New-York tribune., 1893-12-03
THE SOUTH AND THE TARIFF.
ITS GREAT INDUSTRIES ATTACKED BY
THE WILSON BILL.
BUSINESS MEN OF THAT SECTION ALIVE TO THE
p,NcrD-MIN1xG. MANUFACTURING AND
srGAR CULTURE IN DANGER
INV TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRrBUNEI


x,-sh,,aton Dec 2-It will be entertaining
., uo,o, the course of certain members of
Co,sross from the South with reference to the
when Tariff bill That bill directly attacks
mining and manufacturing interests of Ala
hama Tennessee North Carolina and West
VIRGINIA the chief agricultural industries of
Louisiana. and number of important enter
n,sses in other parts of the South Just how IL
will he treated by the men representing the sec
tions II is proposed to impoverish the country
will be extremely anxious TO know
In Alabama and Tennessee the dilemma Is
really critical. Birmingham, Chattanooga An
nston, Sheffield, Decatur and towns OF IKE
character are still. unhappily for them' IN Inc
primary stage of development. They possess
all the elements0bf material greatness. but nave
not vet fully utilized them. 1t may be said oi
those communities that they are sui III tha'
state Of preparation in which sudden chahge
in their circumstances may bring caiainy
swiftly and certainly. Alabama ana lehhes-
see in a word not In a position 10 ihouise
the luxury of an experiment. They nave au-
iusted their scheme of progress to certain con-
ditions They are arguing from fixed premises
Anv radical disturbance of either at this time
must be sadly If not fatally. injurious Inc
same thing is true of the sugar industry OF
Mated in the Wilson Tariff bill is aggravated
by the fact that sugar culture has almost
doubled under the beneicent influence OF Re-
publican policy, so that there is more TO suffer
under the reactonary measures OF Democracy
THEY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION
What is more the men engaged in the iron'
coal lumber and sugar industries OF the South
are perfectly aware Of the facts In the case
and Of their exact significance. They are not
narrow politicians but intelligent ana proereS-
sive men. keenly alive to their materlai inter
ests and handicapped by no maudhn sentiment
whatsoever. Many of the most successful ana
extensive sugar planters in Louisiana are from
the North and most of them are independent
in thought and action. In the coal ana IRON
fields Of Alabama and Tennessee the same si'-
uation exists. The Wilson bill comes then' as
a foe to thousands of the most important ana
influential people at the South. The birmihe
ham Age-Herald" speaking for the coal anu
iron industries OF Alabama, says:
"The bill which Mr. Chairman Wilson offers
to the American Congress as proper reform
measure is Just such product as might be ex-
pected from a college professor OF New-Eng-
land and that other statistical crank Of Boston
Edward Atkinson. Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury Charles 5. Hamn also OF that spot
OF superb and unexampled wisdom ana accom-
nlished theories and hotbed for theorists which
always result in benefits to the pockets OF New
England. has also shown his fine Italian hand
as leading counsel Tor New-Ehgiahu ihaHu-
facturers. - H., ..r, ,.
And then referring to the free list; The list
is a long one and we invite our readers 10
study it closely Nearly every possipae ="
the earth found and produced In uhe south,
have been hit. New-England has all she ASKS ASKS
for and PENNSYLVANIA steel manufacturers VIII
not complain they get iron ore and mangah-
ese free besides their coke
THE SUGAR POLICY ANALYzrD.
Passing to New-Oreans and considering the
Louisiana view Of the sugar schedule one finds
THE Daily States" OF that city, the only
Straightout Tariff Reform Democratic organ IN
the State hammering away at Mr. Wilson
bill In this style: Here is an incongruous juinbe
which 1t will be difficult to make plain people
understand, and which is calculated To make
those who do see IT. grin. Let us analyze inns
remarkable multiform sugar policy OF the Demo
cratic Ways and Means Committee and see
what it really is.
the Federal Government as a perfectly legti-
mate contract ~
90 It violates a contract the validity Of which
II recognizes by mutilating It's provisions ana
deriving the parties of the second part OF a
large proportion of their rights under It,
%; 1t strikes down the revenueyieIdihhs revenue, n ing
free list, and perpetuates double wrong 10 the
taxpayers of the country by providing Tor the
payment to it's producers Of gratui'y,
- 1t reduces the tariff on refined sugar one
half. but shows the power OF the Sugar Trust
in the committee by leaving 1t half It's spoil ana
keeping sugar on the free list.
This Is a protective measure so far as the
Sugar Trust Is concerned, a free-trade measure
so far the sugar-producers are concerned
and a measure Of spoliation so far as the Amer
lean consumers are concerned
Now the political situation in Louisiana and
Alabama is not by any means as serene as
would suppose who regards 1t from a
distance. 1t is true that up TO this time the
various revolts against the Democratic ma
chine have failed. and that the South Is still
to all appearances as solid az 1t ever was. But
every one who has had an opportunity Of OBJ
serving affairs at close quarters, and who Is
intimately acquainted with the men and the in
fuences at work. agrees that each succeeding
victory has left the machine weaker and the
revolution stronger. Such people know that
local dissensiOns of the bitterest and the most
irreconcable nature are at work with ever
Increasing activity and force, and that the old
rallying cry Of NEGRO domination" has nearly
lost It's power. Economic questions are growing
with material prosperity. and arguments or
commercial and industrial significance, which
twenty years ago would have fallen on un-
needing ears, now find larger and more intelli-
gent audiences every day
1t may be that the Louisiana and Alabama
delegations will yield allegiance to the Wilson
bill under pressure OF party discipline. IL may
be that North Carolina Representatives VIII
help to kill the most important mining interests
in that State. And It may be that the Kentuck-
ians, Vrginians and Tennesseeans in Congress
will vote for such an increase Of internal reve-
nue. taxation will be needed to Offset the 800
600 900 or $50. 900 shortage caused by Mr..
Wilson'S reductions articles coming into
competition with Southern products. But If the
Southern people, after feeling and understand
ing by hard experience what their Democracy
does for their pockets. DO not repudiate a faith
which costs them their prosperity. 1t Will be be-
cause they have deliberately chosen immola-
tion on the altar Of fantastic and irrational
sentimentalism.
SALT WORKS EMPLOYEES GET A REDUCTION.
Silver Springs. n. Y, Dec (SpeciaD.-As fore
becomes a law the 125 employees of the Duncan Salt
Works located at this place endured "A reduction
of Is per cent in their wages to-day.
THE TARIFF SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED. |