People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mr.. Harrisons Recommendations
to Congress.
A Comprehensive Review of National AZ
fairs-His Views on Tariff Legislation
and Protection-C Condition of the
National Treasury.

As will be seen it is devoted, in addition
to the usual review of executive work,
to consideration of the effect of the
changed political conditions on the COM
mercial and financial business of the
country. The message as read is as
follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
In submitting my annual message TO congress,
1 have great satisfaction in being able to say
that the general condition affecting the COM
mercial and industrial interests Of the United
States are in the highest degree favorable. In
comparison Of the existing conditions with
those Of the most favorable period in the his
tory OF the country will, l believe, show that so
| high degree Of prosperity and so general a
diffusion Of the comforts OF life were never be
fore enjoyed by our people
The total wealth OF the country in 1860 was
SIC l59 Gle O6s; in 1890 it amounts TO t69 go Co.,
OO0, an increase Of 2Sj per cent
| The total mileage OF railways in the United
States in 1860 was 30 626: in 1890 il was l67, AL
an increase Of 4SS per cent; and il is estimated
! there will be about 400 miles OF track added
| by the close Of the year Of 1892 The Official
returns Of the eleventh census and those OF the
tenth census for seventy.fve leading cities fur
nished the basis for the following comparisons:
In 1880 the capital invested in manufacturing
was 81 ,22S2 $50 CD In 1879 the capital invested
in manufacturing was 1890, 1885, S44 In 1880
the number Of employees was 1,9Ol,SSs In 1890
| the number of employees was 2,27l, 1874 In 1850
the wages earned were SOL, 5,77s In 1890 the
wages earned were sl,22l, 40, 45i. In 1880 the
value Of the product was S2,7ll,579,999 In 1890
the value of the product was 81, sec, $50, s3T
There never has been a time in our history
when work was so abundant, or when wages
were SO high, whether measured by the cur
rency in which they are paid, or by their power
TO supply the necessaries and comforts Of life
II is true that the market prices of cotton
and wheat have been low. 1t is one Of the
unfavorable incidents Of agriculture that the
farmer cannot produce upon orders. He must
SOW ana reap in ignorance OF the aggregate pro-
duction Of the year, and is peculiarly subject to
the depreciation which follows over production
But while the facts have stated are true as to
the crops [ have mentioned. the general aver
age of prices has been such as 10 give TO agri-
culture fair participation in the general pros
perity The value of our total farm products
has increased from 81, 1853 6i6S in 1860 10 e.
5OO,OOO0W in 1891, as estimated by statisticianS
an increase Of go per cent The number of
hogs January /, 1891, was 5O,625, 1O6 ana their
value $40, 1895. On January /, 1892, the num-
Der was D, sos 0l9 and the value s241, AS On
January |, 1891, the number Of cattle was &c.
SI5,6iS and the value S5ii III sos On January
|, 1892, the number was q 65l, 2S9 and the value
$50, 749 is
If any are disconnected with their state
here; if any believe that the wages or
prices, the returns for honest toll, are made
quate they should not fail 10 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 glad TO ex-
change the returns Of his labor for those Of the
American farmer and the Manchester work
men their wages for these Of their fellows at
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 most powerful agency in protect
ing the homes OF our worlingmen from the in.
vasion Of want. l have felt most solicitous
interest 10 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 enjoyments without which life
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 a per.
version Of that constitution 10 so legislate as
10 preserve in their homes the comfort, indie
pendence, loyalty and sense OF interest in the
government which are essential to good citi-
zenship and which will bring them, as in 1861
to the defense OF the flag when ii is assslled
IL is not my purpose 10 renew here the arglI-
ment in favor OF protective tariff The result
Of the recent election must be accepted as hay
ing introduced anew policy. We must assume
that the present tariff, constructed upon the
lines OF protection, is 10 be repealed and that
there is to be substituted for it a tariff 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 he imposed as will 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
Will not carry into legislation the principles ad-
vocated by it and the pledges given to the peo.
pie. The tariff bills passed by the house O;
representatives Of the last session we're, Isup-
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 a general revision could
not, therefore, be undertaken.
recommend that the whole subject Of tariff
revision be left to the incoming congress. II is
matter OF regret that this work must be de-
layed Tor at least three months, for the threat
OF great tariff changes introduces so much IN
certainty thatan amountn not easily estimated. of
business inaction and Of diminished productlop
Will necessarily result II is possible also that
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 m
certainty as TO when 1t will take effect
Those who have advocated protective tariff
can well AFFORD 10 have their disastrous fore.
casts OF change of policy disappointed. ia
system OF customs 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 mills
busy; that will give US an increased participa.
tion in THE markets Of the world Of a greater
value than the home market that we surrender.
mat VIII give increased work to foreign worl,.
men upon products 10 be consumed by our peo.
pie without diminishing the amount OF work IN
De done here; that will enable the American
manufacturer to pay to his workmen from 50 70
lVO per cent more in wages than is paid in the
foreign mill and yet to compete in our mar.
kets and in foreign markets with the
foreign producer; that will further reduce
the cost OF articles Of wear and food without
reducing the wages OF those who produce them:
mat can be celebrated after its effects have
been realized, as its expectation has been in
Europe, as well as in American cities. the an
thors and promoters Of twill be entitled N tho
highest praise. We have had In our bis,orv
several experiences Of the contrasted effects q,
revenue and Of protective tariff: INT This
generation has not felt them. and the exneri.
ence OF one generation is not highly Instructive
a - no, Ell. l.