West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-09-11

i
those Of the protected eiassesl
These questions have been frankly answered by
the committee ON ways and means OF tie House
in the negative. II must therefore be assumed as
an admitted fact, In the discussion OF this meas
Il efe tnst ths agticniturtsis composing threehOhs
| wealth and development with those engaged in
our other great industries, but are in fact, losing
assumed control Of this Government in 1861
Including the value Of farms, s,ock. implements
aud machinery, there u invested ina agriculture
the enormous sum of Sta tos.oSS.tto. The msgui-
tude OF the investment, aud the number Of people
those who are eomm,ssioned 10 frame iesisstion
that may effect its prosperity the most careful
analysis OF the provisions Of this bin viii disclose
no effort made by its trainers TO remove the de-
trsry. familiarity with is declared policy mus,
convince the most biased and pfejndioed. that in
arranging its details there has been apparently,
deliberate purpose aud intention 10 increase the
excessive burdens under which IL iaborS. This
ism ON the part OF those who responsible
for Il.
Mr.. President, those engaged in the occupation
the citizens Of the Republic. At work before the
rays OF the morning sun giids the Rastern horizon
When the twilight OF EVENING SieSS. into S'r the
darkness Of night. Though the largest IN num-
political power, if once organized, they have had
no paid lobby to urge the consideration Of their
interests, OF to threaten political destruction to
mands.
Congress has shamefuiiy aud cruelty, In the
legislation which II has for nuated betrayed their
interests, assisted In prostratng their industry,
aud heapcd burden after burden upon them at
the demand aud under the dictation OF a naughty.
arrogant aud preteutious class, until at last pa.
nsnss has ceased to be a yirsSs and You witness
sive movement of this great agricultural class.
whose potent influence will hereafter be Tel, in
shaping the course of Federal LEGISLATION.
III IL was once the proud boast Of the farmer, that
he who plows his land and tends cattle, spins
Int hat.
voice OF the people was reelected in the laws that
were enacted. before the influence OF Wall street
fashioned and directed the fusnciai policy OF the
Government; before the party which now controls
the destnies OF this country yielded to the
influences which first sought 20 quiet opposition,
troll.
For 20 years the protected producers have dom.
mated the legislation of Congress on all great
eeonomis questions Its aggressiveness has over
books most unjust and inequitsbie laws
stimulated At last into viRor and energy by the
great army Of workers" has sroused itself TO
action. II has formulated . platform, the hflh
plank OF which declares;
believing In the doctrine OF equal rights TO all
and special fayors to none, we demand that tax
alton, national or State, shall not be, to build up
one interest or class at the expense of another.
We believe that the money of the country should
be kept as much as possible In the hands OF the
national, state OF county, shall be limited TO the
necessary expenses, Of the Government, eeonomi-
.
The demand ofthe people. as expressed in that
platform, and as heard through nominating con.
venions has at last sttra cted the attention the
country. and we find already its influence mani-
Testing itself In the Federal halls OF legislation
As rs power Is more fully developed its Influence
!. | will become more potent, and am satisfied that
before long its voice will be heard Its couusels
needed. aud its reasonable demands granted.
MIR. President, the object OF this measure when
considered in its effect upon the American farmer.
Is most ubiquitous. His appeals are heard with
r contempt and his interests treated with a
cool brutality that IS the offspring OF unnatural
greed and unexampled selhshneSs. which finds n
parallel in no other period OF the history Of tariff
The language Of the tariff commission in It's re.
port TO Congress aptly expresses what will be the
popular Judgment OF the measure now peudinR
before this body when its provisions fully un.
derstood and their effect fully comprehended II
.. Excessive duties generally, or exceptionally
high duties ~ particular cases. diseredit our
4 whole national economic system. and furnish
plausible arguments for its complete subversion."
y II is the means through which on seek TO de-
stroy the International commerce Of the country;
To build high the wall Of exclusion and non inter.
