Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-09-12

and the percentage of producers of farm
crops decrease, in parallel proportions
we find the value of farm crops en-
HANGED.
A specious Argument to Farmers
The untrammeled, unlimited markets
of the world have ever presented q
fascination TO the farmer who has a
surplus of farm products TO be mar.
keted. The theory of the Democratic
party that these markets are curtailed
or destroyed by reason of a protective
tariff has again and again been refnted
by the logical test OF experience. His
tory has written the record of the Demo
cratic revenue tariff aud the Republican
protective tariff.
Earmers' Attention Called to the Record
Of Both systems.
When the Walker revenue tariff was
enacted III lS41, the principal argument
upon which this law was predicated
was that low rate of tariff would su-
perinduce foreigners to trade in our
markets. and if we purchased largely OF
imported merchandise, they in turn
would purchase largely of the farmers
products; hence larger exports and bet
ter prices to the farmer. This was the
argument in lS47, it was the argument
for 20 years prior to 1892. History and
experience combine to condemn this
specious argument. President Fillmore.
in his message to congress, Dec. 2. 1851
(see messages and papers of the presi-
dents 17s9-lS97. Vol. 5. page 1881, says:
THE value of our exports of breadstuffs
and provisions. which it wa $ supposed
the incentive OF low tariff and large
importations from abroad would have
greatly augmented, has fallen from SOS,
7oI. 1921 in lS47 to $26, 05l. 1913 in 1850.
and to $2l, S4S, 653 in 1851. with a stroeIy
probability, amounting to almost cer-
tainty, of further reduction the cur
rent year. The policy which dictated O
low rate of duties on foreign merchan-
disc, it was thought by those who pro-
NOTED and established it, would tend to
benefit the farming population of this
country by increasing the demand and
raising the price of farm products IN
foreign markets. The foregoing facts
prove incontestibly that no such results
have followed the adoption of this pol
icy"
Again Mr.. Fillmore said in his mes
1897: Without repeating the argu.
ment contained in my former message
in favor of discriminating protective
duties, l deem it my duty to call your
attention to one or two other conditions
affecting the subject. The first is the
effect of large importatious of foreign
goods upon our country. Most of the
gold of California. as fast as it can be
coined, finds its way to Europe in pay
ment for goods purchased. In the sec
ond place, as our manufacturing estab-
lishments are broken down by competi-
ton with foreigners, the capital iu-
vested IN them is lost thousands OF
honest, industrious citizens are thrown
out OF employment, and the farmer to
that extent is deprived of a home mar.
ket for the sale of his surplus products
In the third place, the destruction OF
oar manufactures leaves the foreigner
without competition IN our market ano
he consequently raises the price of the
article sent here for sale. as is now seen
in the increased cost of iron seut here
from England"
President Fillmore declares that In
four years, from ~ TO 81, the exporta-
ton of farm products fell off more than
800 per cent. under the operation of
tariff law that promised the farmers the
broad markets of the world. Further
more. he showed the ruinous effects OF
the revenue tariff on both capital anc
labor and the ruinous financial results
upon the loss of our gold in paymeni
for foreign merchandise
President Buchanan in his message &c
congress December. 1887 tsee page 1876
The earth has yielded her fruit abund
Surfv anS his oour~i*11rv -a-rar.'~' 80