The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-10-14
The Tariff Question.


Experience having taught US that it was a
difficult matter to impress fresh idea or lodge
arguments in the popular mind, in the heat OF
political campaign, when the passions are
inlamed and reason distracted, two years
AGO we comm need the discussion of the tariff
question, and the publication of articles bear
ing upon the subject from our exchanges. The
attention which had been drawn to the min
eral resources Of this section through publica-
tons in the VIRGINTAN, and the interest man
Tested by capitalists in our coal and iron
fields, made it appropriate that our people
should be educated to an appreciation of the
agencies which have developed and utilized
these clements of wealth in other sections
From time to time we presented such facts
and arguments as we could command in favor
of the policy ofprotection and the building up
OF American manufactures, as the sure way to
make our mineral properties valuable, benefit
the farmer in a hone market and add to the
general wealth by keeping among our own
people the results OF their labor, by Interchange
of the products OF diversified industries Under
the policy of the government before the war,
and in the condition of the labor system when
slavery existed Virginia was purely an agri-
cultural community The products of the soil
were dedicated to the purchase Of needed ar
ticles of manufacture wrought in other States
and countries and consequently the State was
drained of the results of its own system of in
dustry, to build up the manufactures of other
sections Nothing was kept at home-no new
wealth created-our water-power allowed to
go unutlized-our minerals to remain where
nature had formed them-our timber to be
used only for fencing and fire wood, and in
stead of keeping pace with the progressive
communities where skilled labor was encour-
aged and inventive genius fostered and stimu-
lated, we stood still, content to be mere hewers
of wood and drawers Of water, while other
States, not so highly favored, marched on to
wealth and political power.
The discussion of the questions arising out
of this condition of things and the industrial
agencies to effect change for the better, and
make Virginia, in the course of time, what
Pennsylvania now is, has aroused the atten-
ton of the people, and to-day, the policy of
protection to American industries and diver
styling labor pursuits, is coming forward as
the leading thought. All over the State the
more intelligent of our citizens, are giving the
subject serious study and deep interest is man
Tested in the question Of the tariff In every
district there is one or more candidates pro-
claiming the doctrine of protection, and the
prospect is that instead of one member of
Congress-the representative from the Fourth
District-being in favor of that policy, Virginia
will be represented by three or four avowed
tariff men in the next Congress. Woltz in
the First District Dezendorf in the Second,
Pelouze in the Third, Jorgenson in the
Fourth, Stovall in the Fifth, Frazier in the
Sixth, Paul in the Seventh, Bailey in the
Eighth, and Goodell in the Ninth, are all pro-
nounced advocates of the protective policy
We do not expect all of these gentlemen to
be elected, but it shows what a departure has
been made from the Bourbon notion of free
trade, and the new inspirations which are
moving the people. We do not claim all the
credit for this revolution in popular sentiment
but we do claim to have been the pioneer and
to have first invited attention to the consider
alton OF this vitality important subject. II the
ends we have in view, in the election of rep
resentatives to Congress, who shall reflect the
will of the people and direct their efforts to
the practical benefits Of the State, are accom-
plished, others can have the nominal honor of
the primary movement What we want is to
see Virginia moving out OF the ruts of the past
to catch the inspiration of the progressive
present, and go forward to a more assuring
and prosperous future We shall be content
with sharing in the advantages of the new
Virginia, and witnessing the Old Common
wealth come up out of the ashes of exploded
distractions, to assume her proper position
among the enlightened and progressive States
of the Union