The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-20

exports of manufacturers which should
not be lost sight of. In 1898 our inn
ports of manufactured articles exceeded
our exports nearly 200 million dollars;
in 1895 they amounted 121 million dol
lars; in 1897 they were 2712 million dol
lars, while in 1898 our exports of manu-
featured articles exceeded the imports
so million dollars. This record has new
er been equaIed before. These figures
show that the United States is becom-
ing a dangerous rival of the manufac-
turing nations of Europe in the mar
kets of the world, which our fusion
friends said we could not reach without
free trade.
There are many things which show
the improved condition of business, and
the benefits which the change from
wisconsin to protection has brought
the labOring men of the country.
In every line of industry there has
been decided advancement. Take iron
and steel: The actual consumption in
December, 1897, over December, 1896,
was 76,498 tons per week greater. You
may take the mills in various states
and the story is one of reViving bust
ness, in increased employment and a
satisfactory increase in wages. What
can be said in regard to the iron and
steel industry can be truthfully repeat
ed in regard to the other industries, and
in so few short months the tariff, which
was framed in the interest of American
workers and American factories, has
placed them on the high road to pros
.perity. There is but one exception; that
is the cotton industry Of Massachusetts,
and every one who reads knows why
the wages were reduced in those mills.
There has been a general increase in
all kinds of business except the cotton
mills; in all other branches there is in
creased employment, increased wages
and fuller time The production of iron,
COAL shoes and Woolens was never so
great as it was last spring, and the
clearing house exchanges show that the
distributing trade was never so large.
~ aTraf
the business conditions of the country;
they are bank loans. deposits and clear
ingS, the gold in the banks and in the
treasury; but I will not take up your
time this afternoon only long enough to
call your attention to them. The show
ing made ought to convince the most ar
dent free trader that protection brings
benefits, while free trade is followed by
depression
Speaking of the attitude Of the fusion
members on congress on the war queS-
ton, Mr.. Curtis said:
1.-The people of the country applauded
the members of congress for their vote
on the bill apprOpriattng so million dol
lars for war preparation; they applaud
ed them for voting for the declaration
Of war, but, ladies and gentlemen, so
far as the opposition of the Republicans
in congress are concerned you cannot
applaud their votes on the other ques-
tions Nearly all of them voted against
the Cuban resolution as reported by the
Republican majority; they tried to
amend and defeat it in every way and
did not vote for it until the final vote.
I hold the Congressional Record in my
hands giving the vote, and would be
glad to have any person examine it so
that you may satisfy yourselves in re-
gard to their vote. They also opposed
the conference report, and did not vote
for it until the final vote. The truth is,
and the record shows, that they opposed
the policy advocated by the Republicans
in regard to Cuba. Time has demon
strated that the president and the Re
publicans were right and the opposition
wrong. But that is not all They Op-
posed the Republican war revenue meas
ure. What did these gentlemen offer?
"First-An income tax, which has
been declared unconstitutional, and
from which not a dollar could be de-
rived second-the issuance of $50, 000, 900
more of greenbacks. and, third-the
coinage of the seniorage-say AZ mil
lions.
Three years ago the supreme court
decided that the income tax law of 1894
was unconstitutional. That ought to
have settled the matter, but it did not.
The opposition to the Republicans in
the house, to the number of 125, voted
for an amendment imposing tax on
all incomes over certain amount This
was unconstitutional, and the very fact
that they did not offer an amendment
which would come within the decisions
shows that they were not in good faith.
The second and third meant an inf1a-
ton of the currency without providing
a single additional facility for keeping
it at par What would be the result
of an over issue? You know that there
would be a repetition of the issues of
1862 to '65. Gold would disappear fast
er than it did in 1898, and the 5000, 900 900
authorized to be issued would depreci-
ate but that is not all, it would affect
the 346, 900. 600 greenbacks and 483, 000, 600
silver certificates and coin notes. It
would not only damage the government
and. unnecessarily increase the costs,
but would rob the soldier and sailor.
wouldn't it be encouraging to the
brave soldiers who destroyed the Span
ish fleet at Manila to hear that the gov
eminent thanked them for their bra
very but would pay them in a depreci-
ated dolIar2 The government does not
pay the soldier and sailor much, but
what it does pay will be in sound money
dollars, worth their face the world
over.
Il remember in the ffty-third con-
gress the gentlemen who now oppose
the Republican policy of raising money
to carry on the war voted for meas
lre that forced the issuance of bonds
in the time of peace. I was surprised
at their conduct
Dewey had won his splendid victory
at Manila, the guns at MatanZas had
been siIenced, a successful blockade had
been established at Havana, thousands
of men were answering their cOuntry's
call, troops were ready to start to the