Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1882 — Farmers and Tariff. [ARTICLE]

Farmers and Tariff.

The time for giving testimony be. fore the tariff commission has expired. The manufacturers of almorfc everything from tooth-picks .to loeoipotives, have appeared Before the commissioners, and with united voice have demanded that the duties res main where they are or be increased op the articles they produce. Most of the manufacturers have associations for regulating prices, for limiting the supply of articles to be put on the markit, and for mutual protection. Having a common inrterest, they have appeared before the commissioners by their officers or hired attorneys and baye presented elaborate arguments in favoi of a high tariff on evs ery kind of goods they make. They

have been able to make a very fair showing that they would be benefited in their particular line of business bv having high duties on the articles they manufacture. They express no opinion on the subject of whether the consumers of the articles they make would be benefited by “paying two prices” for them. Probably they thought that, was uot a part of their business, as indeed it was not. Nearly’all the manufacturers who have established monopolies by entering into agreements to divide up territory and to establish uniorm prices so as to proveatVompetitio ', appeared be., fore the tariff commission. They had perfected arrangements so ns-to in sure their “having everything their own way” so far as manufacturing in their line in tiiis country is concerned, and all they wanted in addition was to prevent foreign raanufas turers from interfering with their nice little arrangement. They have the power in their own hands of prevent ingany more establishments from being started in this country, and they feel secure if they can keep out the products of other countries. A representation of a few classes of persons engaged in special bianehe. of husbandly has appeared before the commission. The wool growers have had a hearing, anc so ha’ e the reisers of peanuts, rice, and sugarcane. They all declare that they can not get along without protection, and they nr gi neraliy strongly in favor of having tue duties raise 0,1 the ar fieles they raise. They intimate that their business would be ruined by free trade. Why they are engaged in an occupation whoso continuance depends on the enactment of protec-

ion laws by congress, they do uot stub*. It seems strange that they engage in a business that is so extremei ly hazardous. According to their own j account, the branch of husbandry 1 they are engaged, in is no more profi- | table than other departments which j has no protection. If such is the | case, no loss to them would ensue if j th*y engaged in other branches of ; farming, The peace, prosperity, and happiness of the American people would not be impaired if there were uo peanuts rais 'd ibis side of Africa. | We should uot suffer for want of su- ! gar if uot a pound was produced in j tins country. If has repeatedly been [shown that the people of this country ' would be g.uiK-i 3 suhould they pay j the Louisiana sugar planters the pile they now receive for their pro* ; due to and allow them to discontinue j their biu-ines. The duties paid on I roreigu sugars which arc necessary ! for supplying the country amount to 1 much more than the value of the su- ■ gsr made in all the southern states. I Protection was first claimed for the I sugar business because it w as “an in- ; fa.nt industry ” Although it is new | of very mature age it does uot appear !to gain In strength The same may |be said of the rice industry. Growj or.b complain that they cau not con- | tinue to raise this grain without aid i from the person who raise corn and I wheat.

j The farmers who are engaged in | producing the standard crops of the | country, corn, wheat, and other small i grains, as well as pork and mutton, ! have not appeared before the tariff j commission. As they raise articles j for exportation a-- well as for home ! consumption, they do not see now a 1 tariff is to help them. Perhaps they ! are satisfied to continue in the busi-. ; ness in which they are engaged with- | out help. They find It profitable or i they would not continue iu it. Possibly they are .averse to asking the ; producers of sugar, rice, peanuts, pig. iron, and printing paper to “chip-in” j and to “help th- m out” when prices I are low. They do not see why any ! business ghould not stand or fall on ; its own merits. As they receive uo ! bonus on the at tide they have to sell, j they see no good reason why others j should receive one on the articles i they It ive to buy. In tee great market of the world they come in competition with farmers of all countries and receive no favors. They wish to buy iu ih same manner that they sell. There is a duty tax on almost | every article which the f irmer pur- ' chases. Such a tax rests on all the tools he uses in his fields, on the iron of which he constructs his fences, on the nails he drives Into posts, on the furniture in the house, ou the harnoss he puts on his .horses, on the clothing he wears, and on ruauy of the things he eats aud drinks. He is expected to pay this tax cheerfully because it benefits other persons, most of whom appear to be getting along much better than he does. It is not so strange that he should think that the sauce which is so excellent the agricultural goose should also be good for tbe manufacturing gander. He only tt-sks for fair play and for fair work, lie protects his own industry, and thinks otaers should do the same. No one ia taxed for his benefit, and he objects to being taxed fer the benefit of orhers.

Umbrellas ! Umbrella ! only 125 at Hem hill Honan’s. Tli LogHDsport Journal, Rejubli* cah, says: “DeMotte stands on the side of gree'd, dishonor, and disaster, and ought to be repudiated. Nets ! Nets! Nets! Gold and Silver finish; also a full line of silk mesh nets very cheap at Hemphill & Honnan’s Fancy Notion Store. Hon. Tfiouias J.Wood will cast his votes .in the interest of his constituents should he boeieeted to Congress. Senator Wood has the reputation of being an honest man. Hair Switches, real genuine Hair, all colons, only $5 at the Notion store of Hemphill & Honan’s.