The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-30
A Vital Practical Question.

There is no question in which the inter
ests of the State of Virginia, and especially
of this section. are SO deeply involved as
the great question of tariff. And when we
speak of it as the great question of tariff,
we do not mean to be understood that
it is a question difficult of comprehen-
sion, and the subject only of metaphysical
enquiry. There is nothing hard to under
stand about it. 1t is subject that adj
dresses itself to the plainest understand
ing, and which the plain business man, the
mechanic, the manufacturer, and the farmer
can comprehend if he will. Its greatness
consists in the vast interests involved in it.
interests which directly affect the people of
the whole country and particularly of this
State. 1t is the simple question of whether
we shall build up our own industries, or
contribute our means to the enrichment of
to our mechanics wages that will enable
them to live in comfort, and to rear their
children so that they may become real men
and women, or whether we shall degrade
of Europe. and take from their children all
hope of ever being more than their fathers
were. 1t is whether the furnace fires shall
blaze throughout the land, and the vast
mineral deposits with which the God of Ma
ture has endowed us shall spring into active
values, or whether they shall sleep on while
the FORCES of other lands are kept alive by
the fuel of our tribute. 1t is whether our
farmer shall have home market for his
products, or be thrown in direct and imme-
diate competition with those vast agricul-
tural regions which yield twice, thrice and
even four times as much for the labor ex.
pended and capital used, as do the lands of
the South In short, it is whether we shall
develop our home resources, rather than
build up the industries Of other nations.
Protective tariff means the protection of
our home laborers, manufacturers, artizans
and farmers. against the squalor, the pov
erty, the wretchedness of the working men
of Europe. 1t means that those represent
ing all classes of American producers and
consumers, for the producers of one article
are the consumers of others, shall band to-
that an honest days work shall command
an honest days wages, that the industries
shall be diversified, and the general good
conserved.
The very life of Virginia depends upon a
protective tariff. The day is not far distant
when this Commonwealth, if the present
system is strengthened rather than reduced,
shall be the seat and centre of vast manu-
featuring enterprises. Our farmers are not
now able to compete with the great West in
agricultural products. They cannot afford
to enter the markets of the world on an
equal footing with those whose lands pro-
duce three or four times as much with half
the labor Their only hope is in creating a
home demand. The immense mountain
ranges now idle, must be utilized. These
which for the most part are located
until capital from other States is intro
duced, be utilized as sheep walks, and made
profitable. But sheep raising will fail to
be remunerative under a free trade system
Already, thanks to Mr.. fuckers efforts,
aided by Democratic House. the tariff has
been tempered with and the effect is
felt in a reduction of the price Of WOOL
The fight the Republicans are now
making is a fight for home protection
It is a fight for the mechanic. the manufac-
urer. the working man and the farmer, and
lie who fails to support it is dealing blow
It his own interests and at the interests of
lis State and section.