davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
some Questions and Anewcrs.

Ny. J. W. Lacy, of Macon, has sent 10
the Telegraph OF that city she following
communication:
BY answering the following questions yoa will
confer great favor o. the undersigned
l. Are not the WoCaiugmcn all over this country
United states far better ofthan they ere previous
TO 1860?
clothes in This county for $40 to SD than in any of
the free trade countries OF Europe
:. 30 MOI Il @ Wuikingmon, both mechanics and
lahorers, in the strong tariff cities Of tie United
states get better wages than The work!ngmen in
cities that have 10 manuiattor that demand a
taiih2
4. Has not the tariff enabled more woykincmcn TO
become househollers than ever free trade did
.. Have nor wages all over Germany advanced
from 30 TO 80 per cent since the tariff OF 1850 went
into caocta
{ Did not the free trade laws enacted by England
ruin the linen industry Of lreland' Respectfully
yonrS,
The Telegraph deyotes a column 10 Mr..
Lacy's communication, and fails to answer
his questions.
With respect to the first, :; saws that
there is no reason to believe that the work
mgmau's condition has greatly improved
since lSGO,n and it adds that there are Ger
tainly more frequent manifestations Of his
Gisconteut.' Now, the intelligent work
ingmen, who understand the situation in
this country, will smile al this sort of talk.
Not only have their wages increased and
their condition improved, but the very signs
of discomfort. TO which the Telegraph al
mdes, betray spirit Of independence that
is no; to be found among the workincmen
OF any free trade country in the world. We
are OF the opinion that strike is a very
silly thing, but the fact remains that the
long strikes in this country are maintained
by the earnings and accumulations Of Amer
lean worhiusmon Is the Telegraph OF the
opinion that the thousands of strikes that
have taken place in this country during the
past few years are The result OF the poverty
Of the workingmeu9 Does it believe that
the uniortunates who labor under g free
trade system would have been able 10 main
tain these strikcs2 IN the free trade coun-
tries, when a laboler is oppressed. OF when
his wages arc lowered, he becomes an an
archst or 4 socialist, and from that moment
he is dangerous element OF society. In
this country, the wOrkingman proceeds on
the American plan lie strikes, fights it
cut With remarkable periinaciiy, aud
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07

will have to hunt another job if the laws
were repealed, and because other congress
men find it 10 be more directly to their inter-
est to protect the nine hundred ana sixty
nine distileres, than all the other indus
tries in the country.
The internal revenue system filled its mis-
sion when it defeated the republican party.
1t will defeat any party that gives it encour-
agement. When brought to its final analy-
sis it means Capitalization; it means that
our people are to be raided; it means that
men charged with crime are to be taken long
distances from their homes to be tried by
strangers; it means a cruel punishment for
poor ignorant men, when the rich have
power to buy clemency; it means taxation
for the farmer and fruitgrower, when the
property Of the barons who belong to the
$50 combination can get the government TO
carry their taxes Indefinitely.
Is any one surprised that it is unpopular?
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07

tiers largely into hogs fat as an article Of
commerce, and greatly TO its bettermcnt.
Fifteen years ago, the great bulk Of the
cotton seed produced By southern farmers
was practically thrown away. Today, the
south realizes from the sale and conversion
of cotton seed into oil fully ten millions Of
dollars annually, and this large sum is in
creasing every year as new markets for the
oil are opened and developed.
The southern farmers not only get better
prices for their seed, but the cotton seed
meal, the refuse Of the mills is returned to
the soil for its enrichment and this use Of
it has lowered the price OF commercial fertil-
zers The use Of cotton seed meal as fer
tilIzer is increasing every year, until, finally,
every pound made will be used in the cotton
states, thus giving back to the soil all the
elements of fertilization in much better
shape than the raw seed.
The bills which have been introduced into
congress are wholly in the interest Of the
big western lard spectators, and it IS the
purpose of these spectators to legislate in
their own Interest and against The interests
Of southern farmers.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
Turn the Rasca!s OCT.

