Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-10-15

rov~er OF the East These figures VIII iuItneI
show the inequality in the distribution OF the
wealth of the county, and the teirloie W an
which has been made upon the rssouiee' VI '"e
agricultural States.
si.he capital and deposits In the manufacturing
states Of Maine, New Hampshire, NeImon. eias
sachusetts, Rhode Island, Conreeticul. "a" ~.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania aggrega.so 49,
7cs 900 and in all the other States ana ieitllo's
hui Il s,s s76 900. This gives TO the nine manu-
featuring states per capita Sigs. whereas ING Pr
capita ID the other States ana lerIitorles snounts
TO lint go. These nine States with not over one
fourth Of the population Of the country, possess
three-hths ofthe banking capital and oeposits us
true that larger portion OF the capital IN the agr
cultural States is invested in farms, etc. than IN
the manufacturing states, but IT IS equally true
that the real property in those States Is heavily
nortgaged TO the capitalists OF the East ana tnet
a large proportion OF the annual prohts OF the
farms In the West and South is required to pay
the annual interest upon this mortgage inoeD'eu
ness.
Times al Ss,472. 10000 by the St. Louis Republic
~ e s;I oooooo: by the Missouri Republican at
g s2I oooo 900. These estimates, made By reliable
public journals after thorough investigation, we
must hope are exaggerated but their accuracy
however, has not been disputed by the presenta-
ton OF auy evidence sufficient to overthrow Them
we will have to wait until the returns OF the pres
cut census either veriies or denies them.
| In speaking of the Western States especially.
4 the Missouri Republican closes an articles upon
this subject in the following strong aud vigorous
language;
''rhe Western States are, in fact, being bled TO
death. Western farmers are actually becoming
Il poorer and poorer every year AS a BODY they 90
not make living, and the convincing proof oil
this fact is that their farms are fast passing under
mortgage to the money-lendiug manufacturing
/ States of the East twenty-five years ago these
mortgages were few in number and small IN
! amonnt; now they number millions and cover an
aggregate value OF thousands OF millions, ana All
bear 8 10 per cent. interest.
The West does not own i,seli. II Is owned oy
the industrial states Twenty-six years OF the
maiign, sectional and oppressive policy OF high
tariff has zone the work and done II ersetnally;
The industrial States OF the East. enriched oeyonu
estimate By the annual tribute OF 500 900 COO eX-
scIed for quarter Of century from the other
States under the false preiense OF buuding up
home manufactures own all Western railroads,
| telegraph lines and bridges. and hold mortgages
| on nearly all farms their cities and towns
Mr. President, the great mass OF the people Of
| the country who receive none OF the dement's OF
protection, including those engaged in agricul.
ture, those performing professional anc personal
services, aud those employed IN trade ana trans
portatiou but who bear all oil Its burdens as con-
siimers have at last awakened from the lethargy
which for 20 wears has enab d This iniQuitous sys-
| tenn Of unnecessary taxation 10 be Continued NOT
! for the purpose Of meeting the expenditures OF
| the Federal Government, economically adninis-
tered but with view Of Increasing the inordinate
prohts ola few for political purposes.
| Though Democracy was defeated in the cam
i patgu OF 1888, ana a majority III the SitCNptd
college cast for the representatives OF Repuo-
! lican principles that great educational campaign
will in after years be regarded as an epoch Ill The
! political history OF this country.
For the first time in 20 years. the great under
lying principles involved in bill similar to the
one before us for consideration, were fully aud
| deliberately discussed before the people. Organ.
! ized labor promptly showed their appreciation OF
the efforts Of the Democratic party 70 relieve them
| from some Of the burdens imposed upon them by
q war tariff, by rallyiug TO its support. The agr-
culturist by reason OF that conservative spirit
which has always been one OF the characteristics
| OF the American farmer, failed then TO fully real
] ize the importance 10 him of this great reform
movement and mary were risled by the plausi-
| bic arguments advanced by the representatives Of
class legislation; but sir the leaven deposited in
the body polite has at last demonstrated its vital
] ity aud potency. From discrEauized mass has
! sprung in the South and West, disciplined and
organized army. whose union j. cemented by the
strongest ties Of sefinterest and whose object and
purpose is TO throw its power and influence ia IA
vor of those true principles OF governmental eN
actions which have given vitality 10 and preserved
the existence Of the Democratic party during
century OF our couutrys history.
