Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Rem arkable Increase in the
Country's Wealth.
GREATER PROSPERITY THAN EVER.
The President Eulogizes the
Protection Tariff System.


WASHINGTON, ID. g., Dec. g.
President Harrison's annual mes
sage was read to congress today.
The president begins with state
ment that the people Of the United
States are now enjoying greater
prosperity than ever before and
deals largely with statistics to show
this is the case. He says Ia part:
The total wealth of the country In
1860 was $l7, 1853, ,6l6,O6s. In 1890 it
amounted to sc2,elO,OOO, 900 an in
crease Of 2S7 per cent. The official
returns of the eleventh census and
those of the tenth for 70 leading
cities furnished the basis of the fol-
lowing comparison: In 1880 the
capital invested in manufacturing
was 81, ,232, ,s39.67O; in 1890, $1,000
1856. 1884. In 1880 the number Of
employees was l,30l,Sss. In 1880
the wages earned were $5Ol, ,9e5,77S;
in 1890, 81 ,22l, ,17O, ,454' In 1880 the
value of product was $2,7l1, ,579.s99;
in 1890, s4,seO, ,2se,sa7.
SAVINGS BANKS.
Another indication of the general
prosperity of the country is found In
the fact that deposits in the savings
5 banks increased from $l94, ,277, 1875 in
1860 to 81 ,e2s, ,O79. 749 In 1891. After
presenting these statistics the presi-
dent says: There never has been a
time in our history when work was
30 abundant or when wages were as
high, 1t is true that the market
price of wheat and corn have been
low. 1t is one of the unfavorable
incidents of agriculture that the
farmer cannot produce upon orders.
He must SOW and reap in ignorance
of the aggregate production of the
year and is peculiarly subject to the
disposition which follows over-pro-
duction, But while the fact have
stated is true as to the crops i have
mentioned, the general averages OF
prices has been such as to give to
agriculture a fair participation in
general prosperity. The value OF
our total farm products has increased
from 81, 1868, GAG, 1855 in 1860 to SAY
SOC, 100000 In 1891. If any are dis
contented with their state here, II
any believe that the wages or prices,
the returns for honest toll are made
quate they should not fail to remem-
Der 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 agriculturst would be
glad to exchange the returns of his
labor for those of the American
farmer and the Manchester work
men their wages for those of their
fellows at Fall River. i believe that
the protective system which now
for something like thirty years has
prevailed in our legislation has been
mighty instrument for the de-
velopment of our national wealth
and a most powerful agency In pro-
tecting the homes Of our working
men from the invasion of want.
THE TARIFF.
The president assumes that the
recent election means the introduc-
tion of u new policy of tariff for
revenue and recommends that the
subject be referred to the next con-
gress. He argues the Republican
position ut length, and sets forth the
advantages OF protection to the
wage-earner.
A FINE RECORD.
Public revenues, amounting to
$l,4l4, ,079, ,292.2s have been collected
and dIsbursed without loss from
snisapproprlation, without defalca-
tIon Of such Importance as to attract
the public attention.
RECIPROCITY.
Our relations with other nations
ere pow undisturped by any serious
controversy. There have been Me-
solIaled and conclu led under see
ton 3. Of the tariff law commercial