One of the best arguments used during
the campaign of 1884. and the one that
made more votes for the democratic party
than any other, was that contained in the
expressive phrase, "turn the rascals out"
and no branch of the governments service
contained more rascals than the revenue
service.
The whole system was denounced rs ma
tional outrage, and yet we find SO called
democrats now advocating it. 1t is odious
now, as it was then. We have shown that
the law is maintained to support huge mo-
nopoly, though it was inaugurated to raise
money to help defray the expenses of the
war.
No small distiller is permitted to compete
with the larger ones under this law. A dis
tillery TO be licensed by the government
must have large capacity. We have forty
thousand revenue officers employed by the
government, TO protect just NINE HUNDRED
AND slXTY-NINE registered distilleries-
is Just what the report of the commissioner
of internal revenue at Washington shows.
All the immense quantity OF liquor distilled
from grain in the United States comes from
go distilleries, which have power and influ-
ence enough TO hold all the other manufac-
tories Of this country completely at their
mercy. But this is not all. They feel the
same slipping from under their feet; they
have held ON to the tobacco tax until the
people of Virginia and North Carolina aiS
in open rebellion. They added oeomarga-
rine to the list last year, and put it under
the protective care Of the internal revenue
system, and now they want to add cotton
seed oil, and put it under the revenue sys-
tenn.
Nc man who understands how these mo
nopolies are working to combine and CON
solidate can be deceived by the false cry Of
revenue reform used by the agents and tools
of the whisky ring. The surplus is steadily
increasing in Washington--over one hun
bred million dollars Of the peoples money
piled up-and we find congress trying to
find some way to reduce the surplus without
interfering with the internal revenue laws.
simply because some congressman have
friends and relations IN these offices who
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
Not So Solid.

Congressman Gambler, of the ninth dis
trict, has come square out for the absolute
repeal Of the infamous internal revenue sya-
TEN, and in opposition to the miserable
national bank system of government under
which policy property of Georgia farmers to
the value of $50, 000,000 is now held in
mortgage. Some of our esteemed whisky
ring contemporaries insist that we are put
ting the figures too high when we say that
$50, 000, 600 of farming lands are now held
under mortgage. While it is true that that
amount is not directly in mortgage, still
that much is involved, for mortgages are
only made on third valuation.
Congressman Gambler represents not only
the sentiment of his district, but of the peo-
pie of the state, in taking this square stand
against the war taxes with which our peo-
pie are burdened, and against the financial
policy which is crushing out the farmers in
the interests of Wall street.
Let him lead for Georgia in the house
against these odious measures, for it is but
question of time before they will be wiped
out by an indignant people.
The Georgia delegation is not $50 solid'
as the whisky ring would have it.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07

The farmers of the south have not only to
fight against the present internal revenue,
but they will be compelled. in their own in
terest. TO protest against the extension of
that system. The proposed extension of
the system looks to the suppression of cot
ton seed oil in connection with its use as
an element in refining lard.
Bills with that purpose in view, and
framed in the interest of the lard specula-
tors of the west, have been introduced in
both houses Of congress. and the spectators
are said to have q lobbyist on hand at the
capital to further their interests with such
congressman as need to be seen" One Of
the pleas Of the spectators is that cotton
seed oil used in connection with refined lard
comes under the head of food adulteration;
but those who know anything about the mat
or a re aware Of the fact that refined cotton
seed oil is purifier and not an adulterant.
For time large quantities were imported to
Italy, where it was freely used as a substi-
tute for olive oil, but an excessive import
duty was levied by that government, and
this would have severely crippled the infant
industry IL il had not been for the develop
ment Of the use Of refined cotton seed oil
with what is commercially known as refined
lard.
We suppose that there is 10 intelligent
person in all this broad country who rests
under any mistake as to the nature Of the
so-calel refined hard Of commerce. When
the process OF crushing cotton seed was I'M
known, all tie hogs that came into Chicago,
dead from cold or other causeS, were
squeezed 20 supply The demand, and in some
retneries this process is still kept M, so
that consumers Who buy western lard never
/ know whether they are getting genuine
hog $ "a, or the refuse OF decaycd swine
But then came time when reGners with
some sympathy for the s,omachs OF their
customers began 10 experiment with cotton
seed oil as q refining element, and they have
/ SO far succeeded that the use Of the oil en-
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07

