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

cotton should vote the Republican ticket
At the last session of Congress had the
honor to submit certain statistics showing
that the price of cotton-mlll machinery
was cheaper in England than it was in
This country. and that the difference was
| inst about covered by the Dingley tariff
rates upon machinery of that kind.
Everybody. Mr.. Chairman, knows the
reason why the present prices or wheat
and cotton are high. The demand is lar
greater than the supply. For thirty years
every time the Southern farmers have
received high prices for their cotton these
prices have been accompanied by
greater or less calamity to the crop
believe the same may be said with re-
spcct to the wheat farmers of the West,
but / know it is true with respect to the
cotton farmers of the South.
Let us take the crop of 1893. The crop
Of that year was 7,549,S17 bales. 1t
brought to the Southern people in money
1922, 9S7 500. The next year, 1894, there
was an increase of over 100000 bales in
the crop, but the farmers did not re
ceive as much money for that crop as
they did for the crop of 1898. In 1894 they
produced 9,911 PSI bales, which brought
$2SS,91S, 504. Thus we see that the South
| efn people OlQ not receive as Hlucn InOHey
| for nearly 100000 bales in 1894, as they
did for seven and one-half million bales
| in 1898. The crop of 1898 was greater by
nearly 100000 bales than the crop of 1897,
and yet the crop of 1897 yielded the South
ern farmers $56,OO0,0OO more in money
than did the crop OF 1898. The crop of
1899 was nearly 100000 bales less than
the crop of 1898. but it brought the South
1 q hon a
the record-breaking crop of 1898
So that we see there is no relation be-
tween Republican rule and high prices
| for farm products. If there was the ques-
ton might be asked why the price OF cot
ton touched the lowest point during Mr..
| Harrison's Administration 1t had ever
touched up to that time since the Civil
War? Only demagogue, MIR. Chairman,
employs such argument. But in our coun-
try. unfortunately, sometimes demagogue
must be answered.
The record of the Republican party is
not only one Of broken pledges but one
Of great extravaganza. Year after year
| our expenses increase. few years ago
| the newspapers were full of the Reed bill
| lion dollar Congress- Now, Mr.. Chairman,
we have none but billion dollar Con-
| crosses. 1t is quite the practice during
| these latter days to treat with ridicue
almost any man who dares to speak for
economy. Some day, probably, when
panic is upon us it will be aseertained
that the Republican party, intoxicated
with power and continued success, is now
engaging in perfect carnival of extrava-
gance. The fatal mistake was made when
those in power were tempted away from
the safe and conservative pathway mark
ed out by the founders of the Republic.
| This used to be a Republic, not an EN-
pire. At one time in our national life the
! idea Of owning colonies several thousand
miles across the sea governed from Wash
ington was abhorrent to the average
/ American citizen.
| Over in Arlington, Mr.. Chairman. are
| buried those who gave up their lives for
| the Republic. There are others buried
over there also A few gave UP their lives
| in an effort to divide the Republic.
Were it required of us we could assign a
sufficient reason for the sacrifice of all
hese brave men except one. Passing
| along the silent avenues of that d1ubly
sacred spot you come to tho grave of the
man who lost his life in defense Of the
! Union Why was this man sacrificed?
| Let the poet answer:
I'm the beauty of the lilies Christ was
| born across the sea:
rs he died to make men holy, SO this man
died to make men free
Passing OH to the grave of tho dead
| Confederate, you ask the same question:
| Why was this man sacrificed? And the
same answer comes back: HIS home was
invaded; he believed his constitutional
rights were violated, and he died that his
constitutional rights might not be taken
away from him. His death is not without
it's compensation. Let him sleep; let him
sleep. No victor's crown pressed down
Upon his pallid brow, but a brighter
crown woven. from Gods perennial flow
CTS awaits the awakening OF him who
died for the right.
| All, Mr. Chairman, here is another
grave The granite that marks it is not
lquite so dark, nor the sod that covers it
quite 50 thick. 1t is the grave OF the poor
unfortunate who lost his life in our Ell
forts to subjugate a people who for CEN
| turtles had been struggling to be free.
This man was just as brave as the FEEDER
al; just as brave as the Confederate
Can we morally justify his sacrifice? Let
history answer. We never needed the
Philippine Islands. we DO not neeu tneHl
today. They will always be source of
expense and irritation. There is nothing
American about them, nor can they ever
he made American. But if it is our des-
tiny TO retain them, we of the South, Mr..
Chairman, will willingly help to bear the
burden. If any nation dares to attack
them, we will help to defend them. AS
long as they are under the Stars and
Stripes let it be understood that they
are to be developed and protected. In
every war the country has ever fought
the South has done it's part. 1t stands
ready today to do it's full duty If any
inch of soil under the Stars and Stripes
is imperiled.
Rut there is better conception OF
republic. 1t is republic extending from
ocean to ocean, from the Arcic pole TO
| Panama Canal, with the outlying islands
OF the sea as sentinels to give warning In
case of attack. Let its motto be, Equal
land exact jutice to all men; equal oppor-
t1Intt Nv ,ff of nd