The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-12-29

THE OLD YEAR AND THE SEIE
The year 1903 is nearing its close,
with its joys and its sorrows, its hopes
and disappointments. 1t has been II
hard year for a majority, and at this
time more people, perhaps, are out of
employment than at any other period
in our history. 1t seems strange that
in country overlooking as this is
with natural weaAth-with unrivalled
resources in our mines, our woods and
our fields, that any should be idle who
are willing to work. Yet in spite of
all these advantages we are passing
through an era of unusual stringcncy
in business. A number of causes have
conspired to bring about this re-
suit, but in our opinion the chief
cause has been the unequal and I'M
just tariff laws.
For thirty years the conditions of
life, especially among agriculturists,
have been growing more and eXacting,
until even our best farmers can now
scarcely make both ends meet. At
the same time the anomaly is present
ed of great numbers of vast fortunesac-
cumulated, apparently without an eff
fort, by men engaged in manufac-
lures. During the period spoken of
there has been steady increase in
tariff taxes upon the necessaries of
life, eliminating in the Mckinley bill.
Many of these tariff charges, by pro-
hibiting foreign importations of GER
tain articles, have fostered and en-
couraged immense monopolies, by
the operation of which individual en-
terprise has been strangled and the
tax levied upon the many has only
enriched the few. The high protec-
tive tariff, first made necessary by
the war, was found to have this effect,
and its beneficiaries, as q matter of
course, have been averse to any re-
duction.
Every effort made by the suffering
masses to secure relief from an un
equal burden has been thwarted by
the political skill and monied influ-
ence of the tariff barons. Last year,
however, by great political revolu-
ton, the people reinstated the Demo
cratic party, with Grover Cleveland
as its exponent, on a distinct pledge
that the tariff should be reformed
This pledge the Democratic party is
bound to redeem and proceeding with
its task it has offered a remedy for
the prevailing hard times in the Will
son tariff bill, now before Congress-
This bill, we believe, will do much to
wards restoring prosperity to this
country. 1t is a moderate and con-
sentative tariff, framed so as to yield
the greatest revenue without sitting
any American industry, but at the
same time affording relief to those who
have for years been overtaxed under
the protective system. 1t was to be
expected that in some lines of manu-
facture inordinate profits would be re-
duced by a lower tariff, but it is Idle
to talk about the bulk of our manu-
facturers needing protection from
foreign competition. If u high tariff
does not increase the price of goods in
this country, as the protectionists as
sert, the reduction of the tariff should
not affect them.
Under our policy of exclusiveness
many foreign markets have been clos
ed to our manufactured goods and
agricultural products and the decline
of our shipping has kept pace with
the rigor with which prohibitory tar
iff laws have been enacted and enfor-
ced. With the markets of the world
thrown open to us and the importation
of raw material for our manufacturers
free of duty every factory in the coun-
try could be worked to its fullest Ca
pacity and the products of our fields
and workshops find a ready sale. This
would mean work for every man able
and willing to work. 1t would then
be no longer necessary to employ for
eign vessels to do the carrying trade
for our country, but American ships
could be equipped and be made to
give employment to thousands of sea-
men.
1t is a historical fact that the periods
of low tariff in this country have in
variably been those of the greatest
commercial activity and of the great
est agricultural prosperity.
There should be no delay or hesita-
ton on the part of Congress in pass
ing the Wilson bill. The people in
1892 declared by an overwhelming
majority in favor of reduction of the
tariff, and their mandate should not
be ignored. With a reform in the
tariff the new year would begin most
auspiciously, Factories now closed
by the mandate of trusts or by pro-
duction in excess of the demands of
our own people would be reopened-
Indeed, many are now resuming opera
tions, confident that the Wilson bill
will become a law. Industries of
every kind would be quickened, and
no class would feel the benefit more
directly or more certainly than the
farmer.
We believe the Wilson bill will be
passed, and this belief encourages us to
enter upon the new year with bright
hope that it will have better things
in store for all of us than its predeces-
sor gave. With this prediction we
take leave of the old year and cordial
ly wish every reader of The 4Kgis a
happy and prosperous New Year.
1t is stated that N accordance
with the recommendation of Secretary
Carlisle bill will be formulated to is
sue bonds to the amount of $500, 00O 900
to meet the treasury deficit. These
Republicans will doubtless charge the
Democratic administration with in
creasing the national debt, but the
people will not be deceived. They
know that when Cleveland retired
from the Presidency in 1888 the Treas
urywas full. The Republican Congress
not only squandered this surplus
but created obligations beyond the
resources of the government, and it is,
in part, to pay these debts that Secre-
tary Carlisle asks for an issue of bonds
The bonds can be sold at an interes
of per cent, and they will be light