The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-01-03
The South and the Tariff Col Wm'
Oliver.


judging from the expressions OF J.
southern manufacturers - cotton and /
yoolen goods, there can be 10 doubt Of
heir opposition to the present protec- I
live tariff system. They want it repeal t
ed 50 as to put the New England monopo-
lists on an equal footing with them
selves. A revenue tariff means cheap
and it means destruction to
the monopoly which has given the form
er the advantages which they derive
from government aid. The Southern
manufacturers know that the South, as
10 cotton and wool, the principal ingre-
dients that enter the manufacturing OF
cotton and woollen fabrics, possesses
superior advantages to any other coun-
try; that they have fuel and water, and
cheap labor because it can be economi- |
cally subsisted--and will hail the time,
when they can enter the field Of compe-
tition against all corners, with hands
Off and a fair fight 50 far as the federal
government is concerned. We have al
ready published the statements Of lead
( ing manufacturers in Georgia and South
Carolina, and now we will give some
thing to the point from Col William
/ Oliver, one Of the owners, and the man
agcr of the Mississippi Mills at Wcsson,
in the successful operation Of which,
we all feel especial pride because it is Il
Mississippi institution, founded by Mis-
sissippians, built with Mississippi CAPT
tai, and has demonstrated what Missis
sippi can accomplish in the manufactur-
ing industry. While we are reading
what Col Oliver says, let us also note
the observations of Mr.. Bussey, Presi-
dent Of the largest manufacturing es-
: Enlistment at Columbus Georgia:
c As has been set forth in previous letters,
= the cotton manufacturers of South Caro-.
lima and Georgia are to a man either
= wholly Indifferent in the matter or--the
e more thoughtful of positively and
a actively in favor of as great modification
Of the tariff as is consistent with the de.
l. mands of the revenue met yesterday in
t New Orleans DR.. N G.. Bussey, President
a OF the Eagle and Phenix Manufacturing
Company, OF Columbus, Ga, the most ex
. tensive Of the cotton mills of the South
IS Eve have absolutely no benefit from the
q tariff" he said, "but suffer from its effec
= upon the cost of our machinery and thu
y expenses OF living. know OF no cottor
L mill in the Sonth that would not do bette
s. without tariff than with it.
Il At Wesson, some so miles from Jackson
are the Mississippi Cotton and Woollei
a Mills, largely owned by Mr.. Edmunt
n Richardson, the millionaire cotton plante
, of this region. The President Of the com
pany, Capt Oliver, said to me yesterda
u that he would favor total abolition OF tn
IS tariff on cotton goods, and he did no
II know that his interests would suffe
from such reduction of the duties o
~ wooIens as ia probable under revenu
"a tariff. His mills get their cotton, as wei
w as their wool, from the immediate neigh
,o borho0d; the native labor is cheap an
good and the market is either at home or /
20 Texas. His advantages over the Easter
OF mills are SO great personally that he is il
Il different az to the operations of the tariff
For the general good of the country h
A believed that the tariff should be arrange
m strictly upon the revenue standard. The;
be mills, as in Graniteville, Vanclus
20 Augusta and Columbus, are paying hanc
- some profits. Although in some cas-
he close corporations, | have reason to believ
es that not one OF these establishments pa,
r. less than 10 per cent. on the capital il
vested In several instances the annu
&c profits for several years have been fro
i'll is to % per cent, Mr., Edward Atkinson
no declared belief that cotton mills cam
- pay in the South is contradicted by ii
"o established fact at reminds me of Il
ey old story of the Georgia man" said D
,h Bussey, "who had been arrested witho
of u warrant They can't arrest YOU cri
- to him in jail an excited friend. 'B
they've done it, was the hapless prisoner
80 reply"