Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-25


r,,o raesage Of the Dingley tariff bill
ord the adjournment Of Congress may D0
oxnected to improve business conu'-
t,ops We hold. Of course that tne
country would be better of II the WI
con tariff law had not been toucheu' o"'
,rasmuch as the people put the power
,,to the hands of the Republicans 10
crafty the greed OF the trusts anu
,oonopolies. quiet could only be restored
nv their doing the work they had con-
tracted 10 do. ,.,
The new tariff IS a thoroughly sectional
ono II IS oppressive TO the South ana
1vost while it lavishes gratuities upon
come other sections Of the Union.
The-cotton planter will be heavily taxed
Cor me lyaggifn, which he uses Tor his
cotton bales. and the hostility aroused
~, the bill will make foreigners discrimi-
nate against our tobacco. Already we
soc the effect Of this in the proposition
80 mo reggie buyers not to purchase any
american leaf. Whether they will be able
,o hold TO this policy or not we DO not
know. but It Is certain no foreign coun-
try is going to buy OF us products that
Il may buy as well elsewhere.
In the language Of one Of the senator's
,ha Djnpley bill is "a declaration of com
,oercial war against all the world 1t
Go especially a declaration Of war against
all Americans who have to sell their pro-
auce I'm open markets while they have
40 buy their supplies in home markets.
closed to foreign competition.
Though there has been a great rise IN
,y,,eat recently. we question whether that
rise wiz do more than offset the extra
tax laid upon the wheat-growers by the
Dinghy bill.
We Of the South have nothing TO be
thankful for IN the passage Of tho neg
tarin--except that IN common with all
our co,rntrymen, we now know what Is
exnected of us, and may adjust our bust
ness. as far as possible. TO the new con-
ditions.
There Is an Improvement in business
we believe. The railroad earnings show
e. and there is n more hopeful spirit
pervadng the country. These things
have come about in spite Of unfavorable
Federal legislation. 1t has now been
seven years since the failure OF the
Rarines gave a shock TO the financial
world and since that day the tendency
of prices has been downward. 1t Is
therefore time for reaction. and we trust
The signa of improvement Observable
are proofs that that reaction has come.
- wit
this year. OF wheat, corn, oats. tobacco,
and cotton there viii be an abundance.
And while we shall have crop Of wheat
greater by 10000 900 bushels than the pre-
ceding one. foreign crop conditions are
such as TO justify US I'm expecting that
present prices will be sustained. But
~ the reports Of the greatness of the
Texas cotton crop are 80 be relied upon,
we doubt II any rise in the price OF that
STAPLE can be expected As for the to-
bacco market. It has certainly improved,
though prices for some grades are stLl
far from being satisfactory.
While we see encouraging signs, we
expect no boom. Our recovery. we think
will be very gradual, not TO say SLOW
Under the most favorable conditions pos
sible In our present surroundings, 1t Will
be years before prices Will be back where
they were seven years ago. The enact
ment Of free-sver law would probably
produce that effect, but such a thing is,
OF course not 10 be thought OF during
McKinley's administration. So, all that
we can do is 10 make the best Of our
situation and address ourselves TO the
work OF recuperation with might and
main. Let US try TO get our share Of
business and profits. II we can't have
exactly what we wish, let us make the
best OF that which we have.
The community that looks out for Itself
and iabors to increase its business will
be ever so much better off at the end
OF the year than the community that sits
IDLY bewaillng the hard times.