Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-10
other products because of the needless and
foolish abroga!ion of their treaties.
No Mercy for the Farmer.

whatever The deadliest blow is against
those who grow wool, who can surely ap-
precate the irony of the Presidents devo-
ton to their interests when they recall the
paragraph he gives them in his famous let
ter to Mr.. Wilson. 1t will be remembered
that he then said
elm these circumstances it may we'll ex-
cite our wonder that Democrats are willing
to depart from this, the most Democratic of
all tariff principles Gree raw materially,
and that the inconsistent absurdity of such
proposed departure should be emphasized
by the suggestion that the wool of the
farmer be put on the free list and the pro-
tecton of tariff taxation be placed around
the iron ore and coal Of corporations and
capitalists. How can we face the people
after indulging in such outrageous discrim-
nations and violations of principle?"
| And yet, in the face of all this the Presi
dent didn'l have the backbone to veto such
an unjust and COURAGEOUS" measure!
However, in anticipation of free wool,
the farmer has been suffering ever since
the election of 1892. He has been practi-
cally forced in all these months to take the
| free trade price in the market at Liverpool.
The increased production of wool in the
| United States in 1892, as against 1891, was
| %, 1872, 1881 pounds, and the total production
of that year was 364 100000 pounds. In
the past year the number of sheep has de-
creased from 100000 900 to 45,000,00
This is the result of the anticipation of the
opening up of the wool market of our coun-
try to the unrestrained competition of the
wool growers of other lands.
The value of the sheep in the United
States has declined from $l25 900 ,2G4 on
the first of January, 1893, to $50, 1S6,110,
on the first of January 1894, a shrinkage of
more than $50 5000, 900 in a single twelve
months. This shrinkage, which is most
! appalling, falls upon the farmers of the
country, many Of whom are in debt, and
some of whom have mortgages upon their
property, and were relying in part, at least,
upon fair price for their wool to cancel
them. Every dollar Of the loss comes from
the farmers pocket, and no one is now
more poorly prepared to bear it.
Increased the Rates.
The free list, under the law of 1890, took
from the dutiable list non-compeling goods
| Of the value of $i09 ,232 600 The new
law now takes from tie dutiable list goods
amounting in value to $4l 39S 900. Ii also
takes from the free list articles which are
prime necessities of life, amounting to
Sll3,215, 700, upon which they propose to
collect duty of S44 900, 900. They have
increased the rates over the law of 1890 on
various articles to the value of SlS, O74, 400
But an not here to discuss tariff rates
or schedules. The are subject to change,
up or down, as new conditions require; but
my insistence is that these changes must
ever be governed by the protective princi-
pie, and within that principle rates may be,
should be and will be amended as time, new
processes of manufacture and changed COM
mercial conditions require; but they must
not fall below a rate which will adequately
measure the difference between the Ameri-
can scale of wages and that of competing
countries, ande must always be in favor of
the labor of our own country and the home
market for our people The principle upon
which they were made is not subject to
amendment. The tariff policy of this coun-
| try must be protective. That is what we
contend for-ihst is what the American
people mean TO have.
The financial con ltiol of the country is
ANYTHING but hopeful and encouraging
With failing revenues, but no material di-
mlnution in expenditures we are rapidly
4 lhtO utDt.
The receipts of the government for the
fiscal year 1894 were nearly $50 900 900
less han the receipts of the government
for the fiscal year 1893. The expenditures
CT the government for the year 1894 were
nearly ST. ,000, 600 less than in 1898, while
the payments for pensions for 1894 were
SlS.ls0,000 less than for the fiscal year
| 1898.
Greater Expenditures Than Ever.
10 the campaign of 1892, subject much
talked about was the extravaganza of the
Republican 5lst Congress. The fact is
that the appropriations for the first session
of the present Congress. Democratic in all
its branches, are 1921, 1863, S5S.72 greater
than at the first session of the 5lst Con-
gress, which was SO ably presl led over by
that illustrious statesman, Thomas b.
Reed
In one item alone, p nsicns, had there
been any Saving"
1t will be news to the country--and, I'm
snre, surprising news-that during this era
I of hard times, when the necessity for
economy has been felt and prarticed every
| where, that large list of cial salaries