The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-21

power unsurpassed; and your climate mucn
more genial and favorable. Iron industries
cannot be built up under any other policy
than that Of protection against the cheap
labor OF Europe, through tariff on i'm
ports, so as to make the productions of each
country equal in American markets. The
Democratic notion of tariff for revenue
only is simply an invitation for the manu-
facturers of Europe to overrun the markets
Of America, drive out OF operation our own
industries, multiply the producers OF farm
products. diminish the consuming class, and
thus paralyze the one and surfeit the other.
causing disaster from a double source. with
no compensating employment in one for the
other The tariff builds the factories and
furnaces, which erect towns and cities; ag-
gregate consumers. able and willing to buy
the products Of the farm increase the value
of the lands in proportion to the ready sale
for their products, and BY this mutual en-
couragement add wealth, prosperity and
happiness to community. 1t is the effect
OF protection to home industries that is in
viting capital to your iron and coal fields;
that has erected the furnaces and iron
works now in operation in your section
that will improve in capacity and value
your farms that justifies the construction
of railroads, and contributes to these great
factors In American civilization.
Your political theorists do not belong to
this practical age. Free trade and sailors
rights, was very pretty doctrine to look at
on paper and afforded theme for the re-
tining politician. But it does not meet the
demands OF the muscle and brains OF a free
country, where every man is prince and
casts his own destiny. 1t did very well in
slavery times where your labor could only
be employed in tilling the SOIL raising
corn. wheat, tobacco and cotton. The many
sowed and the few reaped-creating min
iature aristocracy. or q caste of hewers Of
wood and drawers Of water. and a caste Of
idle, dissipated consumers, who toiled not
neither did they spin. That era and that
system are Of the past. The great truth
that men were born to equal rights-that
each must carve out its own destiny, and
udVC . CuouOC " w LOO SOhAC AVi III
through blood and carnage to inspire the
humblest to do and dare. The change in
the relations of persons and the systems of
labor, demands change in the methods Of
industry and the policy Of government
The solution is found in the policy Of pro-
lection to home indestry, which directly
tends to individual and national indepen-
dence and prosperity.
Your people should look to this great in
terest, and see to it that the men delegated
to represent them in the legislative councils
of the nation, understand and appreciate
the question of the tariff and its logic.
Your fossilized politicians, who hug the de-
lusions of 49, 80 and cling to the obsolete
notions of the Democratic party of the
slave era, are fit subjects for the shelf, and
not qualified to take a controlling part in
this great industrial age.
Virginia, with her credit maintained and
her mineral resources developed and util-
ized, would soon be where Pennsylvania
is-with her splendid public school system.
her railroads, her furnaces and her manu-
featuring industries, followed by increased
commercial and political power.
A VIRGINIAN.