The newspapers just at present are devot-
ing considerable space to Mrs. Margaret
Arnold of New Holland, Ohio. Mrs. Ar
mold is one hundred and eleven years old.
and is about ready to shuttle off this mortal
coil
The approaching dissolu on of Mrs. Ar
mold would not attract much attention, if it
were not for the fact that she has for years
been an inveterate tobacco smoker. 1t is
believed by the friends of Mrs. Arnold that
her unfortunate habit is shortening her life,
and will be responsible for her death.
There is another view, however. Here is
woman one hundred and eleven years old,
who for century or so has been saturating
her system with nicotine. She has thrived
on this deadly poison. She has witnessed
the death of three generations of people who
carefully dieted themselves, and eschewed
all stimulants and narcotics.
Such exceptional cases are we'll calculated
to astound people, but it is well, after all, to
bear the fact in mind that they are excep-
tional Unfortunately it would be of little
use to say that Mrs. Arnold's life would
have been prolonged if she had not used to-
haccO, but it is in order to say that she
would be a healthier and happier old woman
today if she had let tobacco alone This is
going far enough, and possibly too far.
There is nothing truer than the old saying
that what is one mans meat is another
mans poison.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
Total agents prizes for January, Sia0
A WORD TO OUR AGENTS.

We have over two hundred
letters from our agents and
subscribers, in which the
writers have failed to give their
postoilice, or the state, or the
name paper is to be sent to,
All this causes delay. Our
agents who have not heard from
their letters should address us
at once, giving all the neces-
sary points. If any of our sub
scribers fail to receive their
paper they should also write to
us, giving the name of the
agent they subscribed to, post
Office and state. Prompt at
tention to these matters on the
part of our agents and sub,
scribers will enable us to de-
liver the paper promptly.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
whether he whips or is whipped, he remains

whether he whips or Is whipped, he remains
good citizen.
TO Mr.. Lacy's second question the Tele-
! graph answers NO" And yet suits Of
wooden clothes, fit either for Sunday or ey-
cry day wear, can be bought at the retail
/ stores in Atlanta at from $40 to $13. The
wholesale prices of these goods are 81 and
/ SO in New York. They are not slop-work.
/ either. They are well-made clothes, cut in
the latest styles. There has been a great
| reduction in the price of all the necessaries
| Of life. Does the Telegraph want the fig
/ ures? We have them at hand, and will be
! pleased 10 spread them out for its edidcation
! at any time. As with clothes, so with az
( ricultural implements. a horse-rake that
/ costs $50 in the free trade countries can be
bought here for S27 moving machine
/ costing 500 in E3rope can be bought here
Tor SEQ; so with reaping machines.
To 1ir, Lacy's third and fourth questions
/ the Telegraph makes no reply, contenting
itself with few remarks which have little
| or 40 application TO his fifth question,
ibe Telegraph replies that mo statistics are
~ hand to show TO what extent wages have
advanced since the tariff OF 1860 was i'm
posed" There may be no statistics at the
Tclegraph's hand, but THE CONSTITUTION
has some AZ hand which are very interesting.
From 1919 to 1884 the wages of each en-
pIoye in German iron works and machine
shops increased over fourteen per cent; the
total wages paid increased over iifty-fye per
cent; the total number Off persons employed
increased over thirty-two per cent, These
figures are from an official statement pre-
pared by the Iron and Steel association of
the German empire. Ii anything is neces-
sary, we have the report recently made by
Mr.. George Strachey, the British charge
affaires at Dresden. Mr.. Strachey is a
free trader, but he feels called on to give the
facts. lie says:
If il be asked what signs there are in
Germany of that incipient free trade reac-
ton which some of our politicians contrive
to discern on the continent OF Europe, es-
pecially in the particular countries most
welded to protection, there can be no hest
tation in replying there are none. The be-
lief is widely ditfused that the tariff reform
OF 1870 saved Germany from great ruin,
and that the empire is now on the road to
industrial greatness, perhaps TO the success
sion of that hegemony which Great Britain,
it is thought, now with difficulty holds in
her hands. Protection is in the national air,
and it will not be dissipated by foreign ar
guments, however accurately deduced from
the axioms of scientific doctrines"
In other words, this British free trader has
discussed the fact that the German people
believe that protection-which means sim
ply the development of home resources and
home markets-has greatly benefited their
country.
As to the American tariff, THE CONSTR
TUITION is in favor of revising and reforming
it, but always with an eye to the protection
of home industries.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
Attacking a Southern Industry.

