The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-30
Protection of Home Industries.

Protection Of Home Industries.
There is no question connected with the
administrative policy of the country, that
more directly affects the present and future
interests of Virginia than the tariff. We
are about entering upon new era of in
dustrial development and more enlightened
snd progressive business dispensation,
which appeal to lis to discard the old ruts
in which our thoughts have been heretofore
running, and the obsolete ideas and .heo-
ries upon which we have based our political
conclusions and actions. The development
OF the material resources, not only of vir-
ginia, but the entire South, and especially
the mineral wealth which has so long lain
dormant, is attracting the attention of cap
italists of other sections of the Union,
clearly indicating that the iron industries
OF the country must soon change their base
OF operations and call for the same govern
ment policy for their encouragement which
has fostered them in other localities. Vir-
ginia, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama,
particularly. NHcic tHc iron dlu cOClOn
manufacturing interests are destined to
grow into controlling Importance. and with
which the future prosperity of these States
must necessarily be closely identified, cam
not fail to see the necessity of admin
istrative methods differing essentially from
those which have in the past been advocated
by their representative men. To be brief
The South's interest and future welfare
are identified with the policy and principle of
protection to home industry, and however in
conflict with past political theories this may
be, those who may be delegated to repre-
sent the Southern interests in the legislation
OF the country, should be made to recog-
nize the fact, as one intimately associated
with the material advancement of that Sec
tion.
Our attention has been called to this
subject by paragraph emanating from
Washington, and intimating the subject of
controversy in the approaching session of
Congress, which reads Respecting rc-
vision of the tariff, it is no secret that an
attempt to pass new ant i-protection tariff
bill will certainly be made this winter by
the Democratic members of both Houses,
except from Pennsylvania. As without the
aid of the latter the Democrats are not
strong enough to carry their measure, it
will be necessary for them to secure the
support of a majority of the Greenback
members and some Western Republicans.
1t is claimed that they have obtained the
requisite cooperation. A majority of the
present Committee of Ways and Means,
with the exception of Fernando Wood and
Mr.. Phelps, of Connecticut, are extreme
free-traders and warmly advocate a tariff
tor revenue only. The prospects for tariff
agitation of the liveliest sort at the APP
preaching session are most 1attering.''
We cannot for a moment entertain the
belief that the Southern people will be so
blind to their interests as to allow the old
fossil notions about free-tradc to be reflected
in the representatives they will send to
Congress. The conclusions of the para
graph we quote, will not find endorsement
with the intelligent, progressive minds of
this section. The South would be by no
means unit for the traditional policy of
the Democratic party on the subject
OF the tariff, at least after the next cleo
ton. Either the fuckers and HAIRLESS,
who seem, as yet, not to recognize the new
order of things growing out of the indus
trial revolution in the South, will have to
change their views, or give way to those
who will be more in sympathy with adj
yanced political theories and policies, di-
rectly bearing upon the prosperity of the
State.
Virginia to-day, occupies the same posi-
ton that Pennsylvania did in the infancy
Of her manufacturing industries. The same
kind of energy and cap ital which built up
her immense manufacturing interests and
made that great Commonwealth affiuent
and rogressiye-increased her taxable re-
sources, enlarged her revenues, and added
to her political power, are now looking to
the iron fields of this State. The same tar
ff regulations which fostered the industries
OF Pennsylvania must be invoked to protect
and stimulate similar enterprises in Vir-
ginia, and tits to an understanding of this
pregnant fact that the popular mind should
be educated. We cannot afford to adhere
to the old Bourbon notions of the Demo-
cratic party on this subject. Every pro-
duct and every interest here will be af-
fected by the legislation which may be
enacted in reference to it, The encour-
agement given toiron manufactures in Vir-
DSni9 hU inf ha riff
laws, will not only stimulate the develop
ment and profitable utilization of our i'm
mense minerals, but encourage the estab-
lishment of factories to work into fabrics
the lumber which is now shipped east and
returned to us in the manufactured state.
Employment will be thus given to honest
labor home market will be created for our
farm products, and instead of sending out
OF the State the proceeds of every
thing raised on our farms, they will
be kept at home, to circulate among
cur own people, to enter into new chan
nels of trade and industry, and contrib
ute to our wealth, progress and prosper
ity.
How could Mr.. Tucker. elected to repre-
sent his district and the interests of his peo-
pie, dare to thrust his obsolete notions about
free trade and sailors rights into a dis
cussion of the tariff question to influence
the action of Congress in modifying the
tariff laws, with the busy hum of Rolling
Mil industry at Iynchburg sounding in his
cars, and demanding protection in its in
fancy? How could he dare to check and
defeat the efforts to erect a furnace at the
same place to give employment to hundreds
Of his constituents, and to convert into ac-
tive wealth the dead iron fields all around
him. resurrecting the old Democratic no.
lions about the tariff, which prevailed be-
fore our labor system was destroyed, and
ought to have been buried deep with the in
stitution of slavery?
Neither could Judge Harris SO offend and
contravene the true interests of his peo-
pie, and use his influence to paralyze in its
in "a uoxy fbo N, N nft1rinu induqfrv uh;cb