The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1894-02-10
The WORK or DEnoCRACr.

OF high merit-contained in a recent
number articles from Congressmsn
Julius c. Burowes and T. C. Catchings
on current national legislation. Both
are members of the Committee on
Rules, though they of course view the
course of political events through very
different perspectlYes. The Pathfinder
has the following personal reference
to MIR. Catchings which will be read
with gratifed interest by bis constitu.
ents:
Mr.. Catchings, as the leading Dem.
ocratic member Of the Committee on
Rules (of which Speaker Crisp is ex-
officio Chairmanl is the parliamentary
leader Of the majority on the floor Of
the House. He Is q cool one. lie
never loses his presence OF mind. He
10 the Speakers "right bower" In
spite Of his tremendous power, he
maintains so open front, and is so
fair a fighter, that be Is, beyond ques-
tion, one of the most popular members
among both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis.
Both the Mississippian and the
Michiganite have been long In the
Congressional harness, aud have before
them a promising future of public uso-
fulness and honor.
Mr.. Catchings's article presenting
as 1t does an encouraging resume Of
the work of Democracy, is reproduced;
At the extraordinary session con.
vened IN August, after exhaustive dis
cussion, we repealed the purchasing
clause Of the Sherman law-putting a
stop 10 the senseless accumulation iu
the Treasury Of enormous amounts Of
useless silver bullion. The danger OF
being forced to silver monometallisul
being thus averted, II Is hoped that by
international agreement, or otherwise,
we shall seon be enabled, not only to
maintain bimetallism as at present,
but to make with safety a much more
extended use Of silver.
The Chinese residents of this coun.
try, being advised by their counsel
that the Geary law was unconstitu.
tional, refused to register as required
by It, and thereby forfeited tho right
to remain here. AT the extraordinary
session we passed law extending the
time within which they might register
thus avoiding the great cost Of deport'
Ing them, and q probable rupture oil
our friendly relations with Chius.
We also hope 10 secure the passage
Of bills for the admission to statehood
Of the Territories of Utah, Arizons
and New Mexico.
The reduction Of tariff taxation
however, so far as the same can bt
safely done, In view Of the necessities
of the Treasury, and without undue
disturbance to the business Of the
country, is the chief work to be done
by this Congress. The Democratic
party holds that the "power TO lay and
collect taxes, duties, imposts and ex
cises," was vested In the United Statei
solely TO enable II to raise revenue tc
defray its expenses. The Republican
party, speaking through the Mckinley
bill, holds that the taxing power
should be mainly exercised to limit
and even prohibit imports, for th'
purpose of checking or destroying
| competition from foreign markets, ant
compelling our people to buy from
home manufacturers. The Mckinle,
bill accomplishes this BY levying OF
imports an average duty Of 30 pei
| cent. This secures for home manu-
| factures much higher prices than sim
| liar commodities bring In foreigr
markets. The difference Is the exac
equivalent of tax on manufactures
consumed by the American people
and aggregates annually, hundreds o
millions Of dollars. This tax bear
most grievously upon the agriculture
classes. After supplying American
consumers, we have left over q larg'
annual surplus Of our principal agri
cultural products, which can only b.
sold In foreign markets. This surplus
constitutes the bulk of our exports
and Il is conceded that the price J
brings abroad fixes the price at home
The Republican system denies th'
American farmer the privilege Of sup
plying bis needs In foreign market
with the avais Of his surplus crop
High tariffs make It Improbable TO
him to import foreign goods. Uonse
ouently, he must content himself will
foreign prices for what he sells, ant
nav American prices for what be buys
This compulsory process Of selling II
the cheapest and buying In the desres
market has greatly injured, and, !
continued, must ultimately destro!
| agricultural interests.
This is the only country that levie
tariff on raw materials. Our manu-
facturers, being taxed on their raw
material, are placed at such disadvail
taQe that they are practically debsrre'
| from seeking foreign markets.
Inssmuch as they can easily manu-
facture more goods than are required
for home consumption they are drive'
to the formation of trusts aud com
bines for limiting their output AM