Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-08-28

schedules or rates or duty
 They are and should always be subject to change to meet new conditions, but the principle upon which rates of duty are i'm posed remains the same. Our duties should be high enough to measure the difference between the wages paid labor at home and ill competing countries and to adequately protect American investments and Ameri- can enterprises.
 Our Farmers and the Tariff.
 Our farmers have been hurt by the changes in our tariff legislation as severely as our laborers and manufacturers, badly as they have suffered. The Republican platform wisely declares in favor of such encouragement to our sugar interests ''as will lead to the production on American soil of all the sugar which the American people use" 1t promises to our wool and wooden interests ''the most ample protec- tion, a guaranty that ought to commend itself to every patriotic citizen. Never was more grievous wrong done the farmers of our country than that so unjustly inflicted during the past three years upon the wool growers of America. Although among our most industrious and useful citizens their interests have been practically de- stroyed and our woolen manufacturers in volved in similar disaster. At no time within the past 36 years. and perhaps mover during any previous period, have so many of our woolen factories been suspended as now. The Republican party can be relied upon to correct these great wrongs if again entrusted with the control of congress
 Reciprocity.
 Another declaration of the Republican platform that has my most cordial sup port is that which favors reciprocity. The splendid results of the reciprocity arrange ments that were made under authority of the tariff law of 1S90 are striking and sug gestiye The brief period they were in force, in most eases only three years was not long enough to thoroughly test their great value, but sufficient to show by the trial to concluslvely demonstrate the lm- portanee and the wisdom of their adoption.
 In 1892 the export trade of the United States attained the highest point in our history. The aggregate of our exports that year reached the immense sum of $1 ,030 21S 14S, q sum greater by S100, ,G00,000 than the exports of any previous year. In 1S93 owing to the unfriendly tariff legislation, the exports aggregated only $S16,900,0G0 The increase of trade with the countries with which we had reciprocity agreements was 5. .560 5l5 over our trade in 1892, and S16 440, 721 over our trade in 189l The only countries with which the United States 1 traded that showed increased exports in 1893 were practically those with which we had reciprocity arrangements
 | The reciprocity treaty between this coun- | try and Spain, toucEing the markets of Cuba and Porto Rico was announced Sep tember l, 1891. The growth of onr trade with Cuba was phenomenal. In 1891 we sold that country but l14 All barrels of flour; in 1882, 366, l75; in 1893, 6l6, 4C6. and in 1891, 6s!a33, ,224S. Here was a growth of nearly 800 per cent while our exportations of four to Cuba for the year ending June a0th, 1s94-the year following the repeal of the reciprocity treaty-fell to 319, ,396 bar rels, q loss of nearly half our trade with that country. The value of our total ex- | m af ilap iICa faaf4 "a Fr0If fa1 | States to Cuba in 1s91-the year prior to l the negotiation of the reciprocity treaty was S12, ,324 ,SS8 in 1892, ST ,953, ,559; in 1893 s@4, l57 .69s in 1894, SEQ l25, ,321, but in 1895, after the annulment of the reciprocity l agreement 1t fell to only S12, ,SS7 ,661.
 Many similar examples might be given of our increased trade under reciprocity l with other countries, but enough has been shown of ths efficacy Of the legislation of | 1890 to justify the speedy restoration of its reciprocity provisions. In my judgment congress should immediately restore the reciprocity feature of the law with such amendments, if any, as time and expert ence as wise and proper. The underlying principle of this legislation must, however, | be strictly observed. It is to afford new markets for our surplus agricultural and manufactured products without loss to the American laborer of single days work that he might otherwise procure.
 Foreign Immigration.
 The declaration of the platform touching foreign immigration is one of peculiar im- portanee at this time while our own labor ing people are in such great distress. l am 1 in hearty sympathy with the present legis- lation restricting foreign immigration and favor such extension of the laws as will se- cure the United States from invasion by the debased and criminal classes of the | Old World. While we adhere to the pub lie policy under which our country has re- ceived great bodies of honest, industrious citizens who have added to the wealth, | progress and power of the country, add while we welcome to our shores the well | disposed and industrious immigrant who contributes by his energy and intelligence l to the cause of free government, we want no immigrants who do not seek our shores 1 to become citizens. We should permit none to participate in the advantages of our civilization who do not sympathiZe with our aims and form of government. We should permit none who come to make war upon our institutions and profit by public disquiet and turmoil. Against all such our gates must be tightly closed
 Our Soldiers and Sailors
 The soldiers and sailors of the Union l should neither be neglected or forgotten. 1 The government which they served so we'll must not make their lives and condition l harder by treating them as suppliant in l their distress Doubtless there have been pension abuses and frauds in the numerous claims allowed by the government, but the policy governing the administration of the pension bureau must always be fair and liberal. No deserving applicant should ever suffer because of a wrong perpe trated by or for another. Our soldiers aad sailors gave the government the best they had. They freely offered health, strength, limb and life to save the country in time of it's greatest peril and the government l must treat him with respect
 Our Merchant Marine and Navy.
 The declaration of the Republican plat form in favor of the upbuilding of onr The policy of discriminating duties in favor of our shipping, which prevailed in the early days of our history, should again be adopted by congress and vigorously supported until our prestige and suprem- acy on the seas is fully attained We