Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-08

message of President HARRISON was sub
mitted to both branches of Congress to.
day. II is as follows:
TO The Senate and House of Representatives:
In submitting my annual message to Con
gress have great satisfaction in being able
to say that the general conditions affect
ing the commercial and industrial inter
ests of the United States are in the highest
degree favorable. A comparison of the ex-
isting conditions with those of the most
favored period i'll the history Of the coun-
try will | believe, show that 50 high de-
gree of prosperity and so general dilfu-
sion of the comforts Of life were never be
fore enjoyed by our people. The President
then quotes a number Of statistical reports
to bear out this statement.
After making use of great masses of
figures the Presidents conclusion as to the
effect of the tariff is as follows;
There never has been a time in our his
tory when work was soabundant, or when
wages were as high, whether measured by
the currency in which they are paid or by
their power to supply the neceSsaries and
comforts Of life. It is true that the mar
ket prices of cotton and wheat have been
low; it is one Of the untavorabe incidents
of agriculture that the farmer cannot pro-
duce upon orders. They must reap but
while the fact | have stated is true as to
the crops mentioned, the general average
of prices has been such as to give to agri.
culture an unfair participation in the gen
erul prosperity. II any one diSc0ntentcd
with their state here, if any believe that
wages or prices for the returns for honest
toll are inadeq quate, they should not fail to
remember that there is no other country
in the world where the conditions that
seem to them hard would not be accepted
as highly prosperous. The English aSri'
culturist would be glad To exchange the re-
turns of his labor for those of the Ameri.
can farmer, and the Manchester workmel
their wages for those Of their fellows at
Fall River. d.
STILL BELIEVES IN PROTECTION.
| believe that the protective system
which has now for something more than
30 years continuously prevailed in our iesis
lation, has been a mighty instrument fol
the development of our national wealth
and most powerful agency in protecting
the homes of our workingmen from the
invasion of want.
have felt most solicitous interest tC
preserve to our working people rates oi
wages that wouldn't only give daily brcao
but supply comfortable mansion fol
those home attractions and family com
forts and enioyments without which itft
is neither hopeful nor sweet. They are
people for whom our constitution ant
government were framed and institutes
and it cannot be pervcrstun ui that con
stitution to so legisate as to preserve il
their homes the comfort, independence
loyalty and sense Of interest in the govern
ment which are essential to good citizen
ship, in peace, and which will bring tli
staiwart throng. as in 1861, to the defenC
of the flag when it is assailed.
1t is not my purpose to renew here tn
argument in favor of u protective tariff
The result of the recent election must b
accepted as having introdtceda new policy
We must assume that the present tariff
constructed upon the lines of protection
is to be repealed, and that there is To b
substituted for il a tariff law construrtt
solely with reference to revenue. That ~
duty is to be higher because the inCrelS
will keep open an American mill or kce
up the wages Of an American workman
but that i'll every case such u rate of dut
is to be imposed ms will bring to the tres
turns of revenue. The contest has no
been between schedules, but between pril
cipes, and it would be offensive 10 suggos
that the prevailing party will not carr
into legislation the principles advocate
by it and the pledges given to the people.
The tariff bill passed by the House I
Representatives at the last session were I
iS"Ff'oSNt 49,, - '''S ~
promoters inaueqliate anu 1nSIiiled ON
by the lact iliat tle Senale anu House
hepresehtatlSeS were h"t ~ hccuFulac
ana thtt genera revision c1ula ilvt, thef
lore, De uhueftakeh'
FOR THE NENr coNGREss.
recommend that the c.wholc subject
tariff revision be left to the inGpmii
Congress 1t is q matter of regret that til
work must be DELAYED for ut least thrt
mouths. for the threat of great tart
charges introduced so much uncertaiut
That an amount, not easily estimated
business in action and Of diminished pr
duction will necessarily result. 1t is 10
sible also that this uncertainty may resu
in decreased revenues from custom dutie
for some merchants VIII MAKE cautlo,,
orders Tor lofel5h Spnis III NlcW OF u
prospect OF tariff reductions ana the Il
certainty Us TO when they VIII take e'lcC
Those who have advocated a pfoteG'l'
tariff can well alora To nave tlelr a'sa
trous forecasts OF change oil Policy alsa
pointed.
Ii a system Of customs duties can
framed that will set the idle Wheels al