Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-12-16


to S4l. .O49, 800, SIS. For the same months IN
1892 they amounted to $45, iS9, SOL ,9l, an ex-
cess for the nine months OF a, l4O,2ll, lS9:
There has never been a time IN our MS
tory when work was so abundant or Vhen
wages W. re as high, whether measured oy
the currency in which Trey are paid on oy
their power to supply the necesSarleS anu
comforts of life. It is true that the market
prices of cotton and wheat have been low
1t is one Of the unfavorable incidents OF az
rcuiture that the farmer cannot proluce
uOon orders. He must SOW and reap IN K
norance of the aggre gate production OF Ihe
year, and is peculiarly subject % tae ueprS-
citation which follows overproductlOn'
VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS.
The value Of our total farm products has
increased from 81. 1868, 1866 IN lS0O TO -, =
500. .OOO. 900 in 1891, as estimated by stats
ticians, an increase OF 23O per cent. me
number of ho.s January |. 1891, was %, go, =
los and their value 500, 1913 Us; on January
!. 1892. the number was y. S9S,Ol9 ami the
value s94l, ,osi, AIS. On January I, 1891 the
number OF cattle was 36.5T5,6iS AMI tue
value s544, l27. pos; on January J, loSS: s.1o sne
number was 1851. .239 aud the value f0|O,-
749155.
II any are disconteutel with this state
here. II anv believe that wages or prices,
tbe returns for honest toll. are ina1e4uate
they should not fail to rem ambsr that there
Is no other country in ths world where the
conditions that seem 10 them hard would
not he accepted as highly prosperous Inc
ENGLISH aZriculturist would be glat TO ex-
change the returns Of his labor for those OF
the American farmer, AMI the Man.
chester workmen their wages for those OF
their fellows at Fall River
WORD FOR PROTECTION
believe that the protective system, which
has now for something more th m thirty
years continuously prevailed in our leglsla-
fion. has been a mighty instrument for the
DEVELOPMENT OF our national wealth an a
most powerful agency in protecting the
homes of our workingmsn from the lnva-
sion Of want have felt most soncltous
interest to preserve to our working peoDle
rates of wages that would not only give
daily bread but supply comfortable mar
Gin for those home attractions and family
comforts AMI enjoyments without whicn
life is neither hopetul nor sweet.
They are American citizsns-a part oil the
great people for whom our Constitution aud
Government were framed and instituted
and it cannot be a psrverslon OF that Con
stitution to so leyislate as to preserve III
their homes the comfort, indepe1dence,
LOYALTY and sense Of interest in the Govern
rnent which are essential to good cltlze enship
in peace. and which will bring this stzlwart
tbron y. as in 1851 to the defense OF the has
when tits asSalled.
m ia not nv purpose to renew here the
argument in favor of protective tariff.
The result of the recent election must bs ac'
cepted as having INTRODUCED new pohcy.
We must assume that the present tarill,
constructed upon the lines Of protection. Is
to he repealed. and that there Is to be SUBJ
stituted for it a tariff law constructed solely
with reference to revenue; that no duty Is
m he higher because the increase will keep
omen an American mill or keep up the wages
Of AN American workman. but that in every
case SUCH a rate Of duty i 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 1t
would be offensive to suggest that the pre-
vailing party will not carry into legislation
the principles advocated by 1t IN the
rIedges given to the people. The tariff bills
3passed by the House of Representatives at
fhe last session were, as l suppose-even IN
the opinion Of their promotors-lnadequa
and justified only by the fact that the Senate
and House Of Representatives were not In
accord and that a general revision couia
not. therefore, be undertaken.
I rscommend that the whole subject OF
tariff revision be left to the coming Con-
gress. Il Is matter OF regret that this work
must be DELAYED for at least tdree months;
for the threat of great tariff changes intro
duces 50 much uncertainty that an amount
NOT easily estimated, OF business inactiol
and of diminished reduction will necessarily
result. II is possible also that this uncer-
tainty NAV 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 20 when they will take
effect
/ Those who have advocated a protective
+eriff can well afford tO have their dlsas-
trous forecasts Of change OF policy disap
nointel. II "a systs n OF customs duties car
ba framed that will set the idle wheels an
looms Of Europe in motion aud crowd ou'
warehouses with foreign-made goods, AM
at the same time keep our own mus ousy
that will give us an increase1 partlcipa1lol
in the markets Of tue world OF greater
value than the home marSet We surron Ter
that will give increased work to torelgr
yvorkmen uoOu products to be consumed by
orr people without diminishing tbs amoua
Of work to be- done here; that vii
enable the American MANUFACTURES
TO pay to his work men from
fifty to a hundred per cent. more in wage
than is paid in the foreign mill AMI yet t
compete in our market AMI foreign market
with the foreign producer; that Will turthe
reduce the cost OF articles OF wear ana 100
without reducing the wages OF those wh
produce them; that can be celebrated aite
It's effects have been realized, as its expect
tions have.been, in. Europ AN as well as
American cities, the auth Jrs aud promoter
Of IL will be entitled to the highest praise.
We have mad in our history several ex
nar1ences of the contraStel effects oI
ravenne and that Of a protective taSlh; Ou
this generation has not felt them, ant tn
exoerisnce Of one generation is not highl
instructiye 10 the next. The friends OF u
protective system, with undiminlsael col
4 lencs in the principles they have a
Vocated. will wait the resu IS o. the ne
apartment.
LABOR AND THU TARIFF
The stra ne | AMI too o'tea distItoo re'a
tions existing between tbs employees an
the employers in our great m1nutacsurin
establishments have not besu favorable to
calm consideration by the wage Garner
the effect upon wa yes Of thu protective sys
tenn. The facts TINT his 5e' were tn
highest paid in ike callings IN th9 work
anu IQaI u uldtuNcu hlG9 " Nato NV
wages. in the absence OF protective dutie
upon tbs product OF his labor, wa
impossible. were obscured by tn
passion evoked by these contests. n
may now be able 10 review the question !
the light of his personal experience unds
the operation Of tariff for revenue only. L
that experience shall demonstrate that pre-
ent rates OF wages are thereby maintaine
or increased. either absolutely or in the
purchasing power, and that the agyregat
volume of WORK TO be done in this countr
is 10 be increased, or even maintainet, S
that there are more or as many days woT
in year at as good or bsttsr wages for tn
American workmen as has been ths ca
under the protective system, every one WI
rejoice.
A general process OF wage re luction ca
not be conteru plated by any patriotic citize
without the gravest apprehension. 1t ma
be. indeed l believe it is. possible for q
Am rican manu- iacturer TO compete success
fully with his foreign rival IN mau
branches OF production without the deten
Of protective duties, il the pay rolls al
eouaIized; but the conflict that stands D
tween the producer and that result and q
distress Of our working people when ltls 9
tained are not pleasant TO contemplai
The Society Of the Unemploy d, now mol
ing its frequent an threateni 1g parahes
the streets OF foreign cities, should uob
slloWel TO acquire an American domlcils