The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-12-10
Id reap in ignorance Of the aggregate
.nilNnfiNn of thu ,.an,. and 10 ,,nn., Il

nave stated is true as to the crops have
mentioned, the general average OF prices
has been such as to give to agriculture a
fiar participation in the general pros
perity.
If any are discontented Will, their
state here; IT any believe that wages
or prices, 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 Se hard would not be accepted as
highly prosperous. The English agricul-
turist would be glad to exchange the re-
turns of his labor for those OF the Amer
lean farmer, and the Manchester work.
men their wages for those at Fall River.
Protection National Blessing.
| believe that the protective system
which now for something like thirty
years has prevailed in our legislation has
been mighty instrument for the deycl-
opment of onr national wealth and n
powerful agency in protecting the homes
Of our workingmcn from the invasion of
want. have felt a most anxious inter-
est towards our working peoples wages
that not only give daily bread but supply
q comfortable margin for those
home attractions and family comforts
and enjoyments without which life
is neither hopeful nor sweet They
are American citizens, part of the great
people for whom our constitution and
government were framed and instituted,
and it cannot be u perversion of that con-
stitution to SO legislate as to preserve in
their homes the comfort, independence,
loyalty and sense Of interest in the gov
crnment which are essential to good citi-
zenship in pence and which will bring
them as 1851 to the defense of the flag
when 1t is assailed.
The New Fiscal Policy.
1t is not my purpose to renew the argu-
ment in favor of n protective tariff. The
result of the recent election must be ac-
ceptcdas having introduced u new fea-
sure. We must assume that the present
tariff, constructed upon the lines OF pro-
lection, is to be repealed and that there
is to be substituted Il tariff law con-
structed solely for reyenuc; that no duty
Is to be higher because the increase will
keep open American mills or keep up the
wages of American workmen, but in
every case such n rate OF duty is to be
imposed as will bring the treasury
OF the United States the largcstreturns OF
revendc. The contention has not been
between schedules but between principles
and 1t would be offensive to suggest that
the prevailing party will not carry into leg
islation the principles advocated by it and
the pledges given to the people,
Through With Tariff Tinkering.
The tariff bills passed by the house of
representatives at the last session were as
supposed, even in the opinion of their
promoters inadequate and justified only
by the fact that thl 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 congress. 1t is n matter of
regret that this work must be delayed for
Mt least three months, for the threat of
trr fOp al, ty,{,, h
uncertainty that an amount not easily
estimated of business inaction and of
diminished production will necessarily
result. 1t is possible also that the uncer-
tainty may result in decreased revenues
from customs duties, for our merchants
make cautious orders for foreign goods
IN view OF the prospect Of tariff reduction
and the uncertainty us to when it will
take effect. Those who have advocated u
protective tariff can well afford to have
their disastrous forecast of % change OF
policy disappointed. If system of GUS
toms 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 will give
MS an increased participation in the mar
kets of the world" of a greater value than
the home market that we surrender; that
will give increased work to foreign pro-
uuctn W oc consumed DY our people Wltn-
out diminishing the amonnt of work to be
done here; that will enable the American
manufacturer to pay to his workmen from
80 to 100 per cent more in wages than is
paid in the foreign mill and yet to COM
pete in our market and in for
cign markets with the foreign
producer; that will further reduce
the cost Of articles of wear and food with
out reducing the wages of those who pro-
duce them; that can be celebrated after
its effects have been realized, as its ex-
Pectation has been in Europe as we'll as in
American cities, the authors and pro-
motors of it will be entitled to the highest
praise. We have had in our history sew
cral experiences OF the contrnstel effects
OF revenue and ofa 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 nntiminished confidence in the
principles they have advocated will wait
the resultof the new experiment. The
strained and too often disturbed relations
existing between the employees and the
employers in our great manufacturing
establishments have not been favorable
to a calm consideration by the
wage earners of the effect upon
The facts that his wages were the highest
paid in like callings in the world and that
u maintenance of this rate of wages in the
absence Of protective duties upon the pro-
duct of his labor was impossible were OBJ
scured by the passion evoked by these
contests. He may now be able to review
the question in the light of his personal
experience unaer the operation of Il tariff
Tor revenue only. II that experience
shall demonstrate that the present rates
OF wages are thereby maintained or in
creased, either absolutely or in their pur.
chasing power, and that the aggregate
volume of work to be done III this country
is increased or even mnintained; that
there are more or as many days work in a
year at as good or bettcr wages for the
American workman as has been the case
under the protective system, every one
will rejoice. A general process of wage
reduction cannot be contemplated by any
patriotic citizen without gravcst apprc-
hension.
1t may be, indeed I believe is possible
for the American manufacturer
to compete successfully with his
foreign rival in many branches of produc-
tion without the defense of protective
duties, II the pay-rolls are equalized; but
the conflict that stands between the pro-
ducer and that result and the distress of
onr working people, when it is attained,
arc not pleasant to contemplate. The So
ciety of the unemployed. now holding its
frequent and threatening paradcs in the
streets of foreign cities. should not be al
lowed to acquire an American domicile.
The reports OF the heads of the several
executive departments, which are here
with submitted, have very naturallg in
3cluded a resume of the whole work Of the
administration, with the transactions OF
the last fiscal year.
The attention, not only of congress, but
of the country is again invited to the
methods OF administration which have
been pursued, and to the result which
have been attained. Public revenues
amounting TO s1.414,019, ,292 2s, have been
collected and disbursed without loss from
misrepresentation, without IL single de-
falcation of such Importance as to attract
the public attention, and ut diminished
per cent of cost for collection. The public
business has been transacted not only with
fidelity but progressively and with view
to giving to the people in the fullest poss-
ible degree the benefit of services estah.
lished and maintained for their protection
and comfort. Our relations with other
nations are now undis,urbed by any SER
ious controversy.
Commercial Agreements.
There have been negotiated and con.
cluded under section 3, of the tariff law
commercial agreements relating to reel.
procal trade with the following countries
Brazil, Dominican Republic, Spain for
Cnba and Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Saliva
dor, the German empire, Great Britain
for certain West Indian colonies and
J1...ks ks,l. 4 -. Nv -. - =,