The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-05-04
Theory VS.. Results.

We do not know that II WOuiu be prOllta-
bic to appropriate space and time to the
discussion of any abstract theory. affecting
governmental policy. ard especially t at of
the tariff. We prefer to confront the re-
fining distractions of the Winche Ter
Times, as sustained by British writers, 'n
the Free Trade question with the pr0cta-
cal results, as evidenced by the experience
of this country. and sustained by its pro
gress and prosperity. under the protective
policy. The fault we have 10 find with our
Democratic friends, is that they have moth
ING but abstract. obsolete theories upon
VIII ich to base an excuse for the existence
of their party. The free trade notion is so
palpably condemned by the operation OF
that policy in this country that it is only
necessary to compare the condition of the
United States under it with that under the
protective policy, to expose its absurdlty
and its want of applicability to our Amerl-
can system. However smooth abstract no
tions may appear upon paper, if they do
not stand the test of experience and con-
summate good to the body polite, they
should be regarded as the delusions of we'll
meaning men, but of misguided and Wis
ionarv intellects. We had an illustration
of that in 1861. when we contended for our
rights in the Territories and the privilege
of taking our negroes there" In the in
sane struggle after the rights, we lost not
only the rights and the negroes, but our sec
ton was swept by an avalanche of war
and destruction. A similar but less SAN
culinary result would occur to the indus
tries and prosperity of the country were
the theory of free trade to be practically
engrafted upon our governmental policy.
1t is sufficient to point to the results to the
laboring class in England of free trade,
where woman and children are compelled TO
90 into the factories and mines TO aid their
husbands and fathers to provide scanty
subsistence, and compare it with the mann
featuring districts of America under the
protective policy. where remunerative wages
are paid to laborers, their fam lilies surrounded
V the comforts of home. with churches
and schools to train and lead to higher
life and fit them for the duties of citizen
ship. Under the protective policy our
country has grown in wealth and power
the laborer, the mechanic, the farmer, the
merchant and every class of citizens. par
ticipating in the benefits, while the period
the policy of Democratic free trade was in
force the reverse was the fact.
Apart from this practical view and these
practical results. affecting the business and
the labor of the country, the important
question of the demands upon the Treasu-
rv must be considered. To meet all the
drafts upon the Treasury it requires about
5000 OOO. 900. This amount has TO be raised
from some source-either from a tariff upon
Imports or direct taxation. Democratic free
trade would impose the latter method
of raising it-Repubican protective system
the former. Which would the people pre-
fer? To meet the appropriation OF Sc ,000,-
900, the bill for which has just passed the Sem
ate for the improvement of the Mississippi
river, under the free trade policy direct
tax would have to be levied. Under the
present tariff policy, those who wear the
costlest goods and indulge in foreign luXu-
ries, pay the bulk of it, in an indirect way
1t is so with the appropr iations for the i'm.
provement of our rivers and harbors, and
other improvements looking to the devel-
opment of our country and the utilization
of our natural wealth. Nature has blessed
lis with untold resources of natural wealth
which could not be converted into active val
ues under any other system than that which
encourages the industries for their utilization
fosters the labor interests, diversifies en-
prses, and threads their behefcent effects
through the whole fabr ic of government,
political. social and Industrial.
We are a practical people-estimating
policies by the results which follow theirop'
Grafton. No array of distinguished writer's.
who have written for the British public
| in support of the free trade theory, could
possibly offset the practical benefits which
stare the American people in the face, as
the result of the protective policy. 1t is
to these that the voter. of whatever calling,
should look. and it is to these he will look,
and be governed by them.
Without any discourtesy to our able CO.
temporary Of the Times, we do not think a
mere discussion of the abstract theory of
free trade, and what British writers may
have said of it, is what his or our readers
want just at this time. They want to know
what policy is best calculated to build up
American industries, give employment to
home labor, and market to home pro-
ducts, and make our country wealthy and
powerful. We point to practical results
he to abstract theory-the one Republican
and the other Democratic.