Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-31

Editor Morning Nelos: Onefactis worth
a hundred theories, and actual expert
ments end arguments. A gentleman trav-
cling in Australia, and writing up his OBJ
servations to the Baltimore SIM, gives
political economists something to think
about and states his observations as be-
tween the provinces of New South Wales
and Victoria. He says:
'sWellington is a town Of about 1000 in
habitants. 1t has fine public school and
numerous churches, and well edited weekly
newspaper. Its shops. warehouses ana hotels
would do credit to cities of greater preten-
sions. l found a hotel here in every way
better than the best in Sydney. The people
are hospitable. intelligent and prosperous.
Such a thing as poverty is unknown either in
the town or surrounding community. Pow
erty might well be considered a crime in
Australia, asst IS almost always the result OF
dissipation. Wages are good, and for laborers
the demand is always greater than the supply.
Living is very cheap; the best cuts of mutton
only a penny n pound, beef threepence, and
other things in proportion. The shopkeepers
are asking but threepence per yard for good
prints and all other goods could be bought for
correspondingly low prices. / was much sur
prised at this, since all their goods are i'm
ported mostly from England. distance of 10,
GOO miles. Good wages, cheap living, the re-
suit of free trade. Why do not the work
ingmen in the United States see this? Tariff
TO encourage manufacturers! But more and
better paying factories have been built in
New South Wales than in Victoria during the
last decade. and yet Victoria has high pro-
tective tariff. l allow protectionists to ac-
count for all this as best they can"
The first great aim of the South should be
cheap food. That first of all we see what
cheap food is doing for Australia. Then our
next best step would be to advocate a tariff
for revenue. Our advantage as producer of
raw materials gives to us an aggressive posi-
ton that cannot be cOunterbalanced by any
! advantage the North may now have over us
| as a manufacturing section. The destruction
/ of reciprocal interests that existed between
! the North and the South in the days of slavery
must now develop itself into identical in
! terests and such being the case, the true
! policy of our section is for a revenue tariff.
! Our advantages are naturally so much
| greater than the North that we should not
| Northern disadvantages, and attempt to
| reason to same results from their standpOnts.
An argument that will hold well under GER
| tain circumstances and surroundings will not
| and cannot be convincing or applicable under
| totally different surroundings. The South
| must be as selfish of her interests and rights,
and as jealous of her influence, as has ever
| characterized the North since the establish
| ment of the Federal Government.
We must in the future take less stock in the
| mere sentiment of patriotism, and more in the
| advancement of our section in material
wealth. influence and prosperity. Wealth is
It was the North which first gave utterance
| to the doctrine of secession, and it had its
! birthplace in Massachusetts and the New Eng
| land States. 1t dates as far back as 1903,
when Louisiana was bought from France. The
| North became jealous of so much territory
! that lay so far south, and feared Southern
! preponderance in Congress.
AS a Southern man now advocate a South
| ern policy for the development of Southern
! interests. A moderate tariff is what the
| South should advocate, for protective one is
| our hurt. our drawback, and only strengthens
| the manufacturing interest of the North at
| our expense and development. When we can
| save 81 on every bale of cotton manufactured,
| it stands to reason that capital will seek the
! field where such saving can be made; but
| when protected there is no inducement to look
| to a new field of enterprise.
In the coming Presidential campaign the
| people must be enlightened by common sense
! ideas and rational facts and sequences We
should have clear cut ideas on this tariff
| question, for the people stand in need of in
formation, and they must have it.
| r NJ O.