Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-11-27
The Next National Issue.

From the fhiadt!phl2 NOTth American.
Those who undertakes 20 organize the
victorious Democratic party for the next
Congress and the next national canvass for
President will discover one subject upon
which the Representatives of the South are
not likely to prove of the same opinion as
they were before the war. We refer to the
fostering of domestic industry by means of
protective tariff. For in the interval that
has elapsed since the conflict closed, the
South has devoted its attention to the es-
ablishment of mining and manufacturing
interests with an earnestness and zeal
born of the experience Of that conflict. To
their infant industries protection is not
her their Representatives be white or black,
and whether they call themselves RepubiI-
cans. Democrats or Conservatives, they
will generally be found impressed with the
necessity Of stimulating domestic industry.
But in the meantime the industrial de-
velopmcnt of the North has grown 10 be
iLOdl@i'to, " bliC tiIt liNHSbAS VI WV AH'
porting interests has become SO great that
the protective duties have been seriously
reduced. Thus it happens that free trade
does not strike 50 much at the powerful
industries of the New England and Middle
States as at the young industries OF the
South and West, The detection in New
England has sprung from this strength, and
hence it may be possible that the powerful
front presented in Congress on the currency
question will be again seen on the tariff is-
sue. If the great industries of Pennsyl-
vania were conducted by selfish men, as
has been so often charged, they could re-
pose confidence in their own strength and
leave the more tender industries of the
South and West to take care of themselves.
But such is not the case. The protection
lists Of this section are men OF principle, who
keep steadily i'll view national future full
of grandeur, prosperity and happiness and
who would do for the Republic what they
have done for Pennsylvania.
There can be no doubt but that the free
traders will make great effort to take COM
mand of the Democratic party again, as
they did when it was in power before, aud
that arises naturally from the exclusively
commercial character of New York city
which is the focus Of the party as well rs of
free trade and such being the case, il he
hooves the Republicans To stand by their
Cours as protcctiOnistS and to let the peO-
pie Of the nation have fair opportunity Of
choosing between the two parties rs respOn-
sible. the one for free trade ana the other
for the fostering OF productive industry.
So far ~ the Republican party is concern
ed, it must now be- evident that il Gains
nothing 10y uysicctiug TO make protection
a clean, fair and square national issue. and
to make for il 4 decisive canvass ali over
the country, Such canvass was made in
1874, and although not successful, it dis
seminated sound principles to such an eX-
tent a 10 have been the main basis Of The
success of lSiS.
Ia 1850 the party made its canvass sue
ccssiullY upon straight Issue in favor OF
protection, aud attracted TO its standard
thousands who upon mere question Of
slavery in the Territories would not have
Joined it, And by proving faithful to this
principle Of protection, the party remained
strong. But no sooner did it allow its faith
to waver and commit concessions 10 be
made TO free trade demands than it began
to be shOrn of its power We do not now
mean by general canvass for protection
the more advocacy of higher duties to build
up few great industries. For of that the
country must by this time have become
wearied. But 4 canvass that shall show
the true and broad craftsmanship of the
prOtectiOuist cause ds embracing alike all
the best interests DH the nation, not merely
those which are more strictly manuflctur-
ing, but agricultural, pastoral, mining,
commercial, trading, financial, transport
ing scientific and literary interests as well.
Such course would convince the farm
ers and planters that their prosperity lies
in the development Of the home market
first, in the diyersification of the products
second, and in dependence upon domestic
capital and enterprise ;hird. 1T would re-
store our commerce to all its pristine
splendor, and give Us a position as the first
exporting nation of the world. It would
make protection national instead Of sec
tional, and build up that direct trade that
has 50 long been the dream OF the South.
1t looks to us now as though this ought to
be the main issue Of the Republican party in
the next national canvass, and that the
success would be in proportion to the man
illness and sincerity with which the party
acts and the boldness with which it makes
its canvass.