New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-28
REVOLT IN The oOOlH.

,o,us,ANA REsENTs THE RUIN OF ITS
INDUSTRIES.
p,cE AND sU5AR-rHE PLANTERS "oVE"ENI-
o r,,,1vs or REPUBLICAN POLICY
pA1LYrNa POINT AGAINST
vusGovERNMENT.
CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE
.ss suffered more than any other
Lou'S'" go. from the prevailing conditions Of
"ou'"e .",,a agriculture. Low prices for cotton,
unp'o" "a rice have reduced the purchasing
S'e"' =. Al, II. chief staples. and have disheart-
pow" .sr.e great classes Of producers; and the
'"' NJ these enormous crops has been re-
nv nd blocked by harassing labor troubles in
60 or,.sns The conservatism OF the banks and
.,.nts has been the main resource OF the city
Ia the State during this Industrial crisis, and
,he outlook for the future, while clouded with un-
..rtainties is hopeful. Apart from the embar
easements Of the sugar planters. whose claim
AGAINST the United States Government for viola
ton Of the bounty contract Is now awaiting the
action Of Congress. few mercantile failures are
on,,cinated by well-informed bankers and lead
ing members Of the Cotton Exchange. Mer-
chants who have advanced money TO cotton
PLANTERS during the last year have been amply
secured against loss. when the crop was paid Tor.
and the banks OF New-Orleans have been cautious
IN lending their money. and are in an exceptional
~ good condition. The burdens OF Improbable
o,r;culture fall mainly upon the unfortunate pro-
ducers and with the exception of the cotton in
dustry these have been increased by tariff legis-
lation al Washington.
The rice industry of Louisiana increased greatly
while the Mckinley tariff was in operation. and
the planters imagined that they had little to fear
from a Democratic Congress. The duties were re-
duced from to 11a cents on cleaned rice and from
~ N $40 cents on uncleaned rice free Of outer
buu and having the inner cutcle." In practice
the rice merchant has found that the more pre-
else definition Of uncleaned rice given in the Will
son tariff is distinct GAIN and the rice miller Is
also amply protected in the business OF cleaning
rice but the planter has suffered materially from
the reduction OF the duty on the unclaimed rice,
since II has exposed him to competition from
China and Japan. This fact was demonstrated
not long ago. when the rice market was broken
by the announcement Of large importation Of
rice from Japan. The planters having raised a
large crop are In fairly good condition. notwith-
standing the low price Of rice but they are con-
WINGED that under the new tariff their interests
are sacrificed TO those OF the millers. who by I'M
porting cargoes of uncleaned rice from the East
and then cleaning 1t. can regulate the price OF the
home product. The operation OF the rice sched-
ule is causing intense dissatisfaction among
pla..ers in Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina and
Georgia.
The discomfort Of the rice planters with tarn
which protects the rice milers at their expense Is
A,.Dl& - 4Ha ma
planters against a policy which overwhelmed
them with embarrassment and ruin when they
had exhausted their resources In improving the
mechanical plant Of their industry and in intro
ducng the most scientific processes OF sugar
making. Their indignation is unbounded over the
Injustice Of the abrogation OF the bounty In the
middle Of the season when all their calculations
for a years contracts with cane-farmers and in
vestments in machinery were based upon It, With
the Trust storehouses overstocked with sugar I'M
ported when II was not dutable, and with the
price steadily depressed by the enormous beet
crop Of Europe. the duty imposed by Congress
has not been OF any advantage to them. and they
doubt II It will ever be. They have been making
sugar at loss. and they have been deprived OF
last years bounty; and their debts for machinery
and betterments Of all kinds are unpaid What
were Associate Justice White and Senators CAT
plosively, when they allowed a rulnous sugar
schedule to take the place Of the bounty pro-
visions? II they had been our most malevolent
enemies instead Of colleagues and friends
they could not have succeeded In running more
completely"
The sugar planters turned last November
against the party which was responsible for
their misfortunes. Under the leadership Of the
oldest and most influential Democrats OF the
State they broke away from their party. in
vited Governor Mckinley to speak for Them
and organized third party or. rather, a fourth
party. in the State for the Popusts were al
ready in the field. Republican opinion respect
ing the planters movement is divided There
are old-time leaders who do not hesitate TO
speak contemptuously Of II. and to call In ques-
tion the sincerity Of the planters They assert
that the planters either nominated or Endorsed
opposition candidates for Congress In three dis
tricts for the sake of political effect at Washing
ton; that II was a sugar movement and not
real aggressive, honest politics; that they
maintained their organization and did not
cooperate with the Republicans; that they
listened gladly to Governor Mckinley and gave
him cordial reception; but they did not make
an earnest fight and neglected TO work on cleo
ton day. According to these critics, the De-
mocracy Of these planters too strong and
too stubborn TO be Republicanized. The plant
ers were willing to strike an attitude for the
sake Of intimidating Democratic leaders at
Washington. and of conciliating Republicans in
Congress. and thereby improving their chance
OF getting the sugar bountes for 1894; but they
were not political converts, and would inevita
bly, revert to their old-time political associa
lions OF the Populists. with whom the Repub-
licans made combination In the three remain
ing Louisiana districts. these critics speak with
more respect, but In view OF the election frauds
which openly practised they are utterly
disheartened and hopeless. This Is the pessi-