34 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



V 



is upheld by the tariff barons and beneficiaries a comparatively 

 few very wealthy corporations, each one " log-rolling " with the 

 other for mutual benefits. By their employment of large bodies 

 of workmen, and their power to contribute money and to bull- 

 doze morally through the " pay-envelope," congressional districts, 

 States, and the nation are in their clutch. 



Of course, the farmer vote is great enough to have its way, but 

 it can not apply itself with the force and ease of a well-regulated 

 machine, as its almost feudal masters can theirs. Our farmers 

 lack also, as I have already said, the clear perception that they 

 and their interests are exploited. The system which robs them, 

 under cover of law, large numbers of them still believe is for 

 their own benefit. 



It is a matter for amazement, though, that some leaders among 

 them do not, at least, plead through their granges and societies, for 

 direct protection, since they are so sure the complex taxation of 

 themselves tends to their prosperity, by some indirect hocus pocus 

 which nobody can explain. If protection is good for agriculture, 

 it would certainly help it more to put it in the line of direct bene- 

 fit, and let other industries, so long pampered, have for a change 

 the indirect blessings of the tariff for a term of years. 



As the farmers are by far the most numerous single part of 

 our population, and represent well toward one third of the people 

 in numbers, why not give to them directly, lavish bounties from 

 the national treasury ? Let an act, for instance, be passed to give 

 them from fifty to one hundred and fifty per cent more for all 

 they raise than they now receive. This would somewhere near 

 double their income. "With this great enlargement of their means 

 they could pay more for labor, and they could buy two or three 

 times as large a quantity of manufactured goods. Of course, 

 " could " invariably means " would " in the protectionist's diction- 

 ary ; and so we should see a tremendous impetus given to all other 

 industries, and to manufactures particularly, by the very greatly 

 increased purchases of the farmers and their doubly paid help. 

 As it has been for two or more generations, " the few " have been 

 protected on purpose to help " the many " by the tremendous over- 

 flow which the benevolence of " the few " precipitates. But just 

 think how much more overflow would be sure to run from " the 

 many " to " the few " than is possible in the other direction ! 



Could there be any finer or fairer scheme than this ? Having 

 lived in the moonlight of protection so long, is it not the farmer's 

 turn now to have its sunlight ? And, inasmuch as the manufact- 

 urers and protected interests say that this moonlight, or indirect 

 incidence of their tax system, is a great good to the farmer, it will, 

 of course, be of great good to the manufacturer. And there will 

 be vastly more of it, since large bodies reflect immensely more to 



