Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-31
A HOPELESS STRUGGLE.
A Thoughtful Correspondent Argues
That Right Cannot Prevail Against

Thoughtful Correspondent Argues
That Right Cannot Prevail Against
Might.
Editor Yorkville Enquirer:
Although I have sworn off from al
lowing myself to get excited over pol
itics, it is impossible for man who
reads and thinks to remain Indifferent
to the discussion now going on.
So far as Senator McLaurin Is con-
cerned, I admire him; but he may as
we'll be trying to bay the moon as to
fight all that crowd of politicians that
Senator Tillman has put after his scalp.
OF course, there is no question about
his Democracy now, whatever it may
have been in the past; but this fact
can weigh nothing against the constant
dinning of the politicians and the news
papers.
When, a few years ago, all Of the
politicians were telling the people how
each of them could be and should be
made rich from the government treas
ury, and the people believed, I felt
sorry for my state and sorry for my
kind. Now that one of the politicians
has hit upon the only real source of
wealth and prosperity-development o.
manufacturing and agriculture by the
development of foreign markets-and
all the balance are bounding him dow
I again feel sorry for my state and 50, :
ry for riy:-nniiiRiG. -- -
Take the cotton mills out of the
country and look at what you have
left; consider the other industries that
are growing up because Of them. If
the picture is not sufficiently striking.
stop the production of cotton also, and
then survey the field. To those who
like to hunt and fish, the prospect Is
not unpleasant.
If you have done as I have asked
you, and if you have seen the situa-
ton as I think I see it, you are ready
to agree with me that cotton produc-
ton has been the principal basis of our
prosperity. The next question then is
have we developed as much as we care
to develop?
We commenced raising cotton about
one hundred years ago, because there
was market for it in England. Eng
land took practically all we could raise
at such prices as she saw proper to
pay. At first we could not furnish her
as much as she wanted, and the price
was high. Then we began to give her
more cotton than she could manufac-
ture and the price went down. About
the time England, Germany, France
and New England got to where they
could manufacture as much cotton as
we could make, there began to develop
a tardiness about finding new markets
fast enough to take the goods, and this
gave us another backset. The produc-
er, of course, carried the heaviest bur-
den all the while. At this time. as for
several years past. there are enough
mills to manufacture all the cotton
that is being raised; but there are not
enough developed markets to consume
it all, and that leaves US at stagnation
again.
The logic Of the whole situation is
now pretty generally understood. If
you would get the best possible price for
cotton, you must have the widest possi-
BILE markets for cotton goods. The more
markets, the more mills, and the more
mills the greater demand for raw cot
ton, and the greater the demand for raw
cotton, the higher the price to the con-
sumner. If it were possible for the pro-
ducer to curtail production he could
get better prices. I will not say this is
impossible; but 1t is impracticable.
The other end is open. Proper effort in
that direction can more than double the
present demand for cotton goods with
in the next ten years; but do not be-
lieve it is possible to double the supply.
Double the demand and the price will
double, less only the amount by which
the supply fails to double.
Then is it not clear that the thing
is to develop foreign markets? Our pos
session of the Philippines at the door Of
China will help in that direction, and
also will the digging of the Nicaragua
canal, and in all of these things Sena-
tor McLaurin Is right.
Like most other men, politicians are
selfish and ambitious. They count on
the people for applause and power. These
things are dearer to most men than
life itself. One man will bow to the
wishes of another provided he can
make the fellow below bow to him.
There is always big boss with some
other fellow constantly striving for his
place. The people are the source Of all
power, and all the politicians court