The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
"AgricOIa" Answered.
Editorial, ,Walterboro Press and Standar

Editorial, WATERFORD Fress ana STANDARD.
In an article in another column In this issue
"Agricoa" who, with due respect for his Sc
niority, gives no evidence OF being as smart al
| the old Roman statesman who bore the name
takes exception to the estimate placed by US
through the adoption Of an editorial printed
value to the South of Calhoun's doctrines al
this stage OF the worlds progress. and pro-
oeeds TO eulogize the principles enunciated
by that distinguished advocate ofslavery and
"Agricola" may be pardoned for cllngine
| to the views held by the aute-bellum slave.
holding autocrat. for 1t was In those good
old days:the memory OF which Is mellowed by
the lapse OF time, that he was reared to mans
es tate and received those Impressions which
are the most lasting. With him. as with
other representatives OF the old order o
things, the trouble Is that, owing to these In
capable OF properly recognising and appre
clating the changed condition OF affairs.
We revere the name and memory OF Gal.
houn. as we do the memory Of all the great
and good men whose conspicuous abilities
eXemplifed In the service OF our country, In
the timos in which they lived. can never be
depreoiated by southern posterity; but at th G
fact that the sooner the south frees itself from
traditional prejudices and from subsection TO
old and outgrown authorities the sooner will
industrial development succeed ., business
and nuIiifcalion, all of which "Agricola"
will doubtless be forced to admit are now
and Banner, 'he was the champion OF
slavery and all his efforts were directed to the
perpetuaton OF slavery, To perpetuate
slavery IT was thought best to make the sou tn
an agricultural and not manufacturing
country. The plan was to with. hold opportu-
mites from the non-Rlave veholder 10 find profit
able employment. The laboring white man
could not compete with slave labor on the
LII. nj Of
ed for him 10 engage in anufacturing enter
prises he must leave the old settled slave
states to seek homes elsewhere. The non
saveiholders who owned land we're, In hun,
dreds of instances practically forced TO sell
his real estate. And when the land was out
of his possession, he could not gel other land
In the slaveholding neighborhoods:
"With th Q abolition OF slavery the prlnci-
pie of free trade became extinct, and Is today
no more an issue than slavery. Free trade
was based on slavery. and when slavery pass.
ed free trade was no more to be thought OF
except as q dead ISSUE"
In the face OF these facts, how can ''Agri-
cola" ask (which of the principles OF Ca lhoun
are unworthy of respect and void OF Influence
today?" Should he not rather direct his in
quiry to the finding out OF which OF the prin-
ciples Of Calhoun are alive and applicable to
existing conditions?
The next question "Agrlcola" propounds
admits OF an easy answer. "How does free
trade" he asks, "oppose the full development
OF every industry promotive of the wealth.
happiness aud growth OF nation?' by
making il impossible, We answer for the
growing nation to compete with stronger and
richer nations that can by concentration OF
their resources upon manufacturing. produce
a surplus Of articles easy Of transportation.
If the United States, for instanc ce, were simply
purchasers and consumers free trade would
benefit them, but they must produce some
thing to give In exchange for what they buy
To sell they must find market. AS they
buy from foreign manufacturer 1t is useless
TO expect better home market In which to
makes the common mistake ofassuming that
there could be a cheap market In which TO
buy and dear mark ct In which to sell.
TO equaliZe prices we must have the cen-
ters Of manu- featuring near the producer SO
the cost of transportation may be saved. This
brings US 10 the point ofurging protectloni for