Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-06-23

placed the Democratic party in power.
an army oil unemployed hasbeen rails
ed up in the country greater in num-
bers than the army that went forth to
conquer the rebellion and save the life
or the nation. Thedeclinei in the value
of real and personal property exceeds
in amount the entire cost of the civil
war. Trade and business are prostra-
ted. money. though abundant, is lock-
ed up in vaults, and cannot be used
because confidence is gone. No new
enterprises or undertaking are begun,
and one-third Of those already estab-
lished are closed; capital is timid; la
Dor disconnected. Wages and incomes
have declined in the past year at the
rate of $4,000. 900 a day; production
and consumption, as a natural result,
in like ratio. Through the country
men are asking for work. and wonen
and children are crying for bread.
There is social unrest and disquiet. In
many places a feeling Of insecurity
never before known in the Republic
exists. Anarchy. communism, oppo-
sition to peace. law, and order have
made rapid strides. In ten States of
Of the Union, three of which are the
most p%opulous. troops have been I'M
der arms to maintain peace and order
and protect life and property.
s'The first year of Mr.. Cleveland's
second term shows a deficit of S75,-
ooo, 900 in the reyenuesof the Govern
ment. For the first time since thewarth the
interest bearing debt of the coun-
try has been increased $50, 600, 900.
The gold reserve IN the Treasury has
been reduced to SIS. 900, 900, and af-
ter being replenished by an issue of
bonds has again declined to $40. ooo,-
900, and more is going abroad, and
this, Notwithstanding the fact that
OUT exports are greater than our inn
ports, and the prices of our bonds and
stocks and wheat are lower than ever
known"
Abiding to the great decline in
business preceding and following the
Democratic attempt to destroy the Re-
publican principle of protection, the
speaker said:
"The difference in payments through
The clearing houses of the country be-
tween the month of February, 1898,
the last of the Harrison administra-
ton, and February, 1894, shows a de-
cline of nearly two thousand millions
of dollars. This in a way tells the
story of the s~hrinkage going on in the
business of the country. 1t is esti-
mated that the loss in incomes, profits,
and wages for the last year has been
nearly five thousand millions of dol
lars. 1t is said that the people are
losing in wages and incomes alone
about five million dollars every day
compared with what they received in
1892. This is largely due to the eff
forts of the Democratic party to de-
stroy protection and divide our mar
kets with Europe. This is an outrage
upon the people and their interests,
when it is remembered that we import
only about S425,ooo 900 worth per
annum of foreign goods. on which a
tax of about fifty per cent is collected.
amounting to about 5000, 600, 600 per
annum; and this sum is needed for
the support of the Government, and if
not raised in this way would have to
be in some other.
I'm order to get rid of a part of this
5000, 900, 900 of tax per annum and
this too by giving up our markets, the
Democratic party deliberately causes
the people to lose in wages, profits,
and incomes, about S., 900. 600, 900 in
a year. This loss is greater in one
year than the tax or duty would
amount to in twenty-five years. So
it happens that destroying protection
is not only difficult, and has consum-
ed nearly a year Of the time of Con-
gress, but is dear and costly to the
people. AS a simple business propo-
sition, it would have been wiser, safer.
and better to have allowed this tax on
foreign goods Of 5000, 900. 900 per an
mum to have gone on for twenty years
than to have plunged the country into
its present depression and distress for
one year."
Mr.. Elkins next paid his respects
to Congressman Wilson for turning
his back upon the people of his native
State and their interests by trying to
toist his tariff monstrosity upon his
country. In this respect he said:
IA Democratic State suffers this
loss at the hands of a Democratic ad-
ministration; and, worse than all, in
this unrighteous assault on the inte:@
ests of West Virginia. Mr.. Wilson, one
of her own sons and representatives
in Congress, who has enjoyed hon
ors and distinctions at the hands of
her people. led the attack and gave
his name and ability and the official
power the people conferred upon him
to secure the passage of the bill
through the House. Mr.. Wilson,
during the preparation of his bill turn
ed a deaf ear to the appeals that
reached him from his State and dis
trict for help against the destruction
of its material interests, and in obedi-
ence to wornout notions of political
economy moved forward in the work
of destruction, declaring that he was
doing his best for the people of the
entire country, even if he sacrificed
the interests of his own State.
THE wealth of West Virginia lies
mainly in her coal, lumber, wool, iron
ore, and salt interests. The prosperity
of the State depends upon their devel-
opment. Her people were Just be-
ginning to find a market at home and
abroad for their products, and the
dawn of success and prosperity was
at hand. Mr.. Wilson, with full know
ledge of these facts. voted and .laboTed
as few men could to make coal, lumber,
wool, salt, and iron ore free, and di-
vide our home market for these ma
terials with foreigners without any
return whatever. If he had been the
representative from Canada, Cuba,
South America, or Australia, his
conduct could be considered logical,
but as a member of Congress from
West Virginia, bound and pledged to
care for her interests. his conduct is
not on y inconsistent. but beyond
finding out. Why should he prefer
these countries to our State and peo-
pie, and why prefer New England to
his own State?
I'm the SAME bill. in which he
wrote down free lumber, free coal, free
iron ore, free salt. and rec wool, he
gave profecfiou RI raorIy avarx,