The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-09-11

Russia has made, and is still making
great encroachments on that country.
While Spain was not manufactur-
ing country, her friendly relations with
Germany gave that nation unusual
privileges in the Philippines.
So it will be seen that until Admiral
Dewey captured Manila, and the Paris
treaty was signed, ceding those IS
lands to the United States. our coun--
try was shut out from this rich and
valuable Eastern trade, and we had to
take the leavings of rival nations. or
accept what they were willing to give
US.
It is utterly impossible to estimate
the value OF the trade OF CHINA ana
neighboring Islands and country to
the cotton growers and manufacturers
of the South. The Chinese minister to
the United States tells US II we can in
duce every native of the Celestial
Empire to add only two inches TO the
length of his shirt-tail, that they Will
consume every surplus bale of cotton
the South can produce and it matters
not how large the crop grown, there
will be nc overproduction of the t1eecy
staple.
II YOU will remember, China alone
has about four hundred millions o1
people, besides the population OF the
| thousands of Pacific islands and other
Eastern countries that depend sole
lvton cotton goods for raiment, and then
calculate how many pounds of cotton
it will REQUIRE to spin that two addit-
ional inches OF shirt-tail, it will be
seen that Minister WI knew what ne
was talking about. Hence, as a South
ern farmer and cotton grower, L not
only endorse the annexation OF the
Philippines by the United States, but |
am also in favor of flooding China with
shirt-tail missionaries.
The recent trouble in China has re-
suited in opening that vast kingdom to
the trade OF the world, and which OF
course means a large Increased con-
sumption of cotton goods.
The United States could never hope
to obtain a fair share OF this valuable
trade unless our government had a
foothold in the East, and from which
vantage ground we can watch, guard
and protect our interests. The annex
alton of the Philippines has now given
us this foothold and hereafter we may
confidently count on getting full
share of the Eastern business, for trade
always follows the flag.
While, of course, every section OF
our country will reap a share OF the
benefits accrueing from this "expan-
sion policy, the Southern cotton man
ufacturers, and especially the South
ern cotton grower will inherit the far
greater share of the rich spoil. eX-
beet to see the beneficial effect OF thels
policy manifested with the now ma
turing crop, and even if the yield ex-
ceed 100000 bales to see cotton
bringing from seven to eight cents,
and each year, as our trade expands
prices of the staple will continue to
mount higher. Mark this prediction.
There will be no more and cents
cotton sold.
For her late troubles, the United
States most wisely stood between Chi
ma and the rapacious greed of other
nations, and. as; a national result, we
have the good will and friendship OF
the Celestial. But for the protest OF
the United States, the Chinese Empire
would have been seized upon and dis
membered, like unto Poland. But 1t
was to our interest to preserve the IN
tegritv of this kingdom, that we might
compete for it's trade. And I very
much doubt if our government could
have been able 10 enforce this act OF
Justice were not our navy strengthened
bv the war with Spain, the valor OF
our soldiers demonstrated, and our flag
planted in the Philippines.
If any intelligent and reasoning
southern man, and who has the up
building and prosperity of his country
and people nearer at heart than the
success of some politician, will only set
his think-works in operation, and calm
" and impassionately review the sltu-
aticn, and all of it's surroundings am
confident he will agree with ME that
the annexation of the Philippine Is
lands was a great stroke of policy for
the South, for the southern cotton
grower, and for the southern manufac-
turer.
All that the South now lacks of at.
tanning the highest possible degree OF
prosperity is the opening of the Mic
caraeuan canal. and that important
event is as sure to follow our annexa-
ton OF the Philippines as that day Will
follow night.
I consider it criminal demagogary
for any public man, or ofhce-seeker. to
strive to build up strife and antagonlsm
between our Southern cotton manufac-
turers and cotton producers. The two
callines can in no possible manner con-
| hict, but, on the other hand. one is de-
pendent upon the other.
A farmer is not forced to sell his cot
ton to some neighboring mill, for the
markets of the world are open to him;
and he will be even still more indepen-
dent in this respect when the South IS
piyen direct trade with Europe. So
| far from there being any rivalry be-
tween the producer and the manufac-
turer of cotton, the establishment OF
those mills in community never 1alls
to enhance the value OF neighboring
property, and also gives the farmer a
profitable market for many products
that would otherwise go to waste. So
far from antagonizing these mills, l
want to see that day come when every
pound of cotton grown in the South IS
spun into cloth by a southern mill, and
then those goods transported in south
ern vessels to every country on the
globe. Then, and not till then, will
the South reap all profit from the great
est crop grown, and attain the highest
degree of wealth and prosperity.
| lay no claim to craftsmanship, but
! I do love my country and my people,
land l want to see them rich and pros
porous, I have given great deal OF
care and thought to the public issues 1
have been discussing, and l believe
that 1 am right in my views. If any
one can advance any rational argu-
ments on the other side would like to
! hear from him. Unfounded charges
and personal abuse are not answers, to
an argument; and I believe the people
of South Carolina are now ripe to hear
and have all public issues calmly and
impassionately discussed.
The threatened over production OF
1 l L IN, tD,,~ h