The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-18

| AID In the permanent tsl ment oil
certain industries, aud insisted that
after a few yeas OF dependence upon
the bounty q the govern ment and
people they W uld be strong enough
to stand alone and compste success
fully with their iivals, not only in the
home market but in a. 9th r.. I'm
der the influ nee oil this argu
ment the first pr ective tar Il
WAS enacted in 1916, aud ye
after seyen'y years have p'ssed
many of the same iudu tries which
then asked temporary assistance are
now demanding more thin double the
rates of duty then deemed Sufficient,
snd their accredited committees and
org3ns unanimously dec are that I'M
less these enormous boui ties shall be
indefinitely continued, the industries
cease to exist. According to their
own showing, the policy inaugurated
nearly three quarters of century ago
for the purpose OF rendering them in
dependent and eelf sustaining have
had exactly the opposite effect. It's
constant tendency has been and Is
now to impair their sbili 10 compete
with the products OF similar indus
tries elsewhere and to make them
more and NOR dependent upon bou:
ties and special legislation for support.
1t has added largely to the cost OF
production by Increasing the price OF
machinery and materials and the
neeesssries of life. II has confined
the products Of the 30 called
protec ed industries to the home
market exclusively, so that the
amount of production must be
regulated by the domestic demand
alone, and operations must be sus.
pended when that demand is satisfied.
Il has obstructtd International ex.
changes, thus par tally excluding the
products OF our other Industries from
profitable markets abroad, diminish
ing their earnings end arrestiug their
growth and prosperity. 1t has pio-
voked other governments to resort to
retaliatory measures, discriminating
against our products and trade 10 their
own ports aud markets, and giving
preference to the products aud trade
OF our most formidable rivals; and
here at home by enc )ursginR capital
and labor to rely upon leg alton for
profits, rather than their own ca
pacity, it has greatly impaired that
spirit of independence and enterprise
which is absolutely indlsr nssble to
the successful prosecution Of business
in this age of improvement and pro-
gress. These are only few OF the
evils which the existing system OF
taxation has inflicted uuon the coun-
try. Many valuable Industries which
would have floulished without it have
been tortured to death by its unt quail
buI dens and uDjust determinations,
while others have been crushed by
the omoipatIons and monopolits
which it creates and sus ains. Some
have prospered in spite Of it, but the
sum of the peoples wealth, the aggre.
gate accumulation of savings 10 all
branches OF industry, is undoubtedly
much less than it ought 10 have been
ard would have been under a more
equslIevsru e system and more lib
eIal commercial policy. A few have
become very Iich, but many have be
come very poor and the gulf betwesn
luxury and perjury is becoming wider
and deeper day by day. This uDnat-
ursl and dangerous condition Of af-
fairs could not possibly exist in q
young and rapidly developing country
like ours II the laws and regulations
aft citing the creation and distribution
of wealth were Just and tqual in their
operation. With a fertile soil and
friendly climate; with inexh unstable
stores OF coal and iron--the two most
powerful material agencies in our mod.
ern civilization; with a vast extent OF
unoccupied and undevsloped territory;
with free institutions and an intelli-
gent, industrious and enterprising
population, we ought to be exempt
from the social and political diseases
which sffiict the crowded nations of
the old world; and we will be exempt |
from them when we tax all alike and
protect all alike. Living in such
country aud surrounded by the mar
velous achievements of the most won
delful bali century in the annals Of
the human race, II the people con-
tnue unproeperous and Discontinued;
il wealth continues TO accumulate |
rapidly in the hands OF the idle few
while hunger and nakednets increase
in the very homes OF industry; aud |
If invested capital remains uneasy and |
insecure and labor diesa isfsd, ii will |
be burning disgrace to the STATS
manship OF the sge, and terrible |
weight of responsibility will rest upon
these who reject all measures Of relief
and cling with stubborn tenaCity TO
the worst fsaures OF the system
under which these evils have |
and attained their pres
ent proportions. But, gentlemen,
no matter who may desert or
who may fslter, the great fight for
reform will 60 on. This country does
not belong to either the monopolists
or the communists, aud the people
will save 1t from both. Between the
two there stands great ard powerful
b5dy Of enlightened, conservative and
patriotic citizens, who respect equally
The rights of capital and labor, who
obey the laws and preserve the public
peace, and who, in spite Of all combi-
nations and conspiracies, will ulti-
mately sac that the true principles OF
justice aud equality prevail in The
legislation of the country. Even TO
prevent the continuance Of long exist
ing and constantly increasing evils
they will not rush from one extreme
10 another, but will proceed carefully,
deliberately and resolutely to correct
remove unnecessary bur-
lens, and open the paths that lead to
peace and prosperity. While free
rade is impTacticable, industrial and
emancipation can and will
be accomplished by wise and
moderate measures Of reform, without
interfering with any private enter
1Iises or iDjuring any public interest.
To this some OF us at least are irrev-
,cably pledged, not only by the tIadi-
ions and declarations Of the political
,arty to which we belong, but by
Iense of personal and official duty
which cannot be disregsrded without
)etrayiDg the confidence reposed in
Is by the people. Whether in pub
ic or private life, I shall stand by y
bat pledge and, to the extent OF my
- Ill.