Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1891 — THE TARIFF ON FARM PRODUCTS. [ARTICLE]

TH E TARIFF ON FARM PRODUCTS .

Every free-trade writer and orator hastens to assure the farmer that no possible benefit can result to him from a protective tariff. In futherance of this free-trade dogma, every vote dominated by the party committed to tariff reduction was in the last Congress invariably recorded in opposition to every proposed increase of duty on farm products. They- were as invariably recorded in favor of reduction of such duties whenever occasion was offered. But Protection does, benefit farmers equally with any other class of citizens, and fortunately the majority of them realize the fact and turn a deaf ear to the specious pleas of those who are laboring for a change in the national policy. Even if it should be admitted that prices of agricultural products are not permanently enhanced ; as a result of tariff protection, it would by no means follow that protection is not beneficial —in some instances absolutely necessary—to the success of those who cultivate the soil for a living. The farmer needs a steady and accessible market as well as fair prices for his products. And while these would not be insured without the system of protection extended to these manufactures by which consumers are attracted and enabled to Become liberal purchasers, neither would it be possible without an adequate barrier against cereals and other exportable products in the hands of foreign farmers. Wh en wheat or barley or potatoes are dull of sale, it may be that Canadian farmers will be in position to concede more in price than can be afforded by those who grow such crops this side the line. Then it is of prime importance to the c itizen farmer to know that the competitors who would thus cut him out from a market must first e qualize their respective conditions by some contribution to our national exchequer. Though this m ay not increase the market price at which a sale can be effected, it very certainly prevents a reduction in prices, and gives the privilege of making the sale to the citizen farmer whom it was intended to benefit.

The full effect of thus giving citizen farmers the first chance in United States markets seems to be much more vividly appreciated by the farmers of Canada than their allies this side the line. Here the average “reformer” will dismiss the suggestion with a wave of the hand and repetition of some free-trade platitude that never was known to apply in a business transaction, while a little further north those subjects of the Queen whose lessons have been learned in the school oLexperiencb, stand ready to attest that the agricultural schedule of the McKinley tariff has materially changed the outlook for sales of their products to our people. Such facts as these cannot be without weight with practical farmers whose votes are just now so urgently solicited by “reformers,” who, if not in collusion with foreign adversaries of protection, certainly confirm suspicion of sympathy by their concurrent labors to the same end.