The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-22
GONE wOOL-GATHERING.


GONE WOOL-GATHERING.
An admirable gentleman of San
Antonio writes to the STATESMAN
asking its endorsement of Colonel
Upson for the congressional nomi-
nation. The STATESMAN has al
ways regarded the distinguished
congressman with much personal
favor, and therefore regrets that his
course of late has somewhat affected
the manner with which we hoped to
regard HIM in this canvass. In the
first place, the STATESMAN was op-
posed to the interests of San Antonio
being put i'll the balance with those
of other portions of Texas not in
harmony with what few San An
tonians are inclined to regard as
their leading industry. We knew
that the wool men of
western Texas had gotten it into
their heads that the best way to
make money was to have high
protective tariff-the higher the bet
ter for them and we hoped they
might have to carry this tariff issue
OH their own backs and not make it
a disturbing question with any other
section. If the sheep interest is
higher than that of all other inter
ests, if the sheep interest must be
satisfied only when all other
interests are subservient to it,
then we ought to have pure
ly a sheep district, and then
sheep congressman could be
elected, and thus this sheepish busi-
ness could be circumscribed, while
there would be no attempt to make
the Democratic party commit any
sort of a sheepish trick that sheep
might rule Texas. There are pro-
badly forty thousand voters in the
tenth congressional district, and less
than one-tenth of these are directly
or indirectly interested in wool.
High tariff benefits this small per-
centage, while tariff for revenue
only would benefit the whole peo-
pie, and affect to the lightest degree
the wool growers, who, along with
all others have, to pay the percentage
of increase on all matters of con-
sumption. Were the tariff less
their taxes would be less, their sup.
plies would be bought at greatly
reduced prices, and the problem OF
transportation, beng partially
solved, and labor being cheaper,
the wool raiser would experience
but little change. The great
army of consumers are known
to pay one hundred cents
for necessities, when sixty cents
would do, with tariff for revenue
only. Colonel Upson is an admir-
able gentleman, and he has been {
very serviceable member of con
gress. He passed through the con
| gressional cloak room with glory tC
himself, and when he first stepped
inside the porphyry halls that echo
the eloquence OF statesmen he was
marked as wise-even precocious-
and became a favorite with mel
of both parties. We did never
: believe then that his head would &C
wool-gathering, but it did, and HI
has proven this fact by late expires
sions on the floor of the house. L
there be forty thousand voters il
this district, and if four thousand o
these be in favor of q high tariff fol
wool, it is right that the thirty-si1
thousand be disfavored for a paltry
benefit to the four thousand. 1t il
understood that Mr.. Upson ia
vors high tariff to protec
the wool grower, and not th'
wool manufacturer; that while h
would satisfy the greed of the WOO
producer, he would therefore clos'
down on the fabric maker. Such {
proposition is absurd, and therefor,
not worthy OF Colonel Upson. FL
knows that to make this discrimina
ton in law would be impracticable
in fact utterly impossible, and henc'
il will never be attempted b!
any reasonable legislative body
The STATESMAN would be pleased
to support Colonel Upson, bu
being opposed TO tariff for any
thing but revenue, it must see hin
align himself to this doctrine before
it can raise any sort of a war-how
for him. The state convention mus
put the Democratic party of Texa
in perfect harmony with the fedora
party, and Democrats who go t,
congress should be required to sub
scribe to doctrines thus enunciated
We have seen ground lost to th'
Democracy, through long series o
years, because 1t has not been {
unit in sentiment throughout tn,
Union, and such diversity,must nc
longer be tolerated. These time
honored principles constitute thu
groundwork, upon which this re
publican government was founded
aud upon which it ma,
be preserved. Hence the STATES
MAN adheres to them, and when th'
people throughout this broad lant
return to them, as ofyore, the stabil
| ity and permanency Of republican
institutions will be doubly assured
and Colonel Upson, and bis goot
friend at san Antonio, are expected
to fall into line in their support.