The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-02
KEEP MANUFACTURES OUT OF
TEXAS.

Senator Coke's late speech on the
tariff question, the personal effect OF
which was the other day presented
by our Washington correspondent,
has been sent to all the papers of
the state, but few of them have had
the hardihood to even attempt its
review. The speech is something
like his annual messages, more than
any mortal, whose time does not be-
long wholly to himself, could possis
bly, peruse. By sort of relay the
Express managed to digest part of it,
but found nothing to commend as
new, and much to condemn as abb
surd. Among other things the SEN
ator made a bold effort to curry
favor with the eastern capitalist,
and in doing this he placed himself
IN direct opposition 10 the vital in
terests of the south and of Texas.
The ErpreSS says:
"One of the remarkable po-
sitions taken by Coke in this
speech was that if protec-
ton were removed it would drive
manufacturing establishments from
their present locations to where the
raw materials were produced; that
protection had built up large and
prosperous manufacturing COM
munitIes in the north and
east; and that without pro-
lection those manufacturing
establishments would have to
close their doors and be removed
to other countries where the raw
materials are produced; that their
profits would be insufficient without
protection to enable them to pay
transportation on raw materials to
their present abiding places. This
was a dangerous statement for a
tree-trader to make, or, If true, it
explodes the theory of enormous
profits they claim the manufacturers
are making. If their margin of
profit is so small that the cost of
transportation of the raw materials
for a few hundred miles will crush
them out of existence, or if saYed,
enable them to continue busi-
ness, there must be a pretty strong
necessity for protection. Manufacto-
ries established where the raw ma
terials are produced will no doubt
be most profitable, and that is why
We believe certain manufacturers
will seek the south if their business
is rendered safe by judicious pro-
tective law ; but the experiment of
trying to drive them hither by in
augurating a starving out process in
the northern and eastern states is
new and unique.
While Senator Coke may be a
statesman 1--WE will not quarrel about
the title, for such things are cheap
now-a-days) we do not think he
showed much astuteness as a
politician, if his speech was
really intended as an argument in
favor of free trade and to impress
the senate that the protective tariff
should be repealed, and not as foil
among the Texas grangers to Gov
ernor Roberts renowned assertion
that the plow is the beginning and
end of civilization, or words to that
effect. 1t Coke really desired to
have free trade established in the
United States, it seems to us he
took the poorest way in the world
to establish it. The west and south
are weak numerically and by rep
resentation in congress, as COM
pared to the north anu east, and
without their consent we can
accomplish nothing in the way
of national legislation; yet
Mr.. Coke does not hesitate
to stand ON the floor of the senate
and tell that mighty and controlling
power, "Pass my measure, remove
the tariff, and your property will be
ruined, your mills will be left idle
and your capitalists will be driven
to other sections of the country"
He said, to quote him literally 4:
"The protective tariff alone has
enabled the New England states to
draw our raw materials to their
factories. Take that away, and the
factories and workshops will have
to remove to the raw materials" If
Coke expects the northern and east
ern representatives to believe him,
he certainly must expect them to
vote solidly against what he ad-
vocates.