We should think it would be good thing
if the farmers generally, and the farmers
alliance especially, proceeded to take some
action on the attack that is about to be
made on their interests in congress
Under the plea of care for public health,
few designing spectators in hogs fat,
have not only slandered southern product.
but have attacked a great and growing
southern industry They have framed and
caused to be introduced into congress a bin
which proposes to add new item to the in
ternal revenue list. They propose to tax
lard 'aduterated' with cotton seed OIL. In
point of fact, when the western lard of COM
merce is mixed with cotton seed oil, it is
the oil that is adulterated, while the lard is
purified.
The adoption of such bill as this is cal
calated not only to cripple great southern
industry, bat is intended to place stigma
on southern product that is declared by
medical men and chemists to be one of the
purest and most healthful articles of com
merce 1t is an attempt at class legislation
and direct taxation that every friend Of the
southern farmer should resent.
Tie country requires no such addition to
its revenue as this bill proposes, and if the
lard spectators and their friends are honest
and earnest in their solicitude for the public
health, all that is necessary is the proper
labelling of refined lard to show that it con-
tains refined cotton seed OIL
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
EDITORIAL POSTSCRIPT.

IT LOOKS LIKE the spring has arrived, gentle
Annie.
PRESIDENT BUcHANAN's old sweetheart is
said to be dying.
EDITOR HALsrEAD is supposed to have his
head buried in John Sherman's coat-tails
AN FNrERPRIsING CITIZEN out west offers
several thousand dollars reward for the cap
ture OF the devil.
DURING THE PRESENT winter, we are glad TO
say, the north pole hasn't whispered into the
warm ear of the south.
SENATOR INGALLS, SAYS that he will put
the District of Columbia prohibitionists TO a
test. lie says he is tired of seeing men talk
prohibition all day and drink champagne all
night
MAXWELL, PRELLER's MURDERER. appeal
cd to "The American love Of justice and fair
play" That is just what will hang him: it is
fortunate that his last appeal will he more
successful than his others TO tho court.
THE New York SuS publishes a number
of clippings from southern papers Of interest
ing incidents Of lie in the south. About half
are taken from aud credited TO TIE CONSTR.
TUITION. The sun knows just where to 20 to
get the news Of the south.
A WEALTHY PHILADELPHIAN asks through
the Japers, for suggestions as to the best mode
Of disposins Of $4,000. There will be no lack
Of advisers.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
An Important Amendment.

