The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-12-21


their power to supply the necessaries and
comforts of life. 1t is true that the market
prices of cotton and wheat have been low.
It is one of the unfavorable incidents OF az
r;cuture that the farmer cannot produce
upon orders. He must SOW and reap in 1g'
norance Of the aggregate production OF the
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, 64i, S65 in 1860 to ST.
500, ZOO, 900 in 1891, as estimated by statis-
ticians, an increase Of 2S0 Dor cent. The
number of hogs Janusry |. 1891, was 50, 625,
LOG and their value s2lO, 193, y23; on January
/, 1892, the number was So 30S, ,0l9 and the
value $24l, ,03l, AIS. On January |, 189lthe
value s544, 127, ,90S; on January 1, 1892. the
number was $685., ,239 and the value S51O,
749, 155.
II any are discontented with this state
here; if any believe that wages or pricas,
the returns for honest toll, are inadequate,
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 agriculturist would be gla1 to e1.
change the returns Of his labor for thoss OF
|
chester workmen their wages for those or
their fellows at Fall River.
A WORD FOR PROTECTION.
Ibelieve that the protective system, which
has now for something more than thlrtyD
years continuously prevailed in our iegisa-a a
| tion, has been mighty instrument FOR the
development OF our national wealth and q
most powerful agency in protecting. the
hoyaes of our workingmsn from the inva-
sion OF want. have felt most solicitor
interest to preserve to our working people
rates of wages that would not only give
daily bread but supply comfortable mar
gin for those home attractions and family
| comforts and epjoyments without which
| life is neither hopsful nor sweet.
They are American citizsns-a part OF the
great people for whom our Constitution and
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 and sense Of interest in the Govern
ment which are essential to good citizenship
in peace, and which will bring this stalwart
throng, as in 1851, to the defense OF the flag
when tits assailed.
It is not my purpose sto renew here the
argument In favor Of protective tariff.
| The result Of the recent election must be &C.
cepted as having introduced 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 a 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 such rate of duty Is 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-
the principles advocated by 1t AMI the
pledges given to the people. The tariff bills
passed by the House Of Representatives at
the last session were, as l suppose--even in
the opinion OF their promotors-inadequate
and justified only by the fact that the Senate
and House Of Representatives were not In
accord and that general revision could
not therefore, be undertaken.
recommend that the whole subject OF
tariff revision be left to the incoming Con-
gress It Is matter of regret that this wors
must be delayed for at least taree month
for the threat Of great tariff changes intr~-
duces so much uncertainty that an amount,
not easily estimated, Of business inactlo
and of diminished reduction will necessarily
result. It 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 advocated protective
turiff can well aff)rd to have their disas-
trous forecasts Of change Of policy disap-
~ n
be framed that will set the idle wheels and
looms Of Europe in motion and crowd Our
warehouses with forsign-made goods, and
at rhe same time keep our own mills busy;
that will givs US an increased participation
in the markets OF the world" OF greater
value than the home mar6et We surrender;
that will give increased WORK to foreign
workmen upon pro oiucts to bs consumed oy
our people without diminishing the amounG
enable the American manufacturer
to pay to his worknen from
Fifty to q hundred per cent. more In wages
than Is paid in the forsign mill an1 yet to
compete In our market and foreign markets
with ths foreign pro 1ucer; that will further
reduce the cost Of ARTICLES Of wear and food
without reducing the wages OF those VINO
produce them; that can be celebrated, after
It's effects have been realized, as its expecta-
tions have;been, in. European as well as IN
American cities, the authors and promoters
of it will be entitled to the highest praise
We have had In our history several ex-
perlencas Of the contraste1 etfects 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 uudiminishet con-
fiience In the principles they have ad-
vocated, will await the results OF the new
experiment.
LABOR AND THE TARFF.
The strained and too often disturbed rsia-
tions existing between the employees and
the employers in our great manufacturing
establishments have not bean favorable to
calm consideration by the wage Garner Of
the effect upon wages OF the protective sys-
tenn. The facts that his wages were the
highest paid in like callings in the world
and that maintenance Of this rate o.
wages, in the absence Of protective duties
upon the product OF his labor. was
passion evoked by these contests. He
may now be able to review the question in
| the light of his personal experience under
| the operation OF a tariff for revenue only. Ii
| that experience shall demonstrate that pres
ent rates of wages are thereby maintained
or increased, either absolutely or in their
purchasing power. and that the aggregate
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 a year at as good or batter wages for the
American workmen as has been the case
under the protective system, every one will
rejoice.
! A general process OF wage re luction can
not be contemplated by any patriotic citiEsn
without the gravest apprehension. It may
| ha ;.aead I halioua Il 10 nossihla for the