Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-12-08

TO supply The nectsSafles and comforts of hIt
II is true that the market prices OF cottoi
and wheat have been low. II ia one OF tn
unfavorable incidents Of agriculture that thu
farmer cannot produce upon orders. He mus
SOW and reap IN ignorance Of the aggregate pro
uuction OF the year, and IL peculiarly subject Il
the depreciation which follows over prod uetion
But while the facts have stated are true as L
the crops have mentioned, the general aver
age OF prices has been such as to give TO agri
culture o fair participation IN the general pros
perity Tho value OF our total farm prod Ict
has increased from 81, S03 oi6 s05 IN 1869 TO u,
10000 0)O IN 1891. as estimated By statlsticians
an increase OF $50 per cent The number o.
hogs January l. 1891, was 5),6s5 l0i ana iheil
value s2l0, 9t925. On January l, 1892 the mum
Der was 5 1905 0i9 and the value ss4i,9 1,4iA Oh
January l. 1891 the number Of cattle was sd
S7S 6i8 and the value tbli. .ie7,0)a on January
I, 1892 the number was si,o5l,23 and tho value
s57O 7i9, 156
II any are dlscontonted with their state
here; II any believe that the wages or
prices, the returns for honest toll, are insde
quate, they should not fail 70 remember
that there IS no other country IN the world
where the conditions that seem 10 them hard
would not be accepted as highly prosperous
The English agrieuturlst would be glad to ex
change he returns OF his labor for those OF the
American farmer and the Manchester work
Fall River,
believe that the protective system which
now for something like thirty years has pre-
vailed in our legislation has been mighty In
strument for the development OF our national
wealth and a most powerful agency ia protect
ing the homes Of our workingmen from the In
vasion OF want / have felt most soliciious
interest to preserve to our working people
rates Of wages that would not only give daily
bread, but supply comfortable margin for
those home attractions and family com
forts and enIoyments without which HE
is neither hopeful nor sweet They are Amer
lean citizens-a part OF the great people for
whom our constitution and government were
framed and instituted and It cannot be per
version Of that constitution to 50 legislate as
to preserve in their homes the comfort, inde-
pendencu, loyalty and sense OF interest IN the
government which are essential TO good citi-
zenship and which win bring them, as in 1851,
to the defense Of the nag when II is assalled
II is not my purpose to renew here the argu-
ment in favor Of protective tIrin Tao result
Of the recent election must be accepted as hay
ing introduced new policy We mus assume
that the present tariff constructed upon the
lines OF protection, is TO be repealed and that
there is 10 be substituted for it a tarin law
constructed solely with reference to revenue,
that no duty is to be higher because the in
crease Will keep open an American mill
or keep up the wages Of an American work
man. but that in every case such rate of duty
is TO be imposed as win bring the treasury
of the United States the largest returns OF
revenue. The contention has not been between
schedules, but between principles and il would
be offensive to suggest that the prevailing party
win not carry into legislation the principles ad.
vocated by It and the pledges given to The peo
pie. The tariff bills passed by tho house OF
representatives OF the last session were. sup
posed, even in the opinion Of their promoters,
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
Irecommend that the whole subject Of tarln
revision be left TO the incoming congress- II is
a matter OF regret that this work must be de-
layed for at least three months, for the threat
OF great tariff-chaIges Introduces so much ur-
certainty that an amount not easily estimatcd
business inaetion and OF diminished producuc
will necessarily result It Is possible also tia.
this uncertainty may result in decreased reye
nues from customs duties, for our merchants will
make cautious orders for foreign goods in view
Of the prospect Of tariff reductions and the un-
certainty as to when It will tak0 effect
Those who have advocated protective tarin
can well afford 10 hayo their disastrous fore
casts OF a change Of policy disappointed II
system of customs duties can DO framed that
will set the idle wheels and looms VI Europe in
motion and crowd our warehouses with foreign
made goods and at the same time keep our mills
busy. TINT will give US an increased participa-
ton In "the markets OF the world" OF q greater
value than the home market that we surrender.
that will give increased work 10 foreign work
men upon products to be consumed by our peo
pie without diminishing the amount OF work to
DO done here; that will enable the American
70 pay to his workmen from 80 to
20 per cent moro in wages than IS paid In the
oreign mill and yet TO compete in our mar
Iets and In foreign markets with the
oregn producer; that viii further reduce
he cost Of articles OF wear and food without
educing the wages Of those who produce ihem
hat can he celebrated after its effects have
been realized, aS Its expectation has been In
Europe as well as in American cities tho au-
hors and promoters OF It win be entitled 10 the
highest praise. We have had in our history
everal experiences Of the contTastei effects OF
revenue and OF a protective tarin but this
has not felt them and the expert
nce Of one genera tion is not highly instructive
o the newt The friends OF the protective sys
EN- with undimlnshed confidence in the prin.
iples they have advocated, VIII await the re-
ults Of the new experiment
The strained and too often disturbed rela lions |
xisting between the employees and employers |
D our great manufacturing establishments |
he wage earher Of The effect upon wages OF the |
rotective system
The fact that his wages were the highest |
aid in the like callings OF the world and that |
maintenance OF this rate OF wages IN the ab- |
enee Of protective duties upon the product OF |
is labor was impossible, were obscured by |
he passion evoked by these contests. He may |
ow be able TO review the question in the light |
his personal experience under the operation |
I a tariff for revenue only. II that experience |
hall demonstrate that present rates OF wages |
re thereby maintained or increased either alb /
oiutely or In their purchasing power and that /
be aggregate volume Of work TO bo done in this |
ountry is increased or even maintained; that |
here arc more or as many DAYS work in year
{ as good or better wages for The American |
orkman as has been the case under the pro
sctive system every one viii rejoice. A gen l
raj process OF wage reduction cannot be con
'mplated By any patriotic citizen without the
ravest apprehension. 1t may be. indeed, / |
elieye is, possible for the American
manufacturer to compete successfully with his
reign rival in many branches OF production
fthout the defense OF protective duties IL the
~ rolls are eQualized but the conflict that
lands between the producer and that result
i'd the distress Of the people, when II is at
lined are not pleasant 70 contemplate. The
Dciety Of the unemployed, now holding its fire.
lent and threatening parades in the streets OF
reign cities, should not be allowed TO acquire
d American donicile
Reports of Departments.
The reports OF the heads Of the several execu-
We departments, which are herewith sub
tilted, have very naturally included a resume
the whole work Of the administration with
ie transactions OF the last fiscal year The
.tnuffon not only in cuuurrss huf of tho oouu. !