The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-27

L
this promise.
| There are other promises, Mr.. Chair
man, which the Republican party made
of lesser Importance which have also
been broken. The truth is the record of
! that party during the Fifty seventh and
! Fifty Eighth Congresses is one of broken
pledges.
| When the Republican party is arraigned
| for its failure to do these things, with
seeming confidence it invariably answers
notwithstanding all this, the country is
prosperous" 1t seems that no matter
what takes place, if the country is pros
porous we must all be content. No mat
ter what injustice is being perpetrated,
no matter how vicious, how criminal the
| laws that are in force, you must not dare
20 change them because the country is
prosperous We must let well enough
alone. We must stand pat" Yes, Mr..
Chairman; stand pat even though you are
robbed while you are standing pat. The
rich are getting richer. The poor have
work and full stomach. What more
could anybody ask? They tell us tariff
schedules must be amended by the friends
| Of protection Would it not be better ii
they could be amended by the friends
| of the American people?
| Now, Mr.. Chairman, the plain truth is,
no political party can legislate a people
Iinto prosperity. All that any political
party can do is to administer the Gov
eminent as economically as possible, pass
no law which discriminates against any
class or section, stimulate as far as pos
sible our trade with foreign nations so
| that our surplus products may find a
market, and see to it that public servants
are honest and faithful in the discharge
! cf their duties. The man who tells the
people that his political party is entitled
| to the credit of the high price OF cotton
| or wheat is demagogue
| admit that a party can advance the
price of any article people are forced to
consume by enacting laws which strange
competition I admit that the Republi-
can party has brought prosperity to the
trusts by rendering to them the American
people as their legitimate prey. l admit
you have brought prosperity to the
manufacturer by giving him a monopoly
And this is the only prosperity for which
the Republican party is justly entitled
to credit. But on various occasions dur
ing the present session we have been en-.
tertained in this House by speeches from
eminent Republican statesmen claiming
credit for whatever prosperity the country
has enjoyed. We of the South are con
graduated on our participation in this
prosperity. 1t is gratifying to us to know
that our progress arouses such enthus-
asm amongst our brethren of other sec
tons We of the South congratulate our
brethren of the North and West upon
La. M no
| them that their interest in our welfare
| is fully reciprocated and that the people
of the South contemplate with pride the
progress of the American Republic every
where.
Now let us analyze this prosperity argu-
ment a little The Republican party is
in power. The country is prospecting.
Therefore, the Republican party brought
abou. this prosperity. The Republican
party is in power. Wheat sells at a dol
| lar per bushel. Therefore, the Republican
party is entitled to the credit of dollar
wheat Again, the Republican party is in
power. Cotton sells for fifteen cents per
pound Therefore this party is entitled
to the credit of fifteen cent cotton. Post
| .9c; propter hoe Is there any human be-
| ing so blind that he cannot see the fallacy
| of this argument?
The Panama Canal treaty was ratified a
| few davs ago Shortly thereafter the
price of cotton advanced two cents per
pound Therefore the ratification of this
treaty caused the advance in the price Of
| cotton. The man who employs logic OF
this kind can prove anything.
| In 1898 the Democratic party regained
control of the State from which l come.
Since then the price of cotton has been
almost constantly advancing. Therefore
the Democratic victory in my State-not
the Republican victory in the nation
caused the advance in the price Of cotton
| One argument is just as sound as the
other. No man but d demagogue would
| employ either; and yet, Mr.. Chairman. it
| is dangerous argument. Let mo submit
some satisfies which clinch this fallacy.
| If it be true that the Republican party
can advance the price of wheat or cot
ton, if can maintain that advance: and il
| it fails to do So then it should he con
Gemned as unworthy of the support Of the
American people. l am not as familiar
| with the prosperity of other sections as
I am with that of my own, but | assert
without the slightest fear of successful
1
| the South has enjoyed and is enjoying
today has been accomplished by the pluck
and energy of the people of that section
under the smile of Providence, in spite o.
unjust sectional legislation.
God knows. Mr.. Chairman, there has
been room for progress in the South
Eighteen hundred and sixty-five found
her PROSTATE and her wealth DESTROYED
\ mighty conquering army had destroyed
much, but there were some things which
could not be destroyed-the pluck of he1
people and the natural advantages vouch
safed by Almighty God.
Yes, Mr.. Chairman, the South is pros
pering Emerson's analysis of the law
of compensation is not more beautiful
than it is true. The South suffered, but
she learned. If you could stand upon
some mountain peak and with one sweep
OF the eye take in our beloved land, you
would see quite a different picture from
what you would have seen had you STOOD
on the same spot forty-four years ago.
You would today behold fertile fields
which produce everything needful to man;
YOU would hear the morning ushered IN
~, tl,o lin of p,apv thousands OF factory