The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-12-16

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 and 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 TO give to agri.
culture a fair participation in the general pros
perity. The value Of our total farm products
has increased from a. 1853 $40 500 in 1869 TO g,
500 900 600 in 1891 as estimated by statistcians.
an increase of go per cent The number Of
hogs January I, 1891, was 50,625 l0j and their
value $40 I9}.925 On January 1, 1892, the num-
Der was 81 39S OI9 and the value sea-, 81, i1a On
| January l. 1891, the number Of cattle was &c.
! sT5, 6is and the value S54i,l279O8 On January
/. 1892 the number was 81, e5l, 239 and the value
$50. 74q155.
If any are discontinued with their state
| here: il 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 he 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 a mighty in
strument for the development of our national
wealth and a most powerful agency in protect
| ing the homes of our workingmen from the in =
vasion of want, 1 have felt most solicitous
! interest to preserve to our working people
rates of wages that would not only give daily
bread, but supply a comfortable margin for
those home attractions and family COM
forts and eniOymenis 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 il cannot be per
version of that constitution 10 so legislate as
TO preserve in their homes the comfort, indie
peudence, loyalty and sense Of interest in the
government which are essential to good citi-
Zelship and which will bring them, as in 1861
to the defense of the flag when it is assalled-
1t is not my purpose to renew here the argu-
ment in favor of protective tariff The result
of the recent election must be accepted as hav-
ing introduced a new policy. We must assume
that the present tariff, constructed upon the
lines of protection, is to be repealed and that
there is TO be substituted for il 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 be 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 it 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 Of
representatives of the last session were. 1 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 a general revision could
not therefore, be undertaken
recommend that the whole subject OF tariff
revision be left to the incoming congress 1t is
a matter of regret that this work must be de-
layed for at least three months, for the threat
OF great tariff changes introduces so much I'M
certainty that an amount not easily estimated, of
business inaction and Of diminished production,
will necessarily result 1t is possible also that
this uncertainty may result in decreased reve-
nues from customs duties. for our merchants will
make cautious orders for foreign goods in view
Of the prospect of tariff reductions and the I'M
certainty as to when it will take effect
Those who have advocated a protective tariff
can well afford to have their disastrous fore
casts of a change OF policy disappointed. II n
system of customs duties can be framed that
viii 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-
ton in 1.-The markets of the world OF a greater
value than the home market that we surrender;
that will give increased work to foreign work
men upon products TO he consumed by our peo-
pie without diminishing the amount of work to
be done here: that will enable the American
manufacturer to pay TO his wOrlmen from 30 to
100 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;
that can be celebrated after its effects have
been realized, as its expectation has been in
Europe as well as in American cities, the au-
thors and promoters Of il will be entitled TO the
highest praise. We have had in our history
several experiences of the contrastei effects OF
a revenue and of a protective tariff; but this
generation has not felt them and the expert
ence of one generation is not highly instructive
TO the next The friends Of the protective sys-
TEN with undiminshed confidence in the prin-
ciples they have advocated, will await the re-
suits of the new experiment
The strained and too often disturbed relations
existing between the employees and employers
in our great manufacturing establishments
have not been favorable to a consideration by
the wage CARRIER of the effect upon wages OF the
protective system
The fact that his wages were the highest
paid in the like callings OF the world and that a
maintenance OF this rate of wages in the alb
sence of protective duties upon the product Of
his labor, was impossible. were obscured by
the passion evoked by these contests. He NAV
now be able 10 review the question in the light
of his personal experience under the operation
Of a tariff for revenue only. Ii that experience
shall demonstrate that present rates of wages
are thereby maintained or increased, either alb
solutely or in their purchasing power and that
the aggregate volume of work to be done in this
country is increased or even maintained; that
there are more or as many days work in year
a as good or better wages for the American
workman as has been the case under the pro-
teciive system every one will rejoice A gen
eral process Of wage reduction cannot be con-
templated by any patriotic citizen without the
Cravest apprehension. It may be. indeed, !
believe Is, possible fer the American
manufacturer TO compete successfully with his
foreign rival in MANY branches OF production
without the defense Of protective duties, If the
pay rolls are equalized: but the conflict that
stands between the producer and that result
and the distress OF the people, when it is at
tanned. are not pleasant to contemplate. The
society OF the unemployed now holding its fire.
ouent and threatening parades in the streets of
foreign cities, should not be allowed 10 acquire
an American domicile
Reports of Departments.
Inc reports OF the heaos OF the several eAecu-
tive departments, which are herewith sub
mitted, have very naturally included resume
Of the whole work Of the administration, with
the transactions Of the lsst fiscal year. The
attention, not only in congress, but OF the cOul-
try. IS again invited 10 the methods of admins
tration which have been pursued, and TO the re
suits which have been attained Public reven-
ues amounting 10 81 Al O59 292 % have been col
lected and discussed without loss from mis-
appropriation, without a single defalca-
ton of such importance as TO attract