Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1888 — FARMERS AND TARIFF. [ARTICLE]

FARMERS AND TARIFF.

Mow They Are Directly Benefited by Protection to Industries. No class of our people ought to' be more tbt-piy interested ra the result of the i>ending political canvass than that engaged hi agricultural pursuits. But free trailers assume, apparently, that be? * cause fanners are not directly so benefited by protection as some others, their prejudices may be successfully appealed to. MORE MEN EARN THE MORE FARMERS GET. fewestimated that of the total population of. this country are engaged in gainful occupations. 'Of this utynlxT 8,(XX),000 are farmers, stockraisers, wool-growers, gardeners,, etc., etc. ,To feed and clothe the population of this country these varied products of the' farms. The nniafhirg jo p->r cent, finds a market “■ata aid- —T-Ue-to+wey-to—pay.-for _these. supplies comes from the 14,000;0Q0 riot farmers who are engaged, in gainful occupations. Now while there are exceptions to the rule, as a rule people only we.-, . am' mt what they can! pay for. . It foil ■ ' .. . . the more wages and profits the i ’ .'.X. 1 !- ■ ,0 i'tt'eive the better prices they i. n afford to ~pav the farmer for what In has to sell, if yon take away fro;:' those tp gififf’il occupations one-thb'd-er one-half .'heir rev enue-they must live ••heaper.aad the difference must in ond way or anot her, come out of the farmer's pocket. A mechanic now receives. w will say, .$3 a day. He supOOrte himself and family comfortably upon this sum. r.fld lays up a little for a rainy day. Cut, his wages down to $2 and he must buy cheaper and coarser food and clothes, and wear the latter longer •He must dispense almost iv holly, with the articles upon which the firmer really makes his profit—rhis perishable pnxlucts. BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS. An attack upon, the earnings of the 14,(XX>,000 is, therefore, an attack upon the profit of the farmer, in two wavs; first, by reducing th* quantity and quality, of the supplies sold the home consuny*r. and Qbligiffg hisu to pay the cost of shipping more abroad: second by destroying, the part of his trade which is remunerative—that in perishable products. { . * Again, it is a-fact wliicfi everv honest man must admit that free trade in this country, means the destruction of indus•luslries which now give to hundreds of thousands < to’persons. . What are she people thus thrown opt of etaTpfoy.mcnt to do? WJiat can thev do? They must work to live. There is “only r;ne resort for ujxm farms, and help to swell the. surplus which must find a market alpraff. Ten years of free trade would make.this a nation of farm* its. One year of tariff for revenue would very niate rial ly decrease the home demand for farm products while Uo ar cqiihl extent increasing tlie suppl A" It would bum the farmer's candle at B»r>th ends. Instead of 10 per cent. he woujd have to find a market abroad, for. 20 or tCn^ — W^K> C^n " here it would