The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-22
The South and Protection.


From commercial and business point OF
view the South is just beginning to realize
the results of the war. Under the slavery |
regime, manufacturing interests were not
considered, nsr the advantage of Southern
for converting into fabrics our
own productions. We were content with
the employment of slave labor on the farm
and plantation, and exchanging what we
produced for what we did not manufacture.
To find market for, cotton, whether in
the East or across the sea. and to receive
enough IN return to supply our necessary
wants and limited luxuries, filled the
Fan politics. Indeed, slave labor was
practical inhibition to the ingress OF In
telligent. skilled free labor. The preju-
dices and peculiar views which grew out Of
the slave question, drove our people to
isolation and to encourage certain kind
Of independence Of all the rest Of mankind
1t was peculiar Institution, and 1t made
us peculiar people.
shock it occasioEed to our industrial and
political relations partially abated, ne"
channels OF thought and endeavor opened
up before US. Our people began to see
cies and pursuits, and awakened, In de-
gree, to the advantages we possess nat
urally for manufacturing purposes, ven
lures gradually were made, until now there
our future progress and prosperity lie
Our cotton factories and iron furnaces are
demonstrating that, under the protective
policy, they can be run to greater profit
than can similar industries be operated in
the East. New England is already clam
oring for reduced freight rates to the West,
to enable tie cotton manufacturers of
that section to compete with the South, in
the Western market, for the cotton fabrics
we produce. While in the South the cot
ton is at our doors, a bale Of cotton costs
in freight delivered in New England from
$3.50 to $4-giving not only this advan.
sage, but the additional condition of cheap
er labor. This diminution OF cost in our
favor is augmented by reason Of direct con-
nection with the consumers of the West
both by water and rail and the possib nifty
offs greater ratio OF decrease on these costs,
as matter of competition, than the
The tariff of freight rates Is higher on
Southern roads than on Northern, while
the running expenses are no greater, and
when the railroads undertake to accommo-
date the demands of the eastern manufsc-
turers for reduced freights to enable them
to successfully compete with Southern
manufacturers in the Western markets, the
railroads Of the South can very readily al
ford to make still greater reduction, in or.
der to maintain and uphold the supremacy
OF Southern manufactures. Cotton manu-
features in the South are in their infancy
The census year shows 100 mills, running
5S3 ,696 spindies, and consuming 1SS 744
bales of cotton. The Northern States had
59l cotton mills, raining 0.094 $50 spin
dies and PA, 972 looms, and consum ing
1915 bales Of cotton. OF course. the
perfection Of the methods which obtain in
the North, give a present advantage over
the South, bit this will be soon equalized
and the flner fabrics. now exclusively man
ufactured by Northern mills, turned GU,
at the South.
These facts and tendencies all point to
the time when New England will change
her views Of tariff policy. She will find
it more to her advantage to compete with
English manufactures, under free trade
policy, than with the South under protec-
tive policy. New England interests will
demand free trade with England to break
down manufacturing supremacy in the
South, under protection, and the result Will
be the South advocating protection as a
means OF self defence and New England
clamoring for free trade. for a like reason.
Similar suggestions present themselves
to those growing out OF the cotton interests
when we come to consider the iron inter-
ests. All the facts and reasons Of the case
force the conclusion that the iron manu-
featuring centres OF the country must, in
time, find their locations In the South,
where the raw materials. which enter into
the making Of iron are cheaper, In closer
proximity and more abundant. With ores
suited for the manufacture of pig iron and
steel. and the coal and limestone in easy
reach-with labor cheaper than it can be
had In the North, it is only question OF
time when the capital Of the country, seek
ing investments of this kind, will find its way
TO the South. The costly plants now ir
existence In the North, will be maintained,
as a matter Of self-defence, for awhile, but
where iron can be made the cheapest, and
placed in the market at the greatest profit,
10 the place where capital will locate. This
fact Is having its influence all over the
country. Its effects are being felt in the
South, as well as in the North. Economists
eOncede the fact that the future iron centres
must be in the South, and that Virginia
presents more advantages and attractions
than any other State In the Union. By slow
degrees, the movement is progressing, and
in few years the truth OF what we now
assume will be fully verified.
Influences growing out of such industrial
considerations, must necessarily fashion
public opinion, as to the governmental
policy which will best promote the manu-
featuring interests. The American policy
of protection will become the Southern
policy of protection, and the moss. backs
and Bourbon theorists be driven from the
political arena, to make way for the young
life that Is conf ing to the front to control
and direct the destiny Of the South. Now
when the South is just beginning to realize
some OF the practical benefits of the pro-
tective policy, it would be the baldest folly
for the people to adhere to the obsolete no
lions OIL the tariff question which predom-
mated in slavery times. We are. in effect,
new people, living under new conditions
looking to new pursuits, new methods and
new results. Railroads and furnaces ano
actories are changing the Soulful and-its
theories, It's policies, its pursuits, Its needs
and demands, and be who does not catct
the inspiration and comprehend the situa-
ton, is not suited 10 the Industrial eri
which is dawning upon our section, apo
SCATTERING the idols of refining abstrac'