The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-17

"If we can transfer six handred thousand
men from agricultural to manufacturing EN- c
by judiciously discriminating Q
tariff, it will give US greater market for I
our agricultural products than all Europe {
now supplies u.s." We quote from mem
ory, and while the language may not be {
identical with that used by the great Dem ,
ocratc President, the idea is substantially
the same as that which he presented in
reply to the antl-tarif agitators Of 1888.
And what was true then, is equally true
now, and decidedly more potential of relief
to our situation as an agricultural people.
For then England had TO depend almost
entirely upon us for the great agricultural
staple which she now procures SO largely
from India and the Nileregons of Africa.
What we assert, and challenge citherMr. |
Hunter or the Epqudsr to deny, is, that
protection begdS competition and Invariably |
cbeapeaS The moteyua5ae ofsthe commodities
protected an the home haarket. This has
been the result Of every tariff laid specif-
cally for protection in this country, and we
venture the assertion that the result has
been the same in every other country which
has sought to protect its domestic industry
in the same way. We referred to the Bes-
semer rail only a day or two ago, and
showed how the price fell one-third by the
encouragement given to the American
manufacturer. ,-f.,rg-t 4f.s 80 ~
But we contend that even if the result |
were not uniformly to lessen the price, the
advantages accruing from it would greatly
exceed any that could possibly be derived
/ from free trade. We have a population OF
+ forty millions. Ii we were to adopt the
free trade policy and become purely an ag-
ricultural people, our surplus products
would have to find marketin Europe, and
we should have to pay the expense OF get
ting them to market, precisely as the man
who lives on the banks Of Arkansas river
pays for getting his corn and wheat to the
nearest available market. If it costs fifty
cents buslcl to get his wheat or cornt
market, he receives just so much less than
the market price, as fixed by the purchaser
at the point of delivery. ~
Now "a policy which shall transfer eight
4 millions of our population from agriculti-
i raj to manufacturing pursuits, wiilsdot our
. agricultural sections all over with thriving
!. manufacturing cities and towns, and give
( our people everywhere a market at their
: own agricultural firesidesss 1t will bring the
# furnace, the anvil, and The loom from such
d distant markets as Birmingham, Nlanches-
:. ter and Leeds, and plant manufacturing
e town or city within almost every mans
e reach. With this grand result achieved
e for our people here in Virginia, we shall no
e longer be dependent upon the North, MOI
upon England, France or Germany, fol
d such fabrics and wares as their more diver
h sifed labor and industry may produce
We shall not be obliged TO seek either
l. Northern or transatlantic market for oul
IN raw staples, but find q better and higher
Y, priced one at our own doors, and be, to al
y intents and purposes, independent OF then
'. all. l5ia5tis 5g s3i i
I. Everybody knows THAT when good crop
p prevail in Europe, there is no market Their
e, for American bread-stuifs; and everybod,
n knows or ought to know the fact, too, tina
it is at all times the policy of England to pro
ee duce as far as she can her own suppl
u of bread stuffs. 1t is only when ex
at cessive drought OF. rain interleres wit
Fit her production, or the potato re
ry or other widespread calamity belall
Tn her. that she looks to us for any cor
us siderable supply of these productions. )
that, for any available transatlantic MAJ
!" ket, we have to depend upon contingencies
he that lie altogether beyond the forecast
Ir. any human judgment. What We want
un not this transatlantic market for our agI
vn cultural products, but the creation Of
lia home market, by bringing FORCES, furnace
he looms, anvils, and steam and water power
me into active and profitable use in our deyast
we ted State-with the whir and stir of the rol
!" ingmll heard on every side--when there Wi
he be quick demand for all of our agricut'
ice raj staples; when orr railroads viii be r.
,ut warded with abundant business; when tt
no iron and coal Of our mountains will con
| | teeming down to our cities when the san
us will be converted into rails, machinery, al
to hardware, and when the hills shall rise Y
lily and clap their hands with industry, Il
he vallies and river-sides smile with abu
ifs, dant haryests, and the Virginia that we S
t" to-day, blasted ard scared all over by tt
DIS. mad impolicy Of her free trade notions
ing the past, shall rise up like another uncag
n a lion, shake the dew-drops from her mar
unit and, with one bound forward in the pa
,xt of these new industries. send the fools tn
ms chained her to the hiding-holes OF oblivi'
ed; where they justly belong.
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ONE Of the noticeable features of I
hat present camnaign is the unusual inters