4 course; TO close the foreign markets TO our ex-
ports, Is q per cent ofwheh consists of agrcu'-
tural products 10 force still lower the price OF the
products Of the farm by compelling the producer
90 sell in the home market, already glutted with
$500 which heretofore has been received in
exchange for his PRODUCTS for is II not true that
least ten million additional population 10 ednsrme
tho yield from our farmsl
The Republican party longer aspires 20 he
national in its policies or In its aspirations II Is
content like its prototype the Tory parfy OF Eng
land, to rest its hopes for future power upon the
I approval Of n small element OF the citizens that
compose the population Of this great aud "a pdy.
expanding country. IL Is warmed into life aud
I yigor by the flames OF seciionasm, and will pass
from tho arena Of national politics when the patri
otto impulses Of the people OF the common coun.
try. forgetting the bitterness Of the past shall
allie that their future safety depends upon the
enactment Of laws that will be just in their oper.
' alton aud equitable IN the burdens imposed.
Mr.. President the contributions of the farmers
) TO the Treasury Of the Governments or 10 the cot
I fcrs OF the manufacturers, cannot be less, even
under the existing law, that $50 900 annually
This drain upon their resources is gradually but
will compel them TO take advantage OF the bank.
rupt law (Which Republican friends are urging
SHAH be passed. TO relieve the distress which Their
. wise legislation IS producing.
, Mr. President, the year 1870 will not soon be
forgotten By the agricultural classes. The reek.
, lessncss OF the public servants Of the people ia
their efforts to pass tho measure we are now con
sidering. united with the impeneirable dispensa-
, ton OF Providence. which Is now hearing 20
heavily upon hem in almost every section ~ tie
country, viii sorsiy test their foriftude and shske
! | their confidence IN their ability TO meet the i'm
pending losses which threaten them.
Prices have fallen the seasons have been wv
propiious; indebtedness has accumulated Moth
ing, sir, but that spirit inherent la the Amefio N,
character has enabled him TO o5if an uaturai
obstacles and 10 resist the Influence or am 0n,,ise
policy which for thirty years has made l,nl the
burden bearer Of class Of infant indusfisa. -
The petied and pampered favorites Of Federal lcg.
isiaton.
Mr. President a knowledge Of the facts 10 which
have referred viii TO some extent ~ least re-
. pare the mind Tor the startling revelations dis
closed by the official statistics Of the Government
| showing the gradual yet unchecked decline ot tie
agricultural industry from the hour that fhe Re-
publican party was placed ia power ard n Repul,.
iicaD Congress framed a revenue measure the
. essential element Of which was an unjust aud ip.
equitable discrimination ia favor Of the nanufac.
tured products Of tie country.
From that period we can trace the rapid decH e
IN the relative wealth q the sgricuiiuralist
D. was bone aud siuew, honest toll and dadv
| sacrifice, compe ing in the for supremacy
with the power Of aggregated capital stimulated
into unnatural activity aud unhealthy oeveiop-
memt by the artificial encouragement Of Federal
legislation 90 the Interests Of class In such an
unequal contest The result could easily be pre-
dicted. Fortunately. do not have 10 rely npon
prophecy. The recorded facts Of history leave
uCihinG 70 speculation. Statistics show that the
value Of the wealth Of the country in 1880
wac S7,ooo.ooo,oco. and Of this amounts the
Investments 10 the agricultural industry amount
ed 10 ooocOc, 600. ia period ten years under
purely revenue tafif. between iSso and 200 the
value Of The wealth Of the country had increased
/ g. $1,000 oooooo, Of which sum the farmer still
owned one half o. s coz, 10000. Prom fsCo 10
I 1870. period of twenty years Of high protection
the value ri The wealth Of the country bad iu
creased 10 gf5,coot % COO. Of which amont fhe
itfmer owned but ffz.fof o6s go. or little les
than one Fourth n the wealth n the country
These hgurcs. Mr.. President. furnish food for
reelection They clearly indicate that the great
emit tftfI.s a..f.al so.