The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-10-09
The Tenth District. )

SGdGe. ana especially 10 tlle valley
Through our correspondents and personal
and observations. we have
been enabled to give to the country some
ideaOf the Wonderful natural resources OF
Virginia and have the qualification of
knowing that these efforts have not been
in vain. Thousands of dollars have been
brought to the State through publications
which have appeared in the VIRGINIAN,
and a kindly feeling cultivated for our
people by intelligent and enterprising men
from other States, who have been drawn
here by such representations as we have
given, to look into the conditions and
possibilities, in business point, of Vir-
GINA. Other agencies, mere potent than
our endeavors, and other men exertlng
more infu ences than we pretend to have
exercised, have likewise devoted their
time and attention to advertising the ma
terial wealth Of the State, to the end that
the needed capital might be commanded
to seek investments. These efforts would
have all been in vain, and worse than.
useless. had not the policy of the gov
eminent as reflected in the protection
laws, given assurance to capital in
vested in iron industries, that it would
meet with remuneratiye returns. But for
this protective policy not dollar would
have been disbursed to develop and util-
ize the iron properties along the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad, through which
the whole country from Staunton west has
been made one busy scene of enterprise,
giving employment to thousands of labor
ers, creating home market for produce
of all kinds, stimulating productions of
this description, and rescuing from waste
lands before uncultivated, building up COM
Portable homes and enriching localities,
which never had been blessed with the ac-
tivities of business. We all know these
things, They cannot be denied. No ar
gument can affect them, for they speak
for themselves as tangible facts.
And Staunton owes its prosperity as
much, if not more, to the business Gre
ated by the protection laws and northern
capital, operating upon our natural re-
sources. as anything else. 1t is the centre
of business for the furnace and coal opera
ations on the Chesapeake line. 1t is the
res eryoir into which is emptied the prof
its of the labor and the capital employed
in development. Supplies are purchased
here, demanding enlarged business houses,
enlarged stocks of groceries, drugs, hard
ware. and everything that goes into the
supply of increasing and progressive
co communities. The profits of these go
into buildings, the mechanic is employed,
and he in turn expends his wages with the
merchant and tradesmen of all kinds, for
the produce of the farm, giving health
and activity to business in every channel
and adding to the wealth and progress of
community. No one can gainsay these
things. They stand as their own demon
stration and are indisputable arguments
against all assaults.
After these tangible, positive, unques-
toned benefits have been realized, under
the policy of the Republican policy-a pol
icy opposed by the united efforts of nearly
every Democrat in Congress. by the his
tory of that party, by its known record on
the subject of the tariff, what is pro-
proposed That the people of this dis
trict shall array themselves at the ballot
box in condemnation Of these agencies of
progress and the policy that assured them
by electing Randolph Tucker to Congress-
"a known Free Trader in theory, and
practically"a free trader in his votes on
measures involving the policy of free
trade or protection. He cannot dodge out
of this position, now that he is pressed to
the wall, and he knows that he will be de-
feated unless he goes back upon himself.
And the people ought not to deceive them
selves or allow others to deceive them
either as to the vital questions at issue in
this contest, OF as to Mr.. Tucker himself.
They have too much at stake in the result.
If Mr.. Tucker should be elected, that
result will be the official record of the peO-
pie of what they want-their senti-
ments and convictions whatever may be
their mental reservations or excuses. He
will be accepted as the representative of
what they think and believe. 1t will be
an endorsement of his reckless and mis-
chievous appeals to the hates and passions
of the war. at time when all true friends
of Virginia and the South are seeking to
forget, or have practically forgotten, the I'M
happy and regretful resentments which
naturally grew out of armed hostilities-
after the money and the energy of those
Mr.. Tucker would bring under the ban of
our people, have constructed our railroads.
opened our mines, built up our industries,
and aided in bringing about the degree of
prosperity we now enjoy. His views would
be regarded as our yiews-his hates our
hates-his heresies our hefesies. and we
would be looked upon just as Mr.. Tucker
is looked upon as an enemy to the peace OF
the sections, to enlightened progress, to
national determination, to all the inf1u-
ences which must be invoked to lift our
State and section up to the position in
material and political power to which she,
by nature, is entitled. The 10th district,
rich in natural resources, only awaiting
the touch of capital and enterprise to make
them mines of active wealth, would be the
one particular spot which enlightene en-
terprise and active energies would want
to avoid. Whatever might be the real
feelings and sentiments OF our people, Mr..
Tucker would be accepted as their refec-
tion, for he would stand as their represen-
totiUe by their own act, and they would |
have to be judged as he is judged. Can
the people of the counties composing the |
district afford this ? We do not think |
they can. 1t would cost them millions, for |
it would give notice to the world that such |
men as the Firmstones were not wanted |
here-that they were mo Virginians,
and only came here for a mean, mercenary
purpose, to rob us of our wealth, and go |
North and spend it. 1t was in this way |
the FirmstOnes, who have expended in |
what was dead property, nearly two mil
lions of dollars, to give it life and active |
value, regard the insult offered them, and |
it is the way every other man Of spirit |
similarly situated would regard it. And it
is because of this that the Frmstones are |
putting forth their best efforts to defeat |
Mr.. Tucker and rescue the district from