Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-12-10
year. and is peculiarly subject to the depre-
citation which follows overproduction.
VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS.

The value of our total farm products has
increased from 81, 1853, CAS- S65 in 1860 to s.,
500. 100000 in 1891, as estimated by Stats
ticians, an increase OF 230 DER cent. The
number of hogs January /, 1891, was 80, 625,-
Jog and their value 1910, 1913, yo:j: on January
], 1892, the number was 81, 39S Ole AMI the
value S24l, 03l. AIS. On January |. 1891 the
number OF catte was 36,S75,6iS AMI the
value S544, 1877, DOS: on January l, 1892 the
number was 1861, 239 and the value $780,
749 155.
Ii any are discontentei with this state
/ here; If any believe that wages or prices
the returns for honest toll, are INADEQUATE,
they should not fail to rem ember that there
is no other country in thu world where thu
conditions that seem 10 them hard would
not be accepted as highly prosperous. The
| English agriculturist would be gla to ex-
change the returns of his labor for those of
the American farmer, AMI thu Man
chester workmen their wages for those of
their fellows at Fall River.
WORD FOR PROTECTION.
believe that the protective system, which
has now for something more til IN thirty
/ years continuously prevailed in our legisIa-
ton, has been a mighty instrument for the
! development OF our national wealth aul
most powerful agency in protecting the
homes of our worSingnisn from the inva-
! sion o. want have felt most solicitous
! interest to preserve TO oua working people
rates of wages that would not only give
daily bread but supply a comfortable mar
gin for those home attractions and family
comforts AMI enjoyments without which
life is neither hope,Ih nor sweet.
They are American citiz9ns-a part of the
| great people for whom our Constitution aud
Government were framed and instituted
and it cannot be perversion of that Con-
stitution to SO legislate as to preserve in
their homes the comfort, independence,
loyalty aud sense of interest in the Govern
ment which are essential to good citizenship
in peace and which will bring this stalwart
throny, as in 1861, to the defense OF the flag
when It'll assailed.
1t is not my purpose to renew here the
argument in favor of protective tariff.
The result Of the recent election must bs &C.
cepted as having introduced a new policy.
We must assume that the present tariff,
constructed upon the lines of protection, is
to be repealed, and that there is to be sub
stituted for it tariff law constructed solely
with reference to revenue; that no duty is
to be higher because the increase will keep
open an American mill or keep up the wages
OF an American workman but that in every
case sucl rate of duty i; to be imposed as
will bring to the Treasury of the United
States the largest returns of revenue.
The contention has not been between
schedules, but between principles and it
would be offensive to suggest that the pre-
valing party will not carry into legislation
the principles advocated by it anil the
pledges given to the people. The tariff bills
passed by the House of Representatives at
the last session Were as | suppose-sven in
the opinion OF their Observation-Disclosures
and justified only by the fact that the Senate
and House of Representatives were not in
accord and that a general revision could
not therefore, be undertaken.
has h. Al -
tariff revision be left to the incoming Con-
gress. 1t is matter of regret that this work
must be delayed for at least three month";;
I for the threat of great tariff changes intro
duces so much uncertainty that an amount
not easily estimated, Of business iuaction
and Of diminished reduction will necessarily
result. 1t is possible also that this uncer-
tainty may result in decreased revenues
from customs duties, for our merchants will
make cautious orders for foreign goods in
view OF the prospect of tariff reductions ana
the uncertainty as to when they will take
effect.
Those who have a lvocated a protective
tBriR can well eff )r1 to have their disas-
trous forecasts of change of policy disap-
pointe !. II syste of customs duties can
be framed that will set the idle wheels and
looms of Europe in motion and crowd our
warehouses with foreign-made goods and
at the same time keep our own mills busy;
that VIII giv5 US an Increased participation
in the markets. of tue world of greater
value than the home m1raet We surren Ter,
that will give increased work to foreign
worxmen upon products to be consumed by
our people without diminishing the amount
of work to be done here; that will
enable the American manufacturer
to pay to his workmen from
fifty to hundred per cent more in wages
than is paid ia ths foreign mill and yet to
in of md .lyafc
with the foreign pro iucer; that will further
reduce the cost Of articles of wear and food
without reducing the wages of those who
produce them that can be celebrated after
its effects have been realized, as its expecta.
tions have ;been, in. Europ IAN as we'll as in
American cities, the authors and promoters
of it will be entitled to the highest praise
We have mad in our history several ex-
perlencss Of the contraste1 effects OF
revenue and that OF protective tariff but
this generation has not felt them, and the
experience Of one generation is not highly
instructive to the next. The friends Of the
protective system, with undimiuishei con-
Fl ence in the principles they have a1-
vocatsd, will await the results o. the new
experiment.
LABOR AND TIE TARIFF.
The stra ne an too ten 1istu - | rela.
tons existing between ths employees an
the employers in our great manufacturing
eSta 1lsh'nents have not be3n favora BILE to a
calm consideration by tho re Garner of
the effect upon wa res OF tia protective sys-
tenn. The facts TINT his wages were the
highest pail in Ike callu1s ia thu world
AMI that a maiuten inca OF this rate o.
wages, IN the absence of protective duties
uoon thu product OF his labor, was
impossible, were obscured by the
passion evoked by these contests. He
may now be able to review the gu ,stion in
nf naf
. the operation of tariff for revenue only. II
that experience shall demonstrate that pres
ent rates of wages are thereby m lintaine
or increased, either Also utely or in their
purchasing power. and that the ag gregate
volume of WORK to be done in this country
is to be increased, Or even maintained, 50
that there are more or as many days work
in year at as good or bsttar wages for the
American workmen as has been the case
under the protective system, every ons will
rejoice.
a general process Of wage re luction can
not be contemplated by any patriotic citizel
without the gravest apprehension. II may
be, indeed l believe it is, possible for the
Am rican manu- acturer to compete success
III ly with his foreign rival in many
branches OF production without the defense
of protective duties il the pay rolls are
equalizsd; but the conflict that stands be-
tween the producer and that result and the
distress of our working people when it is at
tainel are MT pleasant to contemplate.
The Society Of the Unemployed, now hold
ing its frequent an threatening parades in
the streets of foreign cities, should not be
allowet TO acquire an American domcile.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relat ons with foreign nations are now
untlsturbsd by auy serious controversy.
Tue complicated and threatening differences
with Germany and England relating to
samoan affairs, with England in relation to
the seal fisheries in the Bering Sea, aud with
Guile growing out of the Baltimore affair,
have been adjusted.
There have been negotiated aud concluded
under section OF the tariff law, CONNER
'cial agreements relating to reel procal trade
with the following countries: Brazil, d.
minican Republic. Spain for Cuba and
Puerto Rico, Guatemala Salvador, ths
German Empire Great Britain for certain
West Indian Colonies AMI British Guiana,
Nicaragua, Honduras and Austria Hungary.
The alarmed attention of our European
competitors for the South American mar
ket has been attracted to this new American
policy and to our acquisition and their loss
of South American trade.
THE BERING SEA TREATY.
A treaty providing for the arbitration of
the dispute between Great Britain and the
United States, as to the killing of seals in the
Boring Sea was concluded on the 29th oe
February last. This treaty was accompanied
by an agreement prohibiting pelagic sealing
pending the arbitration, and vigorou,
effort was made during this season to drive
out AL ooaching seaers from the Boring
Sea. Six naval vessels, three revenue cutters,
ana cu9 vessel from the Fish Commission,
II Tho Is