Opening Pages
No. 6.) A Farmer’s Open Letter to Farmers. PeLLow FarMERS,—In common with all intelligent yeomen I am a reader of the press, but perhaps I am a little exceptional in that [ read both sides of the press. I take one side and J find one sct of facts and figures, and I take the other side and I find another set, until sometimes my mind is so confused between them that I cannot believe cither. | have given up paying much attention to these evolved figures because men specially hired for the work handle them for their own particular parties, put in what suits them and leave out what don't. But [ do know this, and so do all farmers, from experience, that no matter who is in or out the expenses go on. Nor can I say that this is unnatural, Public affairs, like private, must be carried on at an expense, and in a new country like this the expense is great, because we need so many new public works. Both parties have given us some great and useful public works, without which the new parts of the country could not have been developed, su I find no great fault with either party upon that score. What we have to consider is where the money to pay for these works is to come from. Some say abolish th…
No. 6.) A Farmer’s Open Letter to Farmers. PeLLow FarMERS,—In common with all intelligent yeomen I am a reader of the press, but perhaps I am a little exceptional in that [ read both sides of the press. I take one side and J find one sct of facts and figures, and I take the other side and I find another set, until sometimes my mind is so confused between them that I cannot believe cither. | have given up paying much attention to these evolved figures because men specially hired for the work handle them for their own particular parties, put in what suits them and leave out what don't. But [ do know this, and so do all farmers, from experience, that no matter who is in or out the expenses go on. Nor can I say that this is unnatural, Public affairs, like private, must be carried on at an expense, and in a new country like this the expense is great, because we need so many new public works. Both parties have given us some great and useful public works, without which the new parts of the country could not have been developed, su I find no great fault with either party upon that score. What we have to consider is where the money to pay for these works is to come from. Some say abolish the tariff and let goods in free from the United States and elsewhere, and let us raise the money by direct taxation. That means to put all the taxes on the land, to which I objecx. Mr. Blake said in a speech in West Durham, which I read in the Globe, that most of the tarid? would have to stay, because we need so much money to conduct publie affairs, but that he would take the duty off coal and breadstufls. If wo take the duty ff of coal we will have to put it on tea and coffee, and as tea and coffee are of more use to me as a farmer [ would sooner have them ‘ree and a duty upon coal, of which [ have little need. Then the auty upon breadstuffs is the only thing in the tariff that favors farmers at all, If Mi Blake takes that off, while he leaves the present protection to manufacturers, as he promises to do, we shall be the losers for the benefit of the large cities and*towns. Now, fellow-farmers, this is the way I look at the matter: As Mr. Blake says we must have the tariff, let us have the whole tariff, and not put all the taxes upon the land, neither take the duty off grain, in which we are interested, and leave it on those things in which-cities and towns are interested. It is for this reason that I shall continue to support the National Policy, not for party, but because it is the best thing offered us so far by either party. We must consider our own interests, as other people do. A FARMER. ed Published by the Industrial League, for gratuitous distmbution.—-F neperio NicHoLis, Secretary; Toronto, Canada. (6}