Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-08

50, 932, 400 in the amount Of capital and of
7346 in the number Of persona employed in
the same period.
Imports and Exports.
The total value Of our foreign trade lex
ports and imports Of merchandise, during
the fiscal year was 81, S57, $50, $40, an in
crease of Sl28, 2S3, ,S04 over the previous
fiscal year. The average annual value or
our imports and exports OF merchandise for
the 10 fiscal years prior to the year 1891 was
81, 467, ,322,019. 1t will be observed that
our foreign trade for 1899 exceeded this an
nual average value by $500, 358, sol, an in
crease of 27.47 per cent. The signlfcauc CO
and value of this increase ore shown by the
fact that the excess in the trade of 1892
over 1891 was wholly in the value Of ex-
ports for there was decrease in the value
OF imports of 81, 1913, i54 The value of
our exports during the fiscal year 1892
reached tho highest figure in the history OF
the government. amounting to l,OGO, 27S, =
14S. exceeding by S14j, 197, 33S the exports
of 1891 and exceeding the value Of the i'm
ports by $202, ,S75, 1888.
Savings Bank statistics.
Another indication of the general pros
| rerity of the country is found in the fact
| that the number OF depositors in savings
banks increased from SOB, $40 in 1860, to
a. 25S, 1913 in 1890, an increase of Jl3 per
cent: aud the amount Of deposits from s 49,
271 504 in 1860, to 81, 524, e44, 506 In 1890,
an increase Of 92l per cent. In 1891 the
amount of depasts in savings banks wa,
81 ,623, 079, 749. 1t is estimated that 90 per
cent of these deposits represent the savings
| of wage earners.
| Prosperity Of Farmers.
TIE" never has been time in our his
| tory Ehsn work was 20 abundant or when
wages were as high, whether measured by
| the currency in which they are paid or by
| their power to supply the necessaries and
| comforts OF life. 1t is true that the market
prices of cotton and wheat havo been low.
1t is one of the unf8vorable incidents oil
| agriculture .hat 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
depreciation which follows production.
But while the fact have stated Is true, as
to the crops mentioned, the general average
of prices has been such as to give to sgri-
culture fair participation in the genera
prosperity. The value OF our total fam
products has increased from 81, S83, 646, S6t
in 1860 to %4, 500, 000 900 in 1891 as esti-
mated by statisticians an increase of 23(
per cent.
If any are discontented with their stat'
here; il any believe that wages and prices
the returns for honest toll, are inadequate
they should not fGl to remember tina
there is
Other Country in the World
where the conditions that seom to them harC
| ho inl,I
The English agrculturst would be glad t.
exchange the returns of his labor for thos
OF the American farmer and the Mancheste
wogkmen their wages for those OF thel
fellows at Fall River. l believe that tn
protective system, which has now for some
thing more than 80 years continuously pre-
vailed in our legislation, has been q might
instrument for the development OF our ma
tional wealth and c most powerful agenc
in protecting the homes of our workngms
from the invasion of want. l have felt
most solicitous interest to
Preserve to Our Working People
, rates of wages that would not only Civ
daily bread but supply comfortable mar
gin for those home attractions and famil
comforts and enjoyments without which Iii
is neither hopeful nor sweet. They al
b
/ pie for whom our constitution and govern
ment were framed and instituted-and
a cannot be perversion of that constitute
? to so le9islGte as to preserve in their home
the comfort, independence, loyalty an
sense of interest in the government whic
are essential to good citizenship in peac
and which will bring this stalwart throne
} as in 1861, to the defence of the flag whe
1 it is asssiled. 1t is not my purpose to rene
here the argument
In Favor of a Protective Tariff.
The result OF the recent election must |
a accepted as having introduced new policy
= We must assume that the present tarii
constructed upon the lines OF protection,
to be- repealed and that there is TO be subsi
q tuted for it tariff law constructed sole
with reference to revenue; that no duty
to be higher because the increase will re,
open an American mill or keep up the wag
- of an American workman, but that in evei
l. case such rate of duty is to be imposed
e will bring TO the treasury of the Unit
Is States the largest returns of revenue.
d The contention has not teen Letwe
IS schedules, but between principles, and
Q would be offensive to suggest that the pr
}. vailing party
VIII Not Garry Iuto LegsIatiou
;. the principles advocated by it and t
: pledges given to the people, The tariff bi
~ passed by the House Of Representatives.
Re tho last session were, as | suppose-even
10 the opinion of their promoters-iuadegu
10 and justified only by the fact that the Sci
40 ate aud House of Representatives. wore II
70 in accord, and that n general revision cou
D not, therefore, be undertaken. reco
to mend that the whole subject OF tariff rev
ion be left to the incoming Congress 1t
matter of regret that this work must
delayed for at least three months; for
Oh threat OF great tariff changes introduced
he much uncertainty that an amount, 1
~ easily estimated, of business inactlon and
ne diminished production will necessarily I
d suit. 1t is possible also that this uncertai
c. ty may result in decreased revenues fro
ss customs duties, for our me rchants will ma
~ cautious orders for foreign goods in view
re the prospec. Of tariff reductions aud the l
ne certainty as to when they will axe effect
w The reports of the heads o. the seve
On executive Departments, which are herew