Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-15
Gov. Seymour of New York.

Ex-Governor Seymour, of N. Y, one Q
the ablest and purest men of this countr
the farmer Statesman and political phi
losopher-has published letter, givin,
his views ON the tariff, which we have no
the room to publish this week, in which, il
the language of the Bait. Sun, he discuss
es, with the accustomed vigor of the sag
of Deerfield, the larger aspects of tn
present struggle in the field of nationa
politics, and, in view ofthe rapid extension
of our population and resources, urges th
duty of the present generation of voters ''s
to conduct the public affairs that those win
will conduct them in coming years shal
receive them from our hands in the bes
condition" The errors of to-day will b
projected in vastly magniied form upol
the future of the country. Our yer,
growth and prosperity will cause man,
difficulties and dangers, in external affair
involving us in new relations with foreign
powers, and in matters of domestic concern
tending to foster dangerous sectional pre-
JUDGES, and develop the social disorder
from which all densely populated countries
suffer. Hence the need of careful states
manship at Washington and the reason TO
Mr.. Seymour's solicitude in regard to thu
policy recommended by Mr.. Blaine and hi
supporters. "The speakers and the pres
OF the Republican party are causing grea
injury and danger to our agricultural an(
other interests by declaring that it is thu
duty of every good government to impose
such taxes on imports as will exclude thu
products of other lands. They say it is
duty of our government to fence out The
importations of foreign products which
conflict with our own. If this broad prop
osition is true then the governments of Eu
rope are reproached because they do moi
impose duties upon our agricultural pro
ducts which are sent to their shores in sucl
great quantities. They forget that "a
light duty upon our grain, provisions and
dairy products would be destructive to the
prosperity of all parts Of our Union and
all industrial pursuits That the evils
threatened by the 'grab game" of hlgl
taxes on foreign products in return for free
admission abroad to our products are moi
wholly imaginary it is easy to show
"France and other European countries have
already prohibited the importation of some
of our provisions, and they contemplate
further action in the same direction. 1t is
urged with truth that if we give prosperity
to our manufacturers all other industries
would be benefited but it is also true
if we harm our farming, carrying and com
mercial pursuits, we bring great disasters
upon our manufacturers. A policy of fai,
reciprocity of benefits, Mr. Seymour thinks,
would lie decidedly wiser. We raised
$195, 600, 600 in 1884 by taxes on imports,
and So, 700, 600, 600 since 1870 "Nearly
all of this sum, which has been paid by
our people, who use imported articles, has
benefited our manufacturers, nor does any
party object to the tariff as a means OF
raising revenue. "There is no free trade
party in our country, and there will be none
if high-tariT men do not call it into exis-
tence by extreme measures" Neverthe-
less, there is 4 general complaint of the
burdens of taxation; they add to the cost
Of production and thus cut down the
amount OF our exports To all persons
engaged in commerce OF in the business of
transportation, as well as to the farmers,
any diminution of our exports, such as is
caused and threatened by the policy urged
by Mr. Blaine, brings and will continue to
bring great loss. But there are other rea-
sons, with which every one is familiar, why
taxes should be reduced During the past
eight years we have sold our surplus crops
in Europe, partly by reason Of the failure
of crops there and partly because our
railroads reduced their freight rates. That
market now fails us, and as the railroads
have reached bedrock rates, our only hope
of regaining it is by cheapening the cost
OF producing our crops, which can be done
only by reducing the taxes resting on the
farmers. With lower taxes the farmer may
again be able to compete at Liverpool, with
the farmers Of India, Australia and Russia.
With respect to the Democratic nominee
Gov. Seymour is very explicit: "Governor
Cleveland, the Democratic candidate, is an
able, firm and thoughtful man, who has
risen to the position of Governor of this
State by the faithful performance of duties
in the official positions he has held. His
unflinching courage is carrying out his
trusts and his unquestioned integrity give
him strong hold upon the confidence OF
the public.''