The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-08-18

set forth most strongly by Others,
| believe that the annexation of
Hawaii is the most beneficial meas,
ure, prospectively, that has been
introduced into Congress for many
years. l believe that it will be a
matter of which every member will
be proud in future years that he
has had the privilege of voting for
accepting this territory by the
United States, offered now without
cost.
Mr.. Speaker, each member on
this floor represents the entire
United States, and it is his duty to
favor only that which will be of
benefit to the country at large. But
in addition to this representative
capacity he more directly speaks
for his own section of the country
and for the Congressional district
that conferred the honor of election
upon him. l have, in general way,
endeavored to outline the advantages
to be gained by the country at large,
and | will now more particularly
dwell upon the benefits which will
accure to the section | have the
honor in part to represent.
Mr.. Speaker, the great staple of
the South is cotton. The cotton
crop of the world increased from
2,6o5, 1000 bales in 1865 to 6,54I, 900
bales in 1875, to 9,350,000 bales
in 1885, and to 13,157,0OO bales in
1895, these being the figures given
by Ellison & Co. There has not
been corresponding increase in the
consumption of cotton, and the
prices of that important product
are now below the cost OF production
A great and important section is
suffering from financial depression
on account of the lack of a market
for itS leading staple. Owing to
there being No means of transp"rta.
ion to the countries of the East,
we have always, until comparatively
recently, exported all of our cotton
to Europe, and from there it was
sent toAsia and Oceanica
We are beginning in small way
tu send American cotton directly To
these countries, and the effect is
marked by the constant increase of
the consumption Of lotion IN Asia
In 1893 we only exported of cot
ton cloths to China S1,63S,657 In
1897 this had increased to $7,438,-
203. In 1898 we exported to the
British East Indies of cotton cloth
$144,759. In 1897 we exported
$199,SSO. In 1898 we exported
manufactured cotton TO Japan
to the amount of s68,423. In 1897
this was increased to $2,345,Ol6.
Of cotton cloth we exported to
Japan, in 1898, s9,0S4, in 1897,
S141,264
Our exports to the other coun-
tries of Asia of cotton cloth increas-
ed from S65,654 in 1898 to $685.
$40 in 1897. Our expectations of
cotton cloth to British Australia in
1893 amounted to only $80,626,
while in 1897 they had increased to
$249, ,3lO. Our expectations of cot
ton manufactures increased to
S29O,790in 1898 to S3o5,715 in
1897. The imports into the conn
tries of Asia and Oceanica for the
year 1896 amounted to Sl,066,55I-
653 Of this amount the United
States furnished S47759,167, or a
of $50. The exports
from the countries of Asia amount
to $1,O6O,243,S38, of which the
United States received $92, ,O26,272.
Since the United States has established
a direct trade in cotton goods with
China, American trade has constantly
increased, while German and English
trade has constantly decreased. Be-
tween 1894 and 1897, -ccording to a
table prepared by Consul Fowler, of
Chefoo, China, the trade in drills de-
creased 1880 pieces of English and
Dutch and increased 1870 of American.
The number of pieces Of English sheet.
ing decreased 1905, while the pieces OF
American sheetings increased 95,275.
The first manufacture of cotton in
China was announced by the Shanghai
Chamb:r of Commerce on May 20, 1895.
Three mills were contracted for, one of
10000 spindles and two Of 2S,oco spin
dies each. Another new mill was built
at Wuchang, one at Hongkong, and a
IL 900 spindle mill at Chang kee. All
of these mills have since increased their
capacity. The one at Hongkong more
than doubled its number Of spindles.
The demand for cotton goods has in
creased with wonderful rapidity. The
of the past three years in
the direct sale of cotton and cotton
goods to the countries of Asia and
Oceanica prove conclusively that all we
require to control the great and growing
trade of the Orient is for US to secure
Just such advantages as would be af:
forded US by the possession of Hawaii
and the Philippines.
If we secured these islands in the
Pacific, the conclusion would be irresis-
tibly forced upon US that the completion