A Farmer's Recollection

The followlng .irticle, taken from tlie South Bend, Ind., Tribune, tells the story in a practical wsy, that all can readily understand : DuriiiiC the montli of Juno, IS.'.s, Farmer Brown, who lives on tlie Mldhlgan rond in the Center township, begins to "skin"' around to mnke ready for the coming harvest. He has to have inoncy to pay the harvest hands; he most lay in a lurge stock of groceries to feed tliein ; some extra dlshes are needed and otlier neceslties around tlie house and faun. He also that he has to have a new wagon, and he would llke to buy a new two-seat buggy for the family to come to town in, instead of always riding In tlie luniber wagon. Aa he had no ready raoney (the free tradc tariff taking ncaily all the money out of the country to buy English-made goods,) lic has to spare wh at produce he can cut off of the farm. He sells the following: lOObushels of whent. B3J0 S 8B2S 30 cords of wood, $2.50 75 00 10 tons tlmotliy hav, t6 0000 lOObushels cora, 25c 26 00 lOObashels oaU, 2)c 2300 30 dozen esgs, 6c 180 30pounds buttfcr, Uc 8 UO ïolal Ï25105 Farmer Browu and hí wife carne to South Bend, during the latter part of June to buy their harvest groceries, etc, and eet a wagon. Here is what they bought: 1 Studebakor wagon, wlth seat $130 00 5 11)8 Klo cofTee, 15c 75 ï1) Ibs orown sugar. lic 2 20 5 Ibs granulated fiugar, 15c 75 201bsrlce.7c 140 1 lb besl green loa 1 00 2 gal. syrup, 75c 1 50 1 barrel salt 2 40 2 pair overalls, r0o 100 12 yards calleo, 13 .. 1 "Q 4yirrn (notu nteacnert muslln, I6' 6 40 1 set granlte cups and saucera 75 1 set platea 78 1 set knlves and forkR 1 50 ldoi. half-pint tumblors, lïVic 150 50 wheat sacks,30c 1500 Total 8108 40 The above are prices paid by J. C. Wutkins, Stephen Field, Samuel Kupe, William Hoke, and other St. Joseph county farmers for produce during the inotith of June, 1858, a9 the Tribune can show by day books in lts possession, and the above are prices paid by them and otlier farmers for goods they bought. Farmer Brown and his wife llnd, after making these purcha9es, that he has $82.65 left to pay his harvest hands, and much as he would like to gratify his wife and daiighter with a two-seat buggy, he has to forego that luxury whicb would cost blm $150. Free trade will not perrnit it. In June, 188S, under tlie terrible republican protective tarlfF (which Mr. Stearns says robs the farmer as well ;.s the workingman) Farmer Brown lim's the harvest coming on, and gets ready lor it. Ue happens to need a new wagon and exactly the same groceries and goods he bougbt in June, 1858, and, by a coincldence, sends to South Bend the same kinds and amounts of produce he sold thirty yeara before, for which he gets the following prices: 100 bushei wheat, 8Se S8 00 30 cords wood, 15 15001 10 toas tlmotliy hay, 12 ... 120 00 lOObushels corn, 60c 50 00 100 bushels oats, 3Jc 30(10 30 dc7. eggs, 14c 420 SOpoandaof butter, 15c 4 50 Total $146 70 He and hls wife then make the same purchases a9 iu 1858, as follows: 1 Stadebaker wagon wlth seat S G500 51bs Klo coffee,20c 100 20 Ibs brown augur, 6c 1 20 5 Iba granulated mijar, 9c 45 20 Ibs rloe, 8c 1 M 1 lb best green tea 2 gal. syrup, 45c "0 lbarrelsalt 10) ï pair overalls, 40c 80 12 yards calleo, 5c 60 40 yd. (1 bolt) bleached muslln,9c 3 60 1 set graolte oups and saucera 45 1 (et sranlte plates 45 J sit knivi'M iind lorks 60 1 dozen one-half plat lumblers 60 50 wtieut tacks, 2lo 10 50 Total "SlO Aftcr he and hls wiie have made their purchases he finds he has a balance left from the sales of hls produce of $868 -'l instead of t82.63, as in 1858, and he exclaims to his wifo: "BVtbsb, who'd a thought that farm truck'd brnught In 80 much money?" and he roes and buys a two-soat buggy for family use for $98, and a nlce top buggy for the old;st uumarried sou for f123, and stil 1 has f153.20 left to pay harvest hands. Mr. Stearns you don t want to talk to Farmer Brown about democratie free trade being a better thing for htm and hls family than republicau tatirt'. He doesn't want to know anythlng about your theory, becauso he knows from experience the condition of tilinga in 188$ ander free trade, and in 1888 under protection. WhtO that difference amoiiin.to $100. 6ö in tlie same kind and aniount of produce he sella, and to $78.00 in the same kind and amount of articles he buys, he knows he is just $183.25 ahoad by living in the republican protective tariff times.