The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-04-21


Numbering. and other industries otmy State.
Ear tro:.l il. 1t Is simply this. They are so
l;.s,d with the favored industries Of like
CHARACTER in the East that they are fairly
wei cared Tor III the ccuasal scheme. The
cotton farmer : not in that situation. Not
only does he bear his full share of the tax on
the thousands Of articles referred 10 already
IS en,erin. into the daily living Of all citizens
alike, but almost every article used by him
il. the production ofhiS cropiS taxed for the
benc:it OF some Industry, while his products
must be sold in the markets OF the world in
competition with the world products.
This bill imposes tax on trace chains Of
from J to - cents per pound: on agrlcui-
tural implements, Is per cental valoreGn: on
p,ows. cotton gins. mowers and reaperS. ,i9
per cent; or cotton ties. Sevea-ienthS q a
cent pound; on bagsing 50 per cent al val
oreE. and 80 On ali through an extensive
lis,
And how is it proposed to compensate the
cotton farmer for these iuiQUitous eXactons.
What remedy does this bill propose Tor the
admitted inequality? So far rs the bill Itself
IS concerned. il proposes absolutely nothing
Bu;an amendment was voted down N the
Way> and Ncaus Committee, We arc Told. IN
posing IN import duty oi y cents per rpound
on cotton brought 10 this couGtry from m@oro&d.
We are told further that this amendment Will
be offered inthe House ana rs the oHportunl-
~ may not present itself, under the rules
for full discussion CT that proposition, Will
discuss il .; this time.
Some adjustment o:the wrong to the cot
ton growers IS necessary. |; Is infamous
tha: he should be 50 Disseminated against.
an, ANXIOUS to vote for anu support every
measure that promises relief 10 my fellow cot
ton growers. that does not involve q sacrifice
0: principle: and feel sure that they will
neycraSH any thing Of their representatives
or Tor themselves that involves moral or po-
li,ical turpitude. Let us examine closely
this proposition TO put an import tax or cot
ton.
Who does it mean: What does ii imply:
Wha, benefit does it confer if adopted: How
does it square with our principles? These
are the questions l shall attempt briefly 10
consider and answer.
Tc my mind this is one OF the most mo-
mentous propositions, the most far-reaehlns
in its consequences, that have confronted
the REPRESENTATIVES from the cotton growing
States and the cotton growers themselves, IN
the last quarter Of q century.
Mr., Chairman. in behalf ofthe cotton pre-
iucers in my section, raise my voice against
the imposition of the proposed
TAN UroN COTTON.
The great majority OF the cotton farmers
down there are Democrats BY tradition, as
well as by intelligent conviction. They be-
l;eye that food morals and good political
economy 20 hand in hand, and that upon TINS
particular point. both are imaedded IN the
tenets Of the Democratic party throughout lis
history-particularly in that Democratic
doctrine enunciated al Chicago IN lS@2. as
follows:
I've dencunce Republican protection as \
fraud. a robbery Of the great majority Of tie
American people for the benefit OF the few.
We declareit TO be fundamental principle
of the Democratic party that the Federal
Government has no constitutional power to
impose and collect tariff duties except Tor
the purposes Of revenue only, aud We de-
,nand that the collection Of such taxes shall
be limited 10 the necessities OF the Govern
ment when honestly and economically ad-
ministered.
And again, in 1895, the Democratic party,
after re-affirming the principles laid down in
former platforms enunciated this doctrine:
.We hold that the tariff duties should be
levied for purposes Of revenue, only such du-
ties TO be so adjusted as to operate equally
throughout the country, and not discrimin-
ate between class or section, and that taxa
ton should be limited By the needs Of the
Government honestly anG economically ad-
ministered.
No, only did we subscribe to these doc
tr;nes when enunciated by the national par
ty, but before the convention met in Chica-
90, the farmers Of my State had imbodled
in the platform Of the State Democracy the
demand OF the Farmers Alliance upon this
point:
believing in the doctrine Of equal rights
10 all and special privileges TO none, We de-
mand that our national legislation shall be
50 framed in the future rs not 10 build up
one industry at the expense Of another. We
demand further u removal OF the existing
heavy tariff from the necessities OF lie that
the poor OF our land must have.
Upon these declarations OF principle: the
issue, 50 fer as the tariff question is concern
ed, was pitched in our State: and upon these
issues We were s2nt as Representatives to
this Hall.
For nv part, believe the Democratic
party of my State was honest in its profes.
sion Of principle. believe the farmers who
compose the bone and sinew Of that party,
and VINO control It's destiny were sincere
when they embedded those principles in the
platform Of the party, refuse TO believe
that they said one thing and meant another;
or that We can truly represent them by prom
iSing one thing before election and doing
different thing after election.
There is no concealnent Of the purpose Of
a tax on cotton. 1t is 70 protect the home
producer of certain staple Of cotton from
imports of Egyptian cotton. That is the
avowed intention. 1t IS not pretended by
any one who has accurate information on
the details ofthe subject that 1t will or can
produce an apprecia5le revenue The pur-
pose is distinctly stated. 1t is 70 shut out
Ecyplian cotton-that Is. protect the home
producer OF corresponding staple. This is
the rety essence Of the
PROTECTIVE DOCTRINE.
IT. IS protection Tor protection sake "ltnout
even the incident Of revenue. 1t is q pro-
lection pure and simple and lis advocates
are protectionists. Aud yet or platform
says in unequivocal language:
We denonnce Republican protection as q
fraud, q robbery of the great majority Of the
American people for the benefit of the few.
We declare it to be fundamental principle
Of the Democratic party that the Federal
Government has no constitutional power TO
impose and collect tariff duties except for
the purposes of revenue only, and We de-
mard that the collection OF such taxes shall
be limited TO the necessities Of the Govern
ment when honestly and economically ad-
min;stered.
If that be true utterance, when the Dem
ocrat;c party went before the people in 1892
and in 1896. it IS e;ernally true, and il can
not be displaced by any considerations Of
mere loss or gain.
If vas robbery to take from the farmer
his hard earnings in the shape Of a tariff