Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-10
The Tide Turning-Free Trade and the
New Issues Among the People North and

|
Rocky Mountains and are sweeping everything
before them on the Pacific coast. In an in
crediby short space of time they have spread
from the great Lakes to Oregon, and, over
leaping the Middle States, this war upon the
despotism of corporations and the tariff, has
succeeded in forming orders even in New Eng
land. Though the order processes to have
nothing to do with politics, it has recently cleo
ted a judge in Illinois, pledged to carry out its
views against high tariffs on railroads, built by
the peoples money, but now run in the interest
of New England capital, and the cry of Free
Trade and Farmers Rights will be heard in
every succeeding canvass North and West.
Before the late war, there was coalition in
Congress between the advocates of Protective
Tariffs in the East, and of Internal Improve
ments in the West. Both were without any
express constitutional authority. The Demo-
cratic Party, in their Party-platforms, were
committed against both; but whenever Demo
cratic votes were wanted in Congress to carry
these measures, they we're usually furnished
from the West. The West like the South, was
Overwhelmingly agricultural, and should have
stood by the South; but Congressional job
berries pushed Der over to the East.
| At length, the West seems to comprehend
her true interests; and is now uniting to throw
off the burdens imposed upon her by the Tariff
and r. r. monopoies. 1t will be most diff
cult achievement. The horse has taken the
man On his back. The Rider of the West, is
plundering Tariff, supported by an enormous
debt, and Paper money. He will not easily be
endorsed, blowing bis war trumpet against the
South.
Take the States Eastward. including Penn
sylvania and extending to Maine, and it is
doubtful whether they pay one cent of taxes
under the operation of the Tariff. They gain,
as Section, more than they pay. Pennsyl-
vania not only pays nothing, but gains the full
expense of her State Government
If the oppressiyeness and injustice of the
taxes of the United States administration were
all that is against them, it would constitute,
amongst any people capable of approaching
their interests, the sternest opposition. But it
is not all. 1t has bred a corruption and demon
alization, throughout the Northern States, that
threatens TO extinguish Free Government itself
Truth, justice and liberty, are thrust aside, and
the public Offices and the legislation of the
country are welded, not merely to protect from
aggression and wrong, but to make money, aud
to reach power by corruptioa.
When free Governments become thoroughly
corrupt, history has bat one story of their fu-
ture career. They sink into despotism The
limitations Of q Constitution restraining power,
by considerations of public liberty, are broken
down by force. when there is not virtue and III
tegfity to preserve them.
The great West sees this now and knows to
her sorrow that she committed moral, political
and material suicide, almost. in allowing herself
to be drawn into cruel and merciless war
against the rights of her natural allies, the
Southern people, by the cold and calculating
policy of New England politicians. The bitter
medicine she gave the South and Virginia,
to whom she owes her free school system, rail
roads, made By the lands she gave her daugh-
ters and the best part Of her population, is now
being drained by her to the dregs. and she nat
urally turns to her former allies for help out OF
her troubles. And in the South, purified by
war and suffering uncontaminated by power
and pelf, she will find the strongest and surest
helper in saving this Government from becom-
ing degraded despotism, ruled by Railroad
rings and New England Tariffs. And that
help will not come by the South joining
Oranges" or secret ORDERS but from the pee.
pie here keeping in power the Conservative ee-
/ If eocioto ord etoaJI1 dauot;~, hi
whole powers to material recuperation. The
moral weight of good government South will
be On the side of the West, but it is asking toe
much Of our people TO join in movement not
yet fully developed, though it promises great
good, if properly carried out, and Radical poll
ticians do not get control Of it, to ruin all.
In all this We see much good, for the great
mass Of the people, and a just retribution upon
New England, who has ever promoted discord
aud used the unnatural differences, between the
people of the great South aad West, for her
own advantage. We see her stripped Of her
il-gotten power and reduced to the natural po-
sition of dependent, upon those she has ha-
ted, scorned and nearly ruined. We see, il
the movement succeeds, the Constitution re-
stored and equal rights secured to all ; we see
the South and West joined firmly together, the
greatest agricultural and manufacturing people
on earth, and we see great and united people
steadily advancing in all the elements Of moral,
political and material prosperity.
The reign of New England is nearly over and
with her downfall comes an end Of all the false
issues, she has 50 constantly created to cover UP
her moral obliquities, and the ''isms'' with
which she has polluted tie healthy growth OF
the country. The young heart of the nation
will rejoice over the prospect, and new day
dawn Of constitutional liberty, the equality OF
the States before the law. the rights of the peo-
pie, and an advancement all along the line,
that will astonish the nations, will break upon
US. Exit New England RadicaIism 10 ali its
forms must perish. Your day of petty tyran-
ny, bigotry and intolerance is nearly over and,
hereafter tie people of the whole Uuion will
rule in your stead We mourn not your down
fall aud welcome the coming of the new era,
with hearts upfted. And let us all bravely de.
termine to keep cur old mother free from Radi-
cal rule and to be worthy of a future, to which
the past shall seem as mere ripple upon the
great ocean Of true progress, enlightened ad-
vancement, and moral and material greatness.