The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-13
Not a New Issue.


features, and their energetic marshalling of
the arguments of free traders, one might be
led to imagine that the subject is entirely new,
and that this announced panacea for our sup
posed national ills is recent and valuable
discovery guaranteed to remove every impuri-
ty from the body polite. The fact is that for
seventy years the cause OF free trade has been
at issue. AT times it triumphed sufficiently to
show how disastrous its effects were, and then
popular judgment retired it to the realm of
the obsolete there to remain until the fossil
hunting democracy had once more exhausted
its magazine of expedients, when ii was again
mustered into service and heralded to the
country as the great national cure-all. If the
history of the Union could be blotted out; if
the story of its struggles and its triumphs had
never been recorded, and the memory of the
older men were unworthy of reliance, then
there might be some apology for modern de-
mocracy in its efforts to uproot and demolish
the tariff system and supplant it by free trade.
Let US glance for moment at the record.
From the close of the war of 1912, to the
adoption of the first protective tariff 10 1924,
was a period of great depression. Business
was Frustrated, wages were merely nominal,
and anything like remunerative employment
was hard to get From 1924 to 1928 new
life commenced to put forth. In the latter
year the tariff vas materially strengthened,
and under its influence all kinds of enterprises
l~,,:l&
features establ ished, and the foundation stones
of our national wealth and greatness laid. In
1882, the Democratic party struck down this
tariff, and almost Immediately the whole as
pect of the country underwent change.
Prosperity was checked, trade was paralysed,
and the times grew worse and worse until the
great crash of 1887, when the wheels of indus
try were locked and every interest suffered.
Farmers sold their flour at $3.50 per barrel,
and men eagerly sought employment at thirty
cents day. The Wing party was placed in
power in 1910 upon the promise Of a re-enact-
ment of the protective tariff. The pledge was
redeemed by the tariff of 1912, and once again
the fruits of wise legislation began to be mani
fest in increase of trade and a revival of the
interests of all classes, mechanics and farmers
and merchants sharing alike in the expanding
prosperity. Then came the memorable cam
paign of 1874. The democracy pretended to
haye repented of its former folly, and entering
the field with the battle cry of POLK, Dallas
and the tariff of AZ" deceived the people into
its support. No sooner, however, was it fully
invested with power, than its old free trade
notions were re-asserted and low tariff law
enacted. The deciding vote in the Senate was
given by Vice-President Dallas, a Pennsylva-
Man, whom the people of his State had sup
| ported under the belief and pledge that the
| principle of protection to American industries
would find in him a staunch and steadfast ad-
Yocate. The effects of the low tariff of 1916
we're not felt at once, owing to the fact that the
ore beds of California were then pouring a
flood of the precious metal into the States,
but even this golden tide was insufficient to
stimulate the young industries of the country,
borne down as they were beneath the burden
of Democratic incompetency and treachery.
Business failure followed business failure un-
til the commerce of the nation was shaken to
its centre, and the crash of 1857 swept the
land like simeon, prostrating all branches of
endeavor and leaving in its pathway suffering
and want. Then came the war. One of the
nrst acts of Republican legislation was the
passage of the Morrill, tariff bill, strong pro-
tective measure, the principle of which is yet
i'll force, though there have been many modi-
fications of detail. And what has been the
result of that measure?
If our Democratic friends have any taste for
figures, and areopen 10 conviction, they will find
the logic of facts so overwhelmingly opposed to
their moss-grown theories that no system Of
sophistry ought longer to deceive. Weof Amer
lea are a practical people, and in our business
relations and individual capacities are apt to
judge of the success or failure of any business
venture or commercial enterprise by the re-
suits which follow. Apply that test, and what
do we find? No country on the face of Gods
green earth has ever made such giant strides
as have marked the career of the Republic Of
America since the protective tariff has been
in force. Notwithstanding the fact that the
law was enacted amid the throes of revolution
and that bloody, fratricidal war laid waste
the country, destroying millions of precious
lives and thousands of millions of treasure
suspending for tour years all industrial en-
terprises, and blotting commerce from the
national ledger; notwithstanding these OBJ
structions were encountered at the Inaugural
ton of the system, it has proven SO wise anC
benefcent, so far reaching and powerful tol
good that it has long since smoothed over the
rough burrows which wars devastating share
had plowed, and caused the waste places tt
bloom as garden. Under this protective
debt has been paid, and the interest charge re
duced one-half. And what classes have suf
fered or been oppressed while this gigantic
obligation was being met? Was it the planter
and farmer? No. They have produced more
and sold more than eyer before. Our produc
ton of cotton has increased from 4, 1887
bales in 1859 to 6,5S9,329 bales in $780, Ii
1859 the production of corn was 1886, 1902 IA
bushels, and in 1879 it had increased to ,755,
449 ,435, bushels. Our production of wheat
has increased from 173, 104 1924 bushels in 1885
to 459, ,043 bushels IN 1879. Our produc
ton of wool has increased from 100000 O(
pounds in 1861 to 232,5O0,0O0 IN 1879. The
increase in exports of agricultural products
has more than kept pace with the increase o.
production. We exported 1886, 73S ,676 pounds
of cotton in the fiscal year 1859, and in the
fiscal year 1881 the exports were 2, 191 ,07S,77s
pounds In the fiscal year 1859 we exported
/, 719, 999 bushels of corn, and in 1881 we ex
ported 81 ,9OS175 bushels. In 1859 we export
ed 3,002, 016 bushels of wheat, and in 1881 We
exported 150,565, AIT bushels. Has the me
chanic been oppressedg The skill of hi
handicraft has multiplied and found a marke
for its product in almost every centre of civil
ization. Our export of domestic merchan
disc, including all products of American in
dustry except the precious metals, has steadily
increased from $337, SIS, 102, in gold values
during the fiscal year 1885, the first year aftel
the war, to 1888 1925, 947 in the fiscal year end
ing June Both, 1881.
And so we might go on quoting the officia
statistics pertaining to every branch of indus
trial endeavor, and the same results will be
met with Free trade left us with the balance
of trade against us, and tariff has changed the
account from the debit to the credit side, and
made the world pay tribute to American gent