A considerable and very important change
in the house rules is now proposed. There
is rule which has been in operation during
the past two congresses which prevents the
consideration of amendments to a tariff bill
when the house is in committee of the whole
on the state of the union. This rule has
operated to prevent the consideration of
amendments calculated to repeal, modify or
reform the internal revenue, and in this
way the Infamous excise taxes have been set
apart as a sort of fetish for the agents of
the whisky ring to worship, while the gem
uine revenue reformers have no opportunity
either to repeal them or discuss the propre-
ty of their repeal.
We observe that the special Washington
correspondent of the Courier Journal an
nounces that the committee on rules has
practically agreed that this obstacle to re-
form shall be removed, so that, when the
proposed tariff bill is.up for discussion in
committee of the whole, amendments at
fecting the internal revenue system can be
offered and discussed.
Thus the entire revenue system, including
excise taxes aud customs duties, can be
brought up for revision and acted on. This
will be great impror Sment, for if the Oh
noXious rule is revisedSSpealzer Carlisle will
no longer have power to prevent the discus
sion Of proposition to repeal the internal
revenue system.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07

will not reach these shores. We have onv
hands full just now Of big problems and WI
cannot afford to bother ourselves about tbf5
dead and buried question of polygamy Per.
haps there would be very little trouble oven
the matter in this country. The averape
man in America is satisfied with one wife
and the average woman proposes to own
her husband and boss her home to reason
able extent. Still, it may be well to wafc,,
this new departure in Sweden and Norway.
The fact that the new revolution is political,
and not the outgrowth of an alleged religion,
like Mormonism, invests the subject with
additional interest, and possibly makes the
movement all the more dangerous
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
Interesting statistics.

\ colored man takes exception to the
common assertion that the negroes are i'm
moral.
J his writer deserves some credit for his
originality and bclduess. lie makes the
point that as Adam and Eve were no, ne
groes, the fall Of man cannot be laid upon
that race In his review OF modern times.
he triUmphantly declares that no negro has
ever yet stolen railroad, bank. or gov
eumen,al position. lie brings forward a
table al statistics to show that in various
countries the whites axe very immoral.
All this may bc admitted, and yet our col
ored friend will have very weak case. In
some countries the s;alisticians have figured
the white race down 70 4 very fine point
1t does not need to be said that in Africa
and among the blacks in this country relia-
BILE statistics have yet to be obtained. The
recent works Of Spencer St. John snd Mr..
Froude show that in the West Indies tile
blacks are ready TO relapse into their orig
nal barbarism. In this country the negroes
are so intermngled with the whites tina.
they have enjoyed exceptional advantages.
II viii be seen, therefore that the statistics
are mainly on one side, and those on the
other must necessarily be mere estimates.
But it is not necessary 10 argue that the
negroes are an immoral race. They are an
amiable people, and in the United States
they are certainly doing very well. They
make good citizens. and in tile course OF
time it is reasonable to suppose that they
will vastly improve their present condition.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07

In his speech against the Blair educa-
tional bill, Senator Vest said:
There were other things that affected crime
such as climate, religion conditions Of life, ma
tyity and density of populations.
"lfthey listened 10 the speeches in favor OF the
bill they Wouid have 10 believe that it was the
universal panaoea, the philosophers stone thnt
solved all difficulties. 1t did not do it. Education
made men, if not better, useful; but when any
men undertook to tell him that they had dis
covclei the great ultimate solution of the art Of
governing mankind in one single omnibus measure
like this, he hoped to be excused for expressing q
slight dissent
Senator Vest spoke on the right line, and
it would have been an easy matter for him
to have brought forward an imposing array
OF statistics. In the older states the ma
jority of the prisoners in the penitentiarles
are men who have had some education. In
the south there has been an increase of
crime among the negroes since they have
enjoyed the benefits of free system of edu-
cation.
If a man has a criminal bias education
simply renders him all the more dangerous.
Our schools 10 not bother themselves
about the morals of their pupils They
turn them out with conventional stock of
information, and leave them to follow their
bent
Perhaps we cannot change this state of
affairs, but the fact nevertheless looms up
that the educated citizen is not necessarily
a moral citizen. There will always be a
certain percentage of crime, and the cduca-
ton of the so-called dangerous classes will
simply make them all the more powerful.
1t is well TO think of these things as we 90
along