Huntsville gazette., 1894-08-25
a SHAMEFUL SHOWING.
The Disastrous Results OF Democratic
Mfsmanagement.

Mfsmanagement.
Let us have peace!" is now the fer
vent cry of business. The same prayer
comes from the west and east, from
the homes of millions of wage-earners
and from the offices Of half million
manufacturers and as many merchants.
The rich and the poor join In one
prayer: Let tariff war end and let us
have peace" Then may the wheels
start again, and idle hands find work,
and plenty come in place of want to
millions of homes. Surely congress
men cannot be aware how much their
weary strife over this question has
cost the people. In the one month of
July the difference between this year
and last in payments for products and
for labor will be about 81, 900. 900, 600.
But this is the fourteenth month of
continued and sore depression. In
these fourteen months the actual pay
ments through all clearing houses
have been $50, 500, 600, 900. and in the
preceding fourteen months the aggre-
gate was S72, 900, 900, ,000--a decrease of
S19, 400, 600, 600. The business done in
cludes profits for traders and manu-
facturers, for transporters, farmers,
miners and lumbermen, and wages for
all the hands they employ. The enor-
nous loss represents decrease in wages
and work and profits for all concerned
more than 26 per cent. of the entire
business for the fourteen months.
The wage-earners, or rather those
who would earn wages if the demo
cratic party would let US have peace.
being IS per cent. of the people, num-
Der "a, 900, 900. The wages at the rate
Of 1890, reckoning about a third at the
farming and the rest at the average
rate for all manufacturing hands ac-
cording to the census, were S40O year
ly for each. But instead of 80, 900, ,000,-
00O these people are probably earning
at the rate of 50, 400, 900, 900 less, part
being unemployed and part working
at lower rates. The great iron indus
try, which should employ in all its
branches 600, 900 men, as it did in 1890,
with yearly production of 81, 200 900,
600, instead of a full consumption OF
$500, 900 tons Of pig actually consumed
in the last twelve months about $780,
would imply a decrease of 270,00C
hands, and $40, 100000 in value OF
yearly product provided prices had
been unchanged. But prices of iron
products have been reduced at least &c
per cent, or nearly $500, 900, 600 on the
reduced output. The textile manufac
lures, employing half million per
sons, have reduced hands and output
somewhat less, and yet very largely.
In many other industries the mere loss
in value Of products must be reckoned
by hundreds of millions.
Do democrats mean to say that the
frightful losses result from the pres
ent tariff, and not from their attempt
to change it? Very well, give us peace
and let us test it. Let the country
havn a chance to find out whether the
claim is false or not. Stop agitation
until next January, and see whether
industries will not revive and business
improve under the tariff as it stands
Instant and full recovery could no'
be expected, of course. Complete re
coverv with the threat of change still
hanging over industries could not be
reasonably expected. Yet the demo
Gratis s;are not face the test. They
dare nat let the working people and
the business men of this country see
how sudden ard great relief would
come if democratic agitation woulo
but take itself out Of the way, ever
for a few months only.
They do not dare, or they wonld have
tried it long ago. 1t is almost yea
since this congress metin extra ses
sion. Before that its chosen leader
and treasurer and other experts haC
been at work for some months trying
to frame a tariff bill. After mor'
than wear of incessant labor and agi
tation and shameful humiliation the
party is disgusted to find that 1t can
not agree upon or pass anything tina
looks like democratic tariff IT.
wrangles, its amazing corruption ant
shameless bartering, its contemptuou
disregard of public opinion, of decen
CIV, of pledges and of principles, made
its respecta bic leaders long for an ad
iournment months ago-only they die
not dare to let the people see what th'
maligned Mckinley bill would do TO
then industries if they let it alone
But think once more, democratic
friends Would it not pay better t
let the people have little taste 0
prosperity before the next presiden