The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-02
Democratic BlunderS.
Editors Vaneu Vs,ya1aa07a ;.

Scarcely is there proposition formulated In
the Cincinnati platform that is not IN conflict
with some accomplished good effected for the
country by the Republican party. The extract
given below taken from the atlantic Montfsty,
and which we were pleased to notice repuD-
lished in the Richmond State presents torclbly
the effects of Democratic doctrines, should
they be put into practical operation. Ihey
affect directly the industrial development and
advancement of the country, and would result
in paralyzing American enterprise to the adj
vantage of European interests. we ask the
careful attention of our readers to the expla-
nation given the effects of the partial adoption
of the notions presented in the platform of the
Democratic party:
In a very interesting article on the PRO
gress of the Presidential Canvass" writer IN
the atlantic for September very clearly sets
forth the differences between the democrats
and Republicans in the campaign. lie says :
"Upon two questions the Democrats have III
their platform departed from their non-com-
INITIAL policy. The platform demands free
ships and tariff for revenue only. Here the
Republicans can Join issue with them squarely
Free ships, however desirable in a theoretical
sense. mean practically the abandonment Of
the American ship-yards. The Italians and
the Norwegians can put together wooden
ships cheaper than our Maine shipWrights can
| build them, and the great Clyde-slde ana
Tyne-side yards Of Great Britain can under
bid our Delaware yards for the construction OF
| iron vessels. The ruin of our ship building
| industry might be compensated for by COM
| mercial advantages in times of peace. but we
| should be seriously crippled in case OF war tor
our navy yards are not capable OF supplying
our navy with the additional armed vessels 1t
| would need, to say nothing of the fleets OF
! transports that must be rapidly improVlsed
! for military operations. Leaving the CONNER
cial question aside altogether, the support OF
American shipyards by protective leglsiatlon1
| is defensive measure of the highest national
Importance. The Democrats have made no
| point here that will help them in the canvass:
Indeed, in view of the closeness OF the state OF
Maine and the hopes of carrying 1t by thelr
alliance with the Greenbackers, IL looks as
| though they had committed serious Dlunaer'
| They have succeeded no better With tnel =
s'tariff- for-revenue-only" plank such a tarin
means the entire abandonment OF inc Anlel
can system of protection under winch our nlul-
tiform manufacturing Industries have grown
and prospered A tariff for revenue is tarl1
which will produce the most revenue, ana Is
| ola necessity low tariff, that will stimulate
large importatiolas of foreign goods to under
sell our own products in our home markets ct
This plank arrays against the Democracy inc
entire manufacturing interests OF the country,
together with the large body OF artsans any! ~
laborers whose daily bread depends upon l!s
prosperity. 1t throws away the very lall
chances the Democrats had of carrying Con :,ol
necticut and New Jersey, and the possibility
of their securing Pennsylvania, the home
State of their candidate. Besides, it will lose
them many votes in New York, where there re
are thousands of industries which would DC
ruined by the repeal of protective duties. -, In
return, the Democrats gain nothing Inc
South, which is the only section OF me couh-
try where free trade ideas largely pre1o1n1Ste
| Is solidlv D emocratic in every case. The West