The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-04-11
sI.oo AYEAR, IN ADVANCE.
Friday. April Ill, 1890
What This Nation Can Do.

est inquiry among all classes OF Intelligent
peol lie of this country, and SO much dissatis'
faction among the industrial producing
classes. That inquiry is directed to ascer-
tain the cause of depression and disconteat,
which the masses manifest most decided
disposition to correct if they can learn
definitely the cause. Statistics show great,
gains in wealth, and they also show that the
increasing wealth OF the country falls into
the hands of few as never before il has
done, while the Producing millions enjov
comparatively little of the vast riches their
industry produces.
The politicians of the republican side de-
clared that the depression in business and
discoEtenl of the working men would cease
if Harrison was elected, but that event
wrought no charge whatever. Things con-
tinued to move steadily in the course they
had been tending. Confidence was neither
increased or diminished by the result. The
prospective change Of the tariff to still
highgr notch does not improve conditions.
Sixty.Gve woollen manufacturers and deal
ers have failed in the city of Philadelphia
alone since 1888. The iron industries had
squirt but are dropping back again and
shutting down. The farming interest is
clogged, choked for the want Of money to
stimulate that industry, while idle people
cannot get work TO earn money to buy
bread that is in sight and over abundant.
A "protective policy which has had an
unbroken trial for nearly thirty years, is
confronted by this distress which its san
guine advocates felt sure it would avert,
while they are splitting and dividing in
their views at the capital. This 'policy"
is beautiful and captivating theory TO
speculate upon. 1t contemplate building
up system of internal commerce and in
dustry independent of every other country,
which aims to be self sustaining, supplying
both raw material and manu- featured goods
1t proposes TO shut out all raw material as
well as manufactured good, production hold
ing an even balance with consumption while
skill, improved machinery and industry
linked with consumption should bring down
prices, while wages were to steadily rise.
And in addition to al. this the government
is TO raise the chief part Of its revenues by
duties on imported goods which it is the
spirit and purpose of the "policy' to shnt
out. These contradictions could not work
and have not worked, and we find ourselves
foundering in hos which some in despera
tion are attempting to get through and reach
firm ground by the same method which has
led into this inextricable labry with.
The farmers have gone on in con6ding
faith and produced more raw material of
the food class than they can find market for
in their own country and have TO look
across the ocean for buyers. The manufac-
turers produce more fabrics than tie popu-
lation can use and are obliged to stop, and
idle hands swarm the cities without money
or means 10 buy what they need to make
life comfortable. The strong men who have
business in their hands squeeze out weak
ones who dare to start enterprises in the
same line, and whatever profit is made goes
into pockets that are already bursting. Our
industrial system does not flow on and on
like mountain stream with meyer ceas-
ing. cheerful murmur; but rather like a
machine that having been wound up, goes
off with a hum and running down at last
comes to stand still.
There is rational protective policy to
home industry but it is not that which has
been pursued. That has been a most dis.
NAL failure which the dullest minds easily
perceive Notwithstanding the folly of des-
peration with which Mckinley anda few who
are hopelessly committed TO it they believe
are trying to force against fate. We are
clearly at the end of that system or theory
of false protection, but there is another and
truer system which the American peopl;
are approaching. And that system will b,
TO place all raw material in the manufac
turers' hands at the very lowest price
which comprises wool, cotton, hemp and al
textiles in their raw condition with tn
dyestufs used in their completion; and al
metals in the ore, pig, bloom and ingot, 70
in this condition these materials are of T.
more use to mankind than sticSs and stones
The timber and lumber in the rough shoul
be gathered from every cline, which ar
needed by our manufacturers Of wood, an,
supplied them at the very lowest cost pos
sbie. Then our American manufacture
and mechanic will be able TO compete witt
any other people in the world; then will
merchant marine spring into existenc
flying the stars and stripes, Transporting
manufactured goods to foreign lands AM
bringing back raw material that is neede,
to mix with our own product to make NOR
goods, employing more labor to CONSUME
more farm produce, thus completing tn
grand round of the worlds industry.
Oar present and past protective policy
is fiat failure as all must see. Let us try
the new, based on common sense and bus
mess principles The public mind is driv-
ing on to this system.
England holds in her hand virtually thu
worlds commerce, We must, if we wrest i
from her, go down 10 her plane. She il
crying out free trade' TO the Americans
but that is cry to deceive. That is wha
England most fears. If ever the United