The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-07-04

the part Of those who possess govern
mental powers, but | cannot believe
nor can l give my assent to the idea
that there is anything antagonistic to
the true growth of the State in the
opinion of the ma jority of the people
of the State.
This is Democratic State, aud by
this | do not mean to introduce poll
tics; | am simply making the declara-
tion that this State believes in govern
ment by the people. The history of
the State shows the wisdom of this
belief. The men who have been most
distinguished in North Carolina, who
have gained the utmost love of the
people have been those who have
dwelt closest in contact with their
views. The men who have done most
for the growth Of the State and for
its integrity have been those who
have always believed in the upright
ness of thought and purity of pur-
pose Of the masses OF the people. In
recent years we have all lived to see
the people move forward in advance
of their leaders and declare that the
hour had come for Independent action
and that passion with all of its at
tendant evils should cease from
among us, and the problem which
had confronted us for thirty years
should be finally settled to the end
that we might move forward to higher
things.
May l ask you, gentlemen of the
Manufacturers Club, to remem Der
those facts in your upward march to-
ward prosperity and the development
of industry? You are engaged in a
great work, the study of the problem
by which we may compete with other
workers in like matters and bring to
this State the wealth which she SO
sorely needs. In this effort bid you
God-speed. and join in the hope that
your wisdom may be such that you
will solve the problem of cheaper pro-
duction and the consequent ability to
win from the world the trade which
comes to greater skill and higher
knowledge. You will not forget that
the problem Of this hour is that of
economy in production, and that you
can only compete in this strenuous
age with other manufacturers by
learning how to produce most cconom-
ically-
This problem involves many fac
tors which you have studied much
more than | have, and upon which
you are capable of expressing a more
valuable opinion. l cannot, however,
forbear to remind you that economy
of power is in the future to be one Of
the factors in the development of
manufacturing industries, and that
you must learn to utilize the forces of
nature at the least possible expense
II water power shall be found to be
the most economical you must turn
your attention to the utilization Of
the streams of the State which con-
tain sufficient power to do all the
work of the State.
But these problems I am glad to
leave with you, because | know your
industry, your thoughtfulness and
your enterprise. | am rather con-
cerned with the matters which can
affect your development in the shape
of legislation. 1t has been said that
with the growth of manufact uring in
the South there will be tendency to-
wards the doctrine Of the protective
tariff. | do not yield my assent to
this proposition. On the contrary, |
believe that the South will be true to
her convictions of principle even in
the face of the fact that the manufac-
turers Of the United States are in
large measure protectionists.
1t would be a strange thing if the
South should take up with this erro-
neous doctrine at the very time when
the people of the North are beginning
to abandon their false position, and
their abandoning it can be made no
more certain than by the adoption Of
reciprocity treaties which have for
their purpose the admission of goods
into this country free or with tariff
based on the agreement that foreign
countries shall treat our goods in like
fashion
admit that the adoption of recip-
rocity is liable to mislead those who
have examined it upon the surface,
but to those who have studied the
history of this country and its legisla-
tion it seem, strange indeed that any
one in the South should believe in the
so-called doctrine of reciprocity.
Reciprocity is an executive act,
which is dependent upon the will of
the President. For more than forty
years the Presidents of the United
States have come from a certain sec
tion and for many years yet to be we
are not likely to see President taken
from our Southern section. | care
not how honest the President may be,
how broad minded he may be, nor
how his heart may yearn towards the
less favored sections of the country.
he will still be subject to the in
fiuence of environment, and the trea-
ties which he negotiates, and the re-
ciprocity which he declares, will ever
be differentiated in behalf OF those
among whom he dwells.
| He cannot free himself from en-
yironment. He knows more about
| the industries in his own section thar
| he can know about the industries in
our section, and when he comes tc
frame a reciprocity treaty you will
ever find that the treaty is made il
favor of those among whom he dwells
and with whom he is closest in con
tact. rather than with us. The onl,
hope for the development of Southern