The Tariff and the Farmer. 31 



parity of reward has been of long standing is shown by 

 the reply of Mr. J. H. Walker to a Congressional commit- 

 tee in 1878. He was asked his opinion as to the wisdom 

 of putting men out of work onto farms to be given them 

 by government. He said : ' ' The wages of agriculturists, 

 including the income of small farmers, are not half that 

 of the average mechanic, excepting cotton and woolen 

 operatives ; and as it is a question of wages more than of 

 work, the average chronic beggar for work would only be 

 insulted, when, being upon his land, he learned the absti- 

 nence practiced, and work done by small farmers.'' 



Could the difference of reward be put in more caustic 

 language than done by one who, for many years, was the 

 most prominent advocate for protection in Massachu- 

 setts ! 



The Gist of the Situation. 



agriculttjke. 



Here associated effort is confined exclusively to pro- 

 duction. So far as this has been successful, the main 

 result has been to throw a larger surplus on a market 

 which for many years has been ruinously overstocked. 

 The inevitable effect : the depression of prices. 



Now the object of producing is to obtain means to pur- 

 chase agricultural supplies. These are chiefly manufac- 

 tured products. In selling and buying there are inter- 

 mediate agents. But practically there is an exchange of 

 products between those engaged in agriculture and those 

 engaged in manufacture. 



MANUFACTURE. 



Associated effort here instead of seeking greater profit 

 by increasing knowledge of the arts and sciences, and by 

 improved methods of production, has done all that could 



