The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-07-27

Ola II street, WASHINGTON, ID. =.
To the Senator'S and Representatives. AS
sembled In tho Congress OF tho United
| Sta g.:
GENTLEMEN: We. tho undersigned. have
been appointed committee OF the Nation
| al Grange OF the PatrUns or Hus banury TO
urge before your honorable body such Leg
isialion Is ueemed by our rider essen
iial To the Prosperity Of the "a ricuii ural
Interests OF our country. aud in attempt
] Ing TO discharge this duty we find 1t neces-
sary To emphatically object 10 some OF the
changes proposed In the agricultural
schedule by the So called Wilson tarif
bill. and In 80 doing we have nothing 10
say Tor or against protection as IA policy or
she Government but as revenue meas
ure every American citizen Is Interested.
We deem IL the true policy OF tnc nation
al government TO collect revenues "a much
, as possible from duties on imports. rs be-
/ Ing system or aAation more equi able
and less burdensome. when justly distriL-
uted, than direct taxation upon the indus
tries and property OF our people. thus
leaving this class OF subjects 10 the States
for taxation for the collection OF their rev.
enues, as they cannot levy an Import tax
under the Constitution OF the general gov
ernment Another reason why foreign trade
should pay import duties is that our gov.
ernment must maintain wharves and
warehouses for the accommoda alton OF their
trade, and this trade should justly pay for
this privilege out OF which 1t is proposed
To gain a livelihood.
The members OF our ORDER OF course.
diner In their views upon the details OF
equitable tariff legislation 1t is not the
duty CT the order to interfere with the
free exercise of the rights OF our m mbers
as citizens.
When the people at the ballot box de-
eide any issue raised by tho political par
ties on general principles our order cheer
fully accepts the situation and only In =
sists that the policy thus Endorsed snail be
fairly carried into effect without any dis
elimination against the farmer, or any
class or interest in our country.
When the people decided for the pro-
tectiye policy at the polls we asked Con-
gross that in the proposed tariff revision
| agriculture should receive the same con-
sfderation as did other interests Our de-
mands were respectfully and fully con-
sidered and with one exception. all that
we asked was Incorporated in the tariff
laws of our country, and tho farmers were
largely incidentally protected in the Amer
lean markets. and as u result realized bet
ter prices for hay, barley, vexeta bles. po-
tatoes, beans, live stock. poultry, eggs. to-
bacco. fruits and many other products.
which were not oppressive TO those engaged
! In other vacations
In the change of the political situation
! OF our country our farmers had reason to
believe that in the revision OF tho tariff,
placing it on new basis. IL would be so
largely on luXurieS and such prod ucts as
might be imported that would directly
come in competition with American agri-
cultural productions and American man =
ufactures, which were essential to give
employ ment to American la Dor and apital.
In fact this was guaranteed in the Chica4o
platform OF the present party.
The Legislative CommitIee of the Ma
tional Grange, at tho srecial session of
Congress- advised the Ways and Means
Committee OF the Importance OF t. king
care of the agricultural interests In draft
ing a revised tariff bill
Had the committee reported bill in
strict conformity with the decision of the
people at the polls we should have moth
ing TO say against II, but we believe the
proposed legislation is unjust, in so far
as IL pertains 10 the farmers, and un-
fairly discriminates against the interests
| of agriculture by virtually abandonin z
the New England, New York, and co asst
trade TO Canada and other foreign coun-
tries, by reason OF proximity and cheap
water transportation, which In effect brin =
the producers in foreign countries closer
to these markets than our American
! farmers in the interior, who must trans
port by the more costly methods of rail
The great bulk OF agricultural prod ucts
/ imported into the United States from
Canada and countrie, beyond the sea are
consumed in our seaboard cities and great
manufacturing centers OF the East, which
should be preserved as market for the
products OF the farmers OF the United
States
Your petitioners respectfully maintain
that the difference in the cost OF agricul-
tural prod uctions In the United States and
in foreign countries should b. REGARDED as
just measure OF the duties which may be
laid upon the products OF foreign agricul-
ture for the protection OF American farm
ers The cost OF agricultural productions
1 In NO in ba TTpit
states. exceeds tho cost OF such produce
lions In Canals, Including ansportation,
by ~ per cent, owing to the price Of labor.
! his Is at least 10 per cent In excess OF
the duties now imposed by law upon the
| products of foreign agriculture, and the
cost OF agricultural productions In coun-
tries beyond the sea Is even less than in
| Canada. owing TO the same cause.
The Wilson tariff bill as 1t now stands Is
unjust as between the manufacturers and
the farmer who Is n prod ucer OF wool. fax.
and other 6brous productions that enter
into the manufacture OF cloth. II the
man ufacturer should have free wool, then
the farmer should have free cloth.
We ask only for justice. that you treat
the farmer AS others are treated.
The placing OF agricultural implements
on the free list In compensate for the
reduction OF the duty on agricultural
products Is ridiculed by every intelligent
farmer. as no agricultural implements are
imported OF any consequence. being much
inferior TO those manufactured In the
United States, which are sold to the farmer
for less price and on easier terms than In
any country In the world
In view OF the foregoing facts we ear
nestIy ask all true friends OF the farmer TO
insist upon fair revision OF tho tariff,
and that In any legislation upon the SUBJ
/ ject that the present agricultural schedule
be maintained. or otherwise defeat the
proposed legislation.
We also desire TO impress upon your
minds the fact that We do not consider the
present financial system OF our country as
satisfactory, and believe IL Is the cause OF
much OF the financial embarrassment Our
members generally favor an increase In
the volume OF the currency to meet the
business requirements and revive the In
dustries OF our country and awe employ
ment to labor
The majority OF cur farmers are BIZ
metallists. They may dlfler somewhat as
to tho details, but earnestly desire TO MAIN
tain both silver and gold as money. with
an Issue OF United States Treasury notes. IL
necessary. TO bring the volume of the cur
roncy up to at least $40 per capita. They
favor such financial legislation aud such
an adjustment OF the tariff will secure