Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-08
BUSINESS AND POLITICS.

BUSINESS AND fULlllCS.
When we criticized the daily press
last Saturday for refraining from dis
cussion of the practical business ques-
tions involved in the Philippine issue,
we had no idea that the matter was to
be so soon forced upon it, and with
such tremendous vengeance; but now
the battle is joined, and in our humble
judgment it is likely to remain joined
until it is fought to finish.
The Southern Cotton Spinners' asso'
citation has thrown down the gauntlet
in the preamble and resolutions unani-
mously adopted in Charlotte last
Thursday night and published else
where in this issue. Coming as they do
from such source, and embodying as
they do such an important mixture OF
business and political declarations, these
resolutions cannot be ignored. They
are we'll calculated to command-to
force-careful, serious, consideration
from all who are capable of thought.
The signers of the first Mecklenburg
declaration were out for liberty, and
the signers of this-which may
very properly be called u second Meek
lenburg declaration-are out for divi-
dends. Both these incentives, it must
be admitted, are very strong, and to
our view, whether morally right or
not, conditions are ripeDing for as
rapid spread of this second propa-
ganda as was experienced by the first.
The bold confidence with which the
cotton spinners map out policy for
our international relations, is, to say
the least, somewhat startling. Their
programme involves doctrines that are
Numerically opposed to what con-
siderable section of the southern daily
press has been laying down as the cor
rect rule for political guidance but
that is easily accounted for. Until
now southern manufacturing interests
have taken no part in politics; but
since it has entered the field, it is but
natural that its creed should be iden-
tical with that Of the north.
And if it is the "main chance" that
is to prevail in this matter, there is no
reason why the cotton spinners should
be alone, for logically there belongs
with them not only all the mill opera
tives; but also all the cotton pro.
ducers. For instance, suppose it is a
fact that the market for cotton goods
can be held at its present volume or
developed only by the maintenance OF
free trade in China, then everybody
interested in cotton is interested in
this free trade. The contraction of
the market, of course, means the stop
page of many spindles, throwing out
of employment many operatives, and
lessening the demand for cotton, while
the expansion of the market, equally,
of course, means the opposite effect.
But the cotton producers are not
so quick to see the "main chance" as
are the cotton spinners, and they are
slower to take advantage of it unless
thoroughly convinced that they are
morally right. And in the present
case, as information develops, the
right of the matter is becoming palmer
every day. After all, who is threat
ening to close the ports of China? Not
China herself; but Russia, Germany and
France, which countries would keep
out our manufactures for their own
benefit. Looking at the question from
this standpoint, the declarations of the
spinners involve considerations that
are not altogether devoid of correct
principles.