The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-12-07

imports of merchandise entered free OF
duty In 1892 was 55.35 per cent. of the
total value OF imports, as compared with
1895 per cent. in 1891, and 1896 per cent.
In 1890.
The Coastwise Trade.
Ia our coastwise trade a most encour-
aging development Is In progress. there
having been In the last four years an in
crease OF 10 per cent. In Internal COM
merce the statistics show that no such
period of prosperity has ever before ex.
listed. The freight carried in the coast
wise trade of the Great Lakes in 1899 az.
gregated 2s.295, $50 tons.
Another Indication of Prosperity.
Another Indication of the general pros
perity of the country is found In the fact
that the number of depositors in savings
banks increased from 693.s70 in 1860 to
4,25S, ,S93 in 1890, an increase of 5l3 per
cent. anu the amount of deposits from
49,277 5A in 1889 to 81 ,524, ,s44, ,5O6 in 1899.
Plenty of Work at Good Wages.
There never has been time in our his.
tory when work was SO abundant or when
wages were as high whether measured
by the currency on which they are paid Or
by their power to supply the necessaries
and comforts o. life
Ii any are discontented with their state
here; II any believe that the wages or
prices, the returns for honest toll are in.
adequate, they should not fail 10 remem-
Der that there is no other country i'm the
world where the conditions that seem to
them hard would not be accepted as
highly pro. porous.
Believes In Protection.
believe that the protective system.
which now for something like thirty
years has prevailed In our legislation, has
been q mighty instrument for the deyel.
opment of our national wealth. and a
most powerful agency in protecting the
homes OF our workingmen from the inva-
sion of want. have felt most solici.
tous interest," to preserve to our working
people rates O. wages that would not only
give daily bread, but supply a comfokt.
able margin for those home attractions
and family comforts and enjoyments
without which life IL neither hopeful nor
sweet.
1t Is not my purpose TO renew s---> she
argument In favor OF protectiv e If
The result OF the recent election - be
accepted as having introduceu .,-v
policy We must assume that the pre-
sent tariff. constructed upon the lines OF
protection, is 70 be repealed and that
there Is to be substituted for it a tariff
law constructed solely with reference to
revenue; that no duty Is to be higher be.
cause the increase will keep open an
American mill or keep up the wages OF an
American workman. but that in every
case such a rate of duty 10 to be
imposed as will briug TO the treasury
OF the United States the largest returns
OF revenue The contests not being be-
tween schedules but between principles.
II would be offensive to suggest that the
prevailing party will not carry into legis
lation the principles advocated by IL aud
the pledges given to the people. The
tariff bills passed by the house OF repre-
sentatives at the last session were as
supposed, even In the opinion OF their
promoters, inadequate. and justified only
by the fact that the sepate and house Of
representatives were not In accord and
that q general revision should not, ,here
fore, be undertaken.
Let the Democratic Congress Attend TO
Tarir Revisi0n.
i recommend that the whole subject of
tariff revision be left to the incoming
congress. 1t is.a matter OF regret that
this work must be delayed for at least
three months for the threat OF great tariff
changes introduces 30 much uncertainty
that an amount not easily estimated. Of
business in action and OF diminished pro-
duction will necessarily result.
Those who have advocated protective
tariff can well afford to have their dis
astrous forecasts OF change Of policy dis