The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-06-05
BILL ARp'S WEEKLY LETTER.
A Few Random Remarks on the Dlaglay
Tariff Bill.
Ex-Goy. "auDsILL HAMMOND" QUOTED.
1t Was He Who First Said ssCotton is
King''-wIlliam Secs Proph ecy
Being Fu'fiiled-Adam Worked In q
Garden, So Does MIR. Arp.

not know who first said ''cotton is
king" This admission of my igno-
rance seems to have surprised and
awakened some of my Carolina friends
and now l. know from many sources
that Ex-Governor Hammond said it IN
speech in the United States senate in
1858, during the debate on the admis-
sion of Kansas. It was great speech,
states right speech such as Calhoun
might have made, and in it he said:
"No, cir, you dare not make war on
cotton-cotton is king. Until lately
the bank of England was king, but last
fall she tried to put the screws upon
our cotton crop and was utterly van
quished-cotton is king" That speech
gave much offense-at the north and
won for him the title of ''Mudsill
Hammond, /" for in it he said: SIN all
social systems there must be a class to
do the drudgery of life-a class re-
quiring but low order of intellect
and but little skill. This class must
have vigor, docility and fidelity. Such
class you must have, or you would
not have that other and higher class
which leads progress, refinement and
civilization. This inferior class con-
stitutes the very mudsills of society
and of government, and You might as
we'll attempt to build house in the
air as to build except upon the mud
stills. Fortunately for the south, she
has race adapted to that purpose.
We call them slaves-a word discard
ed by ears polite--but you have sim.
liar class at the north. Yes, you have
tit is there, it is everywhere. it is
eternal"
1 remember how the northern press
scarified him for his mudsill speech,
but he spoke the truth and it is still
the truth, and more SO for the mudsills
are more numerous now in proportion
to population. Almost everybody in
this region is mudsill, and if that
Dingley tariff bill becomes law the
masses will all be mndsills for the
privileged and protected classes. The
common people of nation can never
prosper under protective tariff until
ma can lift himself up by the straps
on his boets. Only the protected will
prosper and they are but small class
compared with the unprotected. Even
! Mr.. Atkinson, the Boston statesman,
says the Dingley bill will prove bur-
den on the people and bring in but
little revenue.
But did not intend to branch off
on this tariff question, though it is an
alarming and Serious one to the south
ern people, for we manufacture moth
ing to speak of. Everything in this
room where l am writing came from
the north. I have been working in
my garden all day with northern tools
aud even the wheelbarrow has the
stamp of "Grand Rapids upon it. l
didn't used to be mudsill, but EN-
now and my hands are so cramped by
digging and forking the ground that /
can hardly hold the pen in my fingers.
But Senator Hammond did not use
that word in any invidious sense. He
did not mean to sling mud at anybody.
knew that it was necessary Cor the
mudsill to be sunk deep down below
the water and quicksand CT else the
foods would wash the mill away.
Protection props will not protect the
mill unless the foundation is laid
deep and strong, and it is the toll and
sweat of labor that makes cur food anc
clothing. Labor is the mudsill-tht
foundation of society and government
Extinguish labor for year or half {
year or even month and the Gouldi
and Astors and Vanderbilts would
perish. We are told that there /!
never weeks supply of food in New
York and those millionaires couldn'
ride and wouldn't walk to the ives
after it. I am mighty sorry for thes'
rich and helpless people. Just let thu
trains stop running and the cooks qui
cooking and all the butchers and ba
kers shops be closed for lack of sup
plies and all the horses get out Of foo'
what would become of the millionaire
in New York city? They would be a
neIpIess as painted snip upol
a painted ocean. They would b
like Mr.. Rouss, who says he vii
give any man million dollars VIII
will restore his sight The mudsill
must not be dishonored, for they ar
the only class who are fulfilling des
tiny, for the Lord said to the man
"by the sweat of thy face shall tho1
eat bread" Yes, / am mudsill rfgh
now, and if it is a curse it brings
blessing with it. work hard a
, manual labor and get oil over in
sweat of perspiration, as CODE says
aud I feel proud of my days work
and Mrs. Arp gets off her matronl
dignity and walks out to see what
have done and condescends few re
marks of appreciation. That Statistic
: me. till next morning, when 1 wor
some more before breakfast-wor
makes me forget to brood owe
little troubles and it gives me a goo
appetite and my food digests and
sleep better and snore less and don
cry out with the nightmare. 1t is
. blessed privilege to be mudsill,
: horny handed son Of toll, for it secure
| GOOD baalfh and brinos n man pearf