Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-10-21
October 2f, 1850.
4 SPEECH BY HON. IT, C. DAVIS.
Some Interesting Stdtistics.

mitted by Mr.. Davis in tabular form the
following are cleaned
Under Democratic rule previous to
1860 our ships carried from 60 to % per
cent Of our foreign commerce; under Re
publican rule it decreased until it was in
1885 but ID per cent. This shows plain
ly under which party our foreign carry
ing trade was most prosperous.
The increase in population in each de-
cade previous to 1870 has ranged between
30 and 81 per cent. Between go and
20 it was 22.65 per cent, which was ac-
counted for by the war. Between 20
and 80 the increase was 30.6S per cent,
lower than it had ever been previous to
1S60-and this Notwithstanding the large
emigration that has come into this coun-
try during the past ten years.
Now take the wealth, and We will find
that previous to 1860 the increase Of
wealth in the country was each decade
between % and 50 per cent. Between
80 and go the wealth increased 100 per
cent, and between 20 and 80 but 10 per
cent. So, in the last ten years Of Demo
cratic rule, the country increased in wealth
nearly three times as much as during the
last ten years of Republican rule.
In 30 the wealth per capita in the
United States was s30S; in go, s5l4,
showing an increase of over 66 per cent.
From $3.50 in 70 to $50 in 80 the in
crease per capita was IS per cent, being
areatlv in favor Of the decade between
80 and 60. Take the assessed valuation
of property for taxation and the differ
ence will still be greater. The increase
from 80 10 go was over 100 per cent,
while between 20 and 80 it was 10 per
cent. The increase in actual amount be-
tween 80 and go was six billions, while
between 20 and 80 it was two billions
eight hundred millions. These figur'
are very remarkable, but bear in mind
that they are official and taken from the
c census of the United States.
1t has often been said that the South.
ern States were retrograding and that
the Northern and Northwestern State;
were the -perous and advancing States
| will make a comparison, not including
the six doubtful States, which vote some
times democratic and sometimes republi'
can namely, New York, New jersey
Connecticut, Indiana, California and Or
egon. | have a table prepared by myself
from official records, which shows thai
the sixteen Southern or democratic states
have increased in population between 7C
and 80, 33i per cent, while the increas'
of the Northern and Western republican
States has been 3Oi per cent
Delaware, Maryland and West VII
pinia. three Southern democratic States
adjoining each other, as compared witt
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont
three Northern or republican States
which also adioin, both groups having
about the same population, the forme
have increased 26.1 per cent, while th'
latter have increased A per cent. Com
pairing the three largest democratic States
Georgia, Missouri and Texas, with th
three largest republican States, Massa
chusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois, W
find that the former have increased 42.4
and the latter ZIG per cent. Now if yo1
take the six democratic and six republl
cab States Just named, three small an'
three large Of each, you will find that tn
democratic States have increased 80 pc
cent, and the republican States 10 pc
cent.
The population of the United State
: increased between 80 and go Boz pc
cent. and between 20 and 80 80 pc
cent In the twenty years between 4