Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-02


the WusoN biil they resort to the old
slime cry OF seetionalism, because tbl
chief author Of the measure is a South
ern man. aud 10 was passed IN the Houst
largely by Southern votes In fact
qhese organs have kept that howl stand
ing in their editorial column
and its constant repetition ha
led many to believe that Their,
is something in it. Let us tax,
the Republican point Of view. that th,
tariff is a benefit and examine tn,
measure in its bearing upon the see
tous.
The Republicans claim that the free
wool feature is a vicious blow at the
Republican farmers OF Ohio and III,
West Yet the overwhelmingly Demo
cratic State OF Texas alone has more
sheep, and a far more valuable WOO
clip than any Republican State in the
Union, except, perhaps, Ohio.
Rice, also, is pointed out as South
ern product on which Mr.. Wilson, tC
flavor" that section, has left high
duty. But the duty placed on rice By
Mr.. WILSON is 2s per cent. lower thar
that put upon it by Mr.. MCKINLEY
and a greater cut than the average
reduction made throughout the bill.
Mr.. WILSON placed coal and iron ore
on the free list. Is there any section
alism from the Republican tariff stand
point 10 that2 The South is much
more interested 10 the mining Of coal
and iron ore than the North.
In fact, New England receives under
the Wilson bill FIVE times as much pro-
lection as an OF the Southern States put
together. On this point the Baltimore
Sun says:
The South raises all the cotton produced
in the United States. She gives 10 free OF
duty 90 New England and Northern cotton
factories. The South raises as much wool
as the North. and this bin gives wool free
Of duty TO Northern woolen factories, and
gives 90 them 33 per cent. duty on their
finished product 20 boot
New England factory owners have
S243. OOO 600 invested Ina cotton factories
the South has less than SiO,OOO,OJO similar
ly invested Yet this so-calied sectional
bin. framed by Southern men and passed
mainly bv Southern votes. gives New Eng
land - per cent. duty on cotton manutac-
lures The North has the great bulk OF
the silk manufacturers OF this country, vet
the Wilson bill gives 40 per cent
duty Ou silk goods. Iron anu
steel manufacturing are, ia heavy
ureponderance. Northern Industries; the
South has comparatively a small stake ln
them Yeti the metal schedule of the VIII
son bin gives those industries a3S per cent
tax against competing imports. The South
gains the advantage of free cotton ties, but
&c offers the North free binding Irvine az
the same time. The Southern planter gets
free cotton bagging, but the Northern
farmer gets free agricultural machinery
and tools.
Is there any ssctionalism in that? II
there is il is all in favor Of the North,
taking the Republican point Of view
that the higher the tariff the great
or the favor. The partisan cry
of sectionalsm against the Wilson
bin has no basis, whatever, unless the
south wants to complain Of discrimina-
ton against it in the matter Of protec-
ton in favor Of the North. To quote
the sun again:
Tariff legislation for a whole generation
past has been sectional and class legisla-
tion 10 has 0.ed the Southern and West
ern people who live by their agricultural
enterprise, labor and thrift and bloated
the msnufacturing interests Of the North
ern and Middle States. One citation Of
official figures prove 10. The farmers own
ed 81. 600. 900. 900 of the Nations total as
sessed wealth OF $4,000, OOO 600 i'm 1860, but
I'm 1890. after three decades OF sectional and
class tariff laws, the farmers owned only
Sl5.OOOOOO. 900 of the Nations total as
sessed wealth OF S52. 600. 100000, and Of
those fifteen billions Of farming valuations
six billions were pledged 20 mortgages.
10 is too plain % be disputed that the
planters and the farmers, the distiuctivelv
Southern Industries, have been steadily
p.uudered ever since the war, under Re
publican tariffs The Wilson bill does not
bv any means, restore the balance between
the sections and the classes of Occupa-
tons which they broadly represent-the
South and agriculture on tue one side,
the North and manufactures on the
other. But TO is first step in the direc-
ton of Justice AS such, we wei
come 10. aud, even though 1t be ueces-
sarv 20 make 10 q sri,l smaller instaumens
on account of the policy of the absolutely
fair and equal taxation, which Democracy
must keep iu view as its ultimate goal In
order t0 enact 10 expediuously, still we
welcome 10. Once more we say 90 the
Democratic Senate. Amend ita little as
possible and pass it at once