The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-13

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of Congress and unadVised that their
interests were 10 be dealt an unfriend-
ly blow, they are to be the first vic
tins Of the British policy through the
agency OF the American policy. In
1860 the sheep in the United States
numbered little over 22,000OOO. In
1888 the number had reached 50,60
900. In 1860 the clips were SO, 100000.
In 1883 it reached 800, 900 600. The
duty Of 1857, which gave to wool grow
ing its greatest encouragement and IN
duced the farmers TO increase their
flocks and spend their means for the
finest varieties of sheep aud Tor
their care, and which made the
American woods the best in
the world adapted to all uses Of man.
uiacture, has added nothing Of cost OF
wool TO the manufacturer or consumer
On the contrary, II has been cheap
ened. In 1867 the price was 81 cents,
in 1870 it was 40, in 1875 43 cents
There has been a steady reduction un'
til now 1t is 30 low as Ito be improbable.
The decay OF sheep husbandry in the
United States would be national ca
1amity. II would place our manufaCt-
urers at the mercy Of the foreign pro-
ducers. This is an industry that can
not be built up in a day. 1t has Ie-
duired years OF cost to reach its pres
emit development, and sound policy
demands its encouragement The mi
nerity endeavored to meet the reason.
able expectations Of this large class oil
their fellow-citizens and restore the
duty OF 1867 on wool, but were
prevented by the votes of the
majority, and from the same cause are
unable 10 maintain the rates. We
could not believe that the majority
would take from the dutiable list
wool, which has boen keen kept there
since 1924, and which even the free
trade law Of Robert ]. Walker, framed
in 1884, had not made free, but the
majority OF the committee has done 1t
30 lar IS it can, and nothing remains
for this great interest which enriches
every State in the Union but to appeal
to Congress and 10 the country to re-
pudiate the work of the committee.
The Aax.groweIs and spinners OF
America protest against the unjust
and unreasonable action OF the COM
mittee in taking fax from the dutiable
list, and convention held in Febru-
airy, 1885, declared a reduction Of duty
on foreign fbres would be disastrous
to the domestic industry.
The bill roposes to enact the very
outrage, the renewal OF the Canadian
treaty, the fear Of the possibility oi
which 80 aroused the indignation o.
the whole New England fishery inter
ests without distinction Of politics. L
does more it proposes to give 10 Can
ada for nothing, what the Dominion il
longing to pay high price for. TIT
IT, majority view the bill as the first stel
towards reversal of revenue sys
tenn founded by the fathers and thu
substitution OF the British system o
tariff for revenue only. The commit
tee have accepted and adopted tn,
Secretary's political creed. "Thst tn,
first duties TO be safely discarded ar
those upon materials used by GU
manufacturers" aud its free list dis
cards wool, lumber, fax, hemp AM
all fibres. The second step will be Il
discard all duties on imported articles
, then at last duties will only b
levied upon articles not produced il
the United States, among which ar
tea and coffee. We dissent wholly fror
the doctrine and it's conclusions an
insist that the true method of levyin
: duties upon imports to raise the rev'
nues for the government is to impos
} them upon the imported article
which compete with the products {
, our own industries and labor ;andwhiI
. such duties will secure the necessar
} revenues they will at the same tim
3 encourage home productions, create
, home market and furnish employmer
! for American workmen without II
creasing the burdens OF the peopl,
: The minority declare the bill is boz
: OF false sentiment. 1t is here becsus
4 the Democratic party is in contro
8 The people OF the country are nj
asking for it. 1t is in response to n
public sentiment. In judgmer
OF the minority it will increase ratht
: than dlm,ulsu our custom receipt;
Y that it will answer no sentiment for
9 reduction of the surplus; it will hel
a no American interest; it will cripple
II not destroy, all ittouChes.
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