The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-24
Protection and
fhe Farmer
Editor of The Tribune.

Editor of The Tribune.
Sir:-When the discriminating sugar
trust tariff became a law, which is the
main cause of the present hard times. az
predicted by the friends of Protection.
the farmers as well as other industries
received "a terrible blow, but instead OF
curtailing their production. as many other
industries were compelled to do or OPP
crate at a loss, the farmers labored all the
more both early and late and raised an
abundance. often at a loss, to supply the
nation with cheap food. What would
have become of the people under the man
aSement OF the present administration
only for the farmers, and what Is their
reward? With low advalorern duty and
some of their main products on the free
list I'D prices of farm products the low
est ever known, they are compelled 10
compete with cheap labor Countries like
Canada aud others. when they are
abundantly able to supply the nation with
the necessarics of life and keep the peo-
pie 8 money at home, while railroad Iares,
taxes, salaries of public officers lawmak
ers aud services of professional men re-
main the same as under Protection. What
T. 10 become of the farmers of this ma
ton? Must they fall to a level with the
farmers OF frec-trade England? And If so.
what VIII he the result TO the nation? The
Democratic party has lied 10 the farmers.
WIN the farmers listen 10 any further lies
from that party" We think not.
Furthermore, municipal and rural inter-
ests are not in harmony as they should
be. Are the people of the cities willing
that those who labor on the farm shall
have the same Projection under the tariff
as the cities demand for their laborers
ana industries? We fear not But unless
this is done, prosperity will not return to
this nation under Protection. There
Shoul be no discrimination. This is
question that is handled very carefully at
the present time. 1t has been said the
only way to help the farmer Is to in
crease his consumers. The same thing
might he said Of the manufacturer. Would
not Protection decrease competition and
Increase consumption alike to the farmer
ana the manufacturer? 1t has been said
the farmer Is not a consumer like the la
borer, Does the farmer not buy clotning,
boots and shoes, household goods grocer
les, coal, farming implements and ma
chinery and many other manufactured
articles that the cOmrnon laborer does not
need! DO the city members of the legis-
lature not wish to make the laws for the
rural districts, but desire home rule for
the cities?
twenty-five years the municipal tendency
has been for great corporations and dis
reputable demagOgues to assist special
class legislation: and that this same ten
dency has leglslated the farmer 10 the
wall, often to the detriment and eventual
ly to the ruin and downfall of the coun-
try That there has been decline in agri
cultural and village prosperity during the
past ten years. every observing man free
ly admits. That during the same uecade
there has been n remarkable growth and
prosperity in our cities is Cevealed by the
census statistics of 1890 with startling vi
vidness. While the manufacturer has leg
islated for the interest of the manufactur-
er only, commerce for commercial inter-
ests, and trades unions for the benefit of
their particular trade. the farmer when
ever It has been his privilege to constitute
ruling factor in legislation, has always
lesislatcd for the best interests of the
whole country and pdsterity. This same
rural tendency made it possible to secure
the adoption of our present Constitution
of the United States. The best in the
Roman law and in the English constitu-
tion Is the OutgrOwth of rural thought.
The seeds of human liberty have in Al
time terminated on the soil, not in the
counting house exchange, warf or fac
tory. Monarchies can. in large meas
urc, afford to do without this rural in
fiuencc in the halls of legislation, but re-
publics never. This influence has made
the free school system possible. Decay
and destruction have como to every nation
that has forsaken agriculture.
Westbrook Merring.
Maplewood, Pa, Sept. %.