The declaration of principles announced by the
Farmers Alliance and the Knights of Labor in
their national convention, and by the Grange or
eanization furnishes convincing proof that they
now fully understand the limitations on the power
conferred upon the Government through which II
may eXtort contributions in the form OF taxation
from the citizen.
HOME MAkkLI.
Mr.. President. the advocates Of excessive duties
on imported articles, fndit necessary. with view
to divert the attention fthe consumer from the
consideration of the unjust aud inequ,abe prin-
ciple on which such a hill must rest, TO invent
some phrase that will tickle the ear and even
appeal to the patriotic instincts OF the citizen.
They tell us that the onerous burdens and shame
full extortions upon the labor of the country must
be borne that the American home market
may be preserved for Americans.
We might partially answer such an argument
BY calling attention 10 the fact that IL is not the
| American manufacturer who in all cases, Is pro-
tec;ed under these laws. It is a part OF the cur
rent history OF the country that English capitalists
are investing in all of our manufacturing in
dus,ries immense sums ofmoney. knowing that
should this bill now under consideration become
| a law this country would furnish an opportunity
| for the largest profits upon the investment made
OF any country in the world. Prices offered for
manufacturing plants by these English capitalists
far in excess OF their actual or real vale relying,
as they evidently do upon the Republican major
\ iiy in Congress TO enact such law as will enable
| them to compel the American citizen 10 pay trib-
ute to British investors
| This appeal. in the interest Of greed, to the
highest and noble>t imrulses OF the American
people Is fully understood by them, and
when heard in the present campaign will fall
upon unsympathetic ears. Like the appeal for
! the protection of the American laborer, 1t has
been worn thrcadbare, and before an intelligent
audience will excite sentiments Of derision and
| contempt.
The question is not narrowed down to whether
] the American farmer would prefer TO purchase
| high priced "Ame lean tin eagle" or low-prced
/ British tin lion" II involves far graver consd-
erations, especially to the American farmer. 1t
involves the propositions whether he will approve
that policy which Will still further restrict ard
I limit his opportunities 10 dispose of his surplus
| products in the worlds markets OF distribution;
whether he will approve that system OF legisla-
! tou the tendency of which will inevitably be 10
stimulate the International commerce of the civil
/ izcd world with countries other than his own,
and the practical effect Of which would be to deny
him the opportunity of exchanging his surplus
produces for the products OF other nations, aud
compel hm 20 either reduce the sum OF produc-
ton or hepe>siy stand by and witness the decom-
position o. his annual surplus stored IN his barns
and cribs.
Mr.. President the iniquity o. the present meas
ure could not b. more fully illustrated than when
cunsiderie II III its relation 10 the agricultural IN
uustry. Win an inpertirence that would be
groiesQue. IL not for the serious results
which viii follow, small but organized band OF
now Highly protected citizeus demand that there
sha be paid increase OF taxation OF from Is to
* per cent beyond the present war rates BY the
iaruiess, who compose the largest element OF the
productive classes Of our country, while IN the
same breath the advocates and promoters OF this
class Of legislation tell HIM that he must conhne
the sale Of his products TO the American market,
although his annual production exceeds the de-
mands of that market by $50 Co., 90; in other
words sir, the American farmer is told that the
economic theory OF the Republican party which
they intend permanently to establish as part OF
the domestic fiscal policy OF this country, shall
give to the manufacturers the right TO compei the
American consumer TO purchase his commodities
at p ice to be fixed by himself. aud AT the same
time deny TO the American farmer even The Door
privilege Of selling his annual surplus of produc-
ton in the markets OF the worlds distribution IN
competition with the lowpriced labor Of Egypt,
India. auC Russia.
The Republican majority BY the passage Of this
measure boldly declare 10 their constituents That
the excessive and incrd:nate profits upon the IN
vestments in a single industry must be increased.