396 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



and if the American manufacturer wished to undersell 

 his English rival, he would be able to charge but from 

 $5 to $6 for his blankets. The General Government 

 would receive a duty of 25 per cent, on all foreign 

 blankets, and the people would be freed from their 

 tribute to the American manufacturer. 



It is useless to talk of the injury to the revenue 

 which would result from a lower tariff. The tariff as 

 at present arranged, is not designed for the benefit of 

 the Government. It is arranged for the benefit of a 

 small class of capitalists, who are allowed by Congress 

 to plunder the nation for their individual profit. The 

 Government receives comparatively little benefit from 

 the heavy burdens placed upon the nation. The vast 

 sums thus exacted flow into the pockets of the manu- 

 facturers. 



It is to the interest, not only of the farmer, but of 

 the entire nation, that the market be thrown open to a 

 fair and full competition, which will of necessity result 

 in a decline of prices. The saving to the purchasing 

 class of the country will be counted by millions. The 

 vast majority of the American people will be immensely 

 benefited, and people of moderate means, and especially 

 the poor, will be relieved of one of their heaviest bur- 

 dens. 



As a matter of course, the manufacturers, who have 

 fattened upon the plunder they have so long enjoyed, 

 will resist any effort to deprive them of their immense 

 profits. Money will be freely spent to defeat the effort 

 of the people to secure their independence, and it will 

 require a decided and persistent stand on the part of the 

 people to accomplish a change. But a change is needed. 



There is no good reason why the entire nation should 



