, 1--WE have been build
ing up barriers to keep the American
markets" to the American producers
and American manufacturers. Now, he
says, the tariff reform party has torn
down these barriers so that he may get
out into the worlds markets.
Let the American farmer, no matter
what he produces, reflect moment on
the change of policy and note how it
affects him. Mr.. Wilson makes his
statement implying discredit to this
country; that heretofore we have been
in obscurity and been hampered, but
are now, under Democratic auspices,
advancing into sunlight and prosperity.
But was there a single year of the thirty
that the farmers of this country did not
get good price for their wool? While
1.-THE barriers" were up they could af-
ford to keep sheep. To the judicious
Michigan farmer sheep were one of the
most satisfactory products of his care
not one year only, but every year since
1.-THE barriers" were put up. 1t is but
now. since the fences have been thrown
down, that sheep have ceased 10 be o.
value to the American farmer.
But il is an i'll wind indeed that blows
good to no one. The American farm
ers loss is the foreign producers gain.
The American farmer no longer con-
,rols his own market; these are given
up to the foreigner. He certainly can
not sell abroad, for all European mar
kets are already fully supplied by pro-
ducers of wool with whom he cannot
in any aspect of the case compete on a
basis of equality. American climate is
too rigorous; American farms are too
valuable; American labor is too costly,
as compared to these conditions of the
problem abroad, to admit OF the Amer
lean wool-grower holding his own with
the ranchmen of Australia and South
America. If the extinction OF duty on