The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-08-20


Democracy.
1t is impossible in short letter to
elaborate or enter into details upon a
subject of such magnitude, therefore
you will pardon me if should hastily
offer some hints of what believe to
be the cause of the general depression
of the great agricultural interests. /
believe it is due mainly to our tariff
laws, or, to make it palmer, to the
protective policy Of the government.
| The people, especially the farming
class, bore this burden patiently for
many years, because the oppression
did not come suddenly but gradually,
and So long as the farmer received
fair prices for his products this tax was
not felt so perceptibly. But as prices
declined their dilemma became more
and more serious in proportion to the
| increase of trusts and combinations
under the exercise of the law, and in
proportion as our exports have been
crippled by the protective system in
this same ratio has the price of farm
products been reduced and the BUSH
ness in general of our country suffered.
Another great evil that results from
class legislation is the effect it has
upon the finance of the country. Cap
ital always seeks investment where 1t
will bring the best reimbursement,
and we might say wisely SO; hence,
there is an undue portion of the capt.
tai of the country invested in pro-
! tected industries, leaving an INSULT
cient amount to move the crops. SO
| the general business is unavoidably
retarded, to say The least of it.
| This unfortunate state of affairs is
attributable to the exercise OF our
tariff laws, and is the legitimate Sc
quence of the protective system of
the government, to which policy the
Republican party have steadtastly
held with an memorable tenacity for
the last thirty years, claiming that
the government had prospered and
grown rich under the protective sys-
tenn.
This is true in certain sense, but
the misfortune attending these SEEM
ingly flattering results is that an I'M
due proportion of wealth is amassed
by the favored few who are engaged
in protected industries, while the
great masses of the people and the
general business of the country are
suffering for want of sutficiency of
circulating medium to transact bust
ness.
Therefore we cannot be surprised at
the farmer and other labor organiZa-
tions for demanding greater volume
of other circulating medium. That
this demand is right, and just, and
equitable there can be no question. LII
arises not so much from the actual
deficiency of money as from it's
partial distribution, as before
stated, too great proportion having
sought investment in the protected in
dustries. Thus it has fallen into the
hands of the few, and has Withdrawn
from the hands of the many-the OBJ
vious result of class legislation. Or
course, we need more money in gen
eral business, but to increase the cir
culating medium to even $50 per
capita would bring only temporary
relief. for while the curse remains the
, same results, the same effects Will
t follow. And it will only be matter
of time when the money will find its
: way to the Golfers of the protected
Il classes, which will only add strength
to money power and make the people
e more dependent Therefore, while
the tariff laws remain as they are and
Z, other class legislation exists, there is
/, no possibility of permanent relief.
Neither has there been any measure
proposed that would adjust the legiti-
, mate business of the country and
place it upon just and equitable foot
ing while these evils remain.
The "sub-treasury" scheme that is
proposed. and is now being advocated
throughout the length and breadth of
the land, is more visionary than real,
100 ttlf ntr.Ix ndd
another to the already long list OF
, class legislation. TO the proper adj
justment of the tariff laws and the re-
peal of all class legislation the Demo-
cratic party stands pledged, and upon
= it's attainment Of the control OF the
government depends relief to the peo-
pie, and especially the agricultural
classes. They have unquestionably
been the greatest sufferers, because
their products have been discrfmfl-
mated against both at home aud
abroad.
They have suffered at home from
the operations of trusts and combines
made possible and legal by the enact
ment and exercise of a protective tar
iff which has perverted the law of
supply and demand and . imposed
alike upon the producer and con-
!, sumner. From the same consideration
our products are sold at a disadvant-
age in foreign markets.
TO forever keep our farm products
walled up, as it were, within our own
limits and not let them enter the
. markets of the world upon equal foot
ing with other nations simply means
death to the farmer. This country,
of which we are justly proud, and
which is blessed with such great and
varied resources, is, nevertheless, a
great agricultural country, and our
farmers, as rule, are not only ener-
getic and progressive, but there pos
sibilities are great. Besides that
there are more people engaged in
agricultural pursuits than any other
. industry. Then, if this be true, their
interests should not only be recognized
in government affairs, but promoted
by all legitimate means. Let our