The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-02-12
The Tariff Question.

4
| Editors Valley Tirginian:
| desire through your columns to enter an
ernest protest in behalf Of every one engaged in
the effort OF developing the resources of Virginia
| against the 1nsidious and dangerous attack, on
the part OF some of the Democratic leaders in
Congress, upon the present tariff and especially
against such bills as seek to reduce, or repeal
entirely, the duties on steel rails STEEL iron and
| iron ores.
Failing to enlist sufficient recruits und er their
open banner of Free Trade to enable them to carry
the fortress Of protection by storm, they are
now resorting to tn tactics of guerilla warfare
and seeking in this manner to destroy in detail
one after the OF her of our varied ndu stries and
pursuits. Encouraged by their success last win
ter in securing repeal ofthe duty on qunine
we now see an avalanche of bills, of all kinds and
from all quarters, striking often at some of our
most valuable and deserving enterprises. No
matter what money may have been extended in
these concerns, nor what their promise in the
future may be, we find hands lifted to throttle
| them, that should have been ready to protect
Like the g!uttons of past Cay the authors of
| these bills would even eat the seed corn though
famine resulted. Impotent for good they yet
may be powerful evil Incapable of devsing
| such measures of legislation as will promote the
growth and prosperity OF our Country, or furnish
| q home market to our farmers and grazers and
| give constant employment at good wages to our
artisans and mechanics, they are all the more to
be feared and qua rded lest they should gain that
power which would enable them to destroy the
good that has thus far resulted from the wise
and fostering enactments of their opponents.
Following madly after the ignis Jatuus of
vague theory. stimua ted in their onset by Eng
lisg gold and poisoning the arrows of their war
fare in the sophistries of foreign logic (?) they
would fain Stay the goose that lays the golden
egg!
But our regrets at these attempts are not great
err than our surprise when we learn t hat nearly
all Virginia s representatives advocates OF
such pernicous doctrines Arguing from SUI
premely selfish premise it may be conceded
that in the days of slavery the tenets OF free
trade might have had some weight; for then. it
was considered to be prof table to breed and
seunegroes, tn an it was to build Railroads, &c.,
improve lands, or open up mines and establish
foundries and factories. But, now, not even that
base argument can be used, and every condition
that existed then is reversed. The proud and
arrogant IN aster no longer exists to say to his
slave. Come! and he obeys, or Go! and he flies to
fill the command; on the contrary many of these
former feudal lords, having passed through the
slough OF espond, are now bravely earning their
daily bread by the sweat Of their own brow.
They are earnestly endeavoring, aided by the
pluck and industry of their children to make up
The losses result tant from the wager OF battle.
Shall they be permitted to do this? Will their
own chosen repr esent atives forbear to strike
whilst they put ting forth these manly efforts
to enrich themselves again an d build up the
waste places; to bring forth from the bosom of
earth its great stores of hidden wea lth, and utl
lie the waters and forest; to erect furn aces roll
ling mills, and manufactures of all kinds These
are the means by which the in iuence and pow
er of the sold Commonwealth are to be rees-
tablished, and it integrity and credit restored
and preserved.
Certainly he is but blind reade OF the events
daily transporting in our limits who does not
perceive that there is much of ''life in the old
land YETI but he is equally blind that does not
see that the volume of blood that sustains this
life fowsmainly through the arteries of her min
eralaoeaM andher manufacturing facilities. These
are the two combined elements that give spirit
to the present and hope to the future and he is
but an unskilled surgeon in the body polite that
would smother these promising young giants in
the swaddling clothes of their infancy. and sub
stitute for their strength and vitality the mani
mated and unfrutful skeleton of foreign labor
and dependence.
Very respectfully yours.
JNO. T. HAMLET.