The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-15
The Tarif-Col. Beverly.

THURSDAY............ MAYS. 1879
The Tarif-Col. Beverly.
One OF the most encouraging and crafty
ing indications which has recently come un-
der our observation, is the manifestations
from Independent, practical thinkers in re-
gard to the subject of the tariff. We pub
lish on our first page the substance of the
conclusion Of the Iron and Steel Manufactu-
rers and Iron Ore Producers of America, as
published at their recent convention at Pitts.
burg. That organization represents the in
dustrial spirit and enterprise of America. 1t
is entirely non-partizan in its character and
looks solely to the development of material
interests, the encOurag ement of home indus.
try, the employment of home labor, the
building up of home manufactures, and a
home market for the American farmer, In
the contamination of these essential objects
the South is deeply, and Virginia peculiarly
interested. Up to the destruction of the
slave labor system in the Southern section,
the industry of that region was devoted al
most exclusively to agricultural products
Virginia, particularly, as an intermediate
State, with comparatively no manufacturing
enterprises, and no industries to create a
home market, was drained Of the results of
her farming operations, and all the surplus
she produced went either North or South.
Her mineral resources and her water power
remained undeveloped and idle; her tim
Der, when utilized at all, except for fire
wood or fencing, and other domestic pur-
poses, was shipped in bulk, to be fashioned
into useful articles by Northern skill and
returned to us to absorb the profits of our
farm labor. We added nothing to our
wealth, but saw at the end of each year the
cream Of our lands and the profits of our
labor, taken from US in this way.
Being thus engaged and accustomed to an
industrial policy that was contented with
living from hand to mouth, and educated in
a political theory that cherished State policy
as above national policy, we adhered to abb
stractions, regardless of the practical ben
efits to result from wise system of protec-
ton to American industry. "Free trade and
sailors rights" constituted fundamental
dogma in our political creed, and we Rugged
this delusion as the perfection of statesman
ship, under the influence and direction of
those whose metaphysical refining upon
impractical theories, forbid their grasping
the great interests of American skilled la
Dor, and formulating policy that looked to
the development of the Intellectual and ma
terial resources ard capacities of the coun
try.
This repressive policy is still cardinal
doctrine with the Democratic party-illus-
trating its antagonism to the progressive
spirit of the age, the encouragement of in
dustrial pursuits, and the masculine intellec-
tual and physical energies of the people
With this as the rule with that party, we
find here and there an exception with reflect
gentlemen who study material advancement
yet even these lack the moral courage to
divorce themselves from the political organ
izatien which so studiously and consistently
throws itself across the path of American
progress.
In recent number of the Southern Plan
ter and Farmer, Col. Robert Beverly has
awell considered article on the best policy
for the State, and after announcing that he
fayors s'tariff only for revenue" proceeds
to say, incidentally would make it pro-
tectire: so as to build up manufactures among
re c1o i'm fh1x no rn,,cf bouo onuf ot,,roc
to work up all our products at the points of
p-5auction-at least half dozen in every
cos.aty il the State, each building up its lit
Sls or large town, so as to diversity our pro-
ducts--make truck and dairy products sup
ply the place of wheat and corn as far as we
can. and as far as possible diminish the pro-
ducts which can be raised cheaper West,and
where they have not the water power or the
climate especially suited for manufacturing,
and from whence let the railroads bring
these products for nothing if they please. :"
"Let us build up .our markets in every
State and county and neighbcrhood and
leok not to foreign trade, either of exports
or imports,-either to Europe, or Massa-
chusetts,or Pennsylvania, ''What has Civ
en- the wealth to Prussia, France and Eng
land, and in our own country to New Eng
land, New York and Pennsylvania, except
manufacture encouraged in their Infancy
by protective tariffs ?"
Such is the practical conclusion to which
Col. Beverly arrives, after careful thought
over the subject about which he writes and
this conclusion is fortified by the intelligent
editor Of the Planter and Farmer, who fully
endorses the views resented by Col. Bev-
erly. Both of these gentlemen, however,
are identified with the modern Democratic
party, and they cannot expect to see the
tariff maintained if the organization they
support should, unfortunately for the coun-
try, be advanced to power in the various de-
partments of government. The traditional
policy of that party is opposed to protective
tariffs, and vast majority of that party in
the last Congress supported Mr.. Woods
anti-tariff report, from the Committee on
Ways and Means, which a solid Republican
representation opposed, and aided by few
Democrats, presented such formidable OPP
position that the enemies of the tariff did not
press vote. Yet Col. Beverly and the ed
itor Of the Farmer, although recognizing
the eminent wisdom of Republican princi-
pie and policy as to the tariff, would give
their moral and practical aid to the Demo-
cratic party in an issue between the two Or
CARNATIONS, even if the tariff question were
made paramount in such contest. 1t is this
partizan prejudice and blindness which is
working SO much harm to the country and
especially the South. The professional poll
ticians who control the party organizations
and adhere to the obsolete notions of the
past, ignoring the great practical interests
Of the people, do not ask the advice of such
men as Col. Beverly, and these have mot
tho courage to defy the party machinery in
the assertion of their honest convictions up
en- great principle of government, and CO.
operate with the opposing organization,
which supports that principle.
The trnth is, the practical and advanced
thinkers of Virginia to .day, although afil-