The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-10
The South and West.


The evident purpose of the Democratic
party to attempt to make coalition be-
tween the South and West has not the
naturalness that is claimed for it. The
election ofsMr. Carlisle, Fas Speaker, and
the framing of the Committees in Con-
gress by him, would seem to point to
policy looking to political cooperation
or unity between Western and Southern
interests. But there is DO sound logic IN
the proposition, except probably as 1t
would apply to the Statesaof the Missis-
sippi Valley. Take from the South the
territory drained by the MISSISSIPPI Riv-
er, and there is not a material fact that can
be adduced to sustain the assumption
that the South and West are more akin
in interests than the South and East
And this exception is weakened when we
consider the artificial lines Of commnni-
cation which are drawing together the
whole South and the whole North. The
Atlantic States especially, from Florida
to Maine, have greater common interests
than could be possibly contracted between
the South and West, .ands.when these are
stimulated by railroads running directly
from the farthest North to the EXTREMIST
South, the suggestion of Southern. and
Western combination against the East
and North is stripped of all business ad-
vantage and rational argument. The no.
ton of Southern and Western commercial
reciprocity is merely chimerical--the
idealistic dream of political schemers.
whose senses have become confused by
greed for political power. The staple pro-
ducts of the South find their market in the
East and not in the West, and the chan
nels which control the interchange Of the
commodities of each are those which
should cultivate political sympathy. And
! this would be the case if the sections could
| be made to see their own interests and Ibe-
come Invested of that narrow prejudice
which snbordinates material growth and
welfare to the behests of partizan manip-
ulators. The time may come when the
South may supply the West with the pro-
ducts of her looms and factories. but in
the meantime the importance of diversi-
fed labor and industries is gaining prom
inence in the South, the result of which
will be to produce an ample abundance of
| the articles which form the staples of the
West. Hence there will be no demand for
equal exchange of products, and conse-
quently there cannot grow a political one
ness between the two sections. The South
| will raisesits own bread and meat, make its
own domestic fabrics and iron, and direct
ly import all the finer goods that the tastes
and wants of society may demand For
none of these things will she be dependent
on the West at least, while the West may
seek the Sonth for it's products, as a ques-
tlon of economy. The Southern Atlantic
States, therefore, can form no bond
of commercial union with the West, and
/ this admitted, political union, as against
the East, could have no lasting foundation
upon which to rest.
The political schemers in the Demo
cratic party base their plans upon sup
posed sympathy between the South and
| West on the tariff question. But there is
nothing real in this. Indeed, it is the re-
suit of Bourbon stupidity which is inca
pable of recognizing existing facts and
natural forces. They build upon traditions
which have long since been exploded, and
| argue from premises founded in the slave
| system of labor. The Southern Atlantic
States, from their geographical position
and natural advantages, must become man
ufacturing communities. and interested in
tariff laws which look to the encourage
ment of home enterprises and home labor.
1t is the delusi0n that the same govern
mental policy which was supported by the
South under the slave system, is that
which now has application to our inter-
ests, that suggests common cause between
the South and West. The new South has
grown out of this tradition. She looks to
diversified industries for her progress and
prosperity-to system of laws which will
protect her labor and enterprise from the
pauper labor of Europe and enable her to
utilize her natural advantages, develop her
resources. and foster her independence,
through her factories and workshops and
her fields.
The people of the South are in advance
of the politicians in their comprehension
of the necessary economies best for the
South's growth and progress, and the at
mosphere will soon become unhealthy for
the propagation of free trade notions. In
some portions of the West the Golden
Clubs have sent their free trade pamphlets
into every household, and made some ad-
vance in matchmaking the public mind
with their harmful doctrines and because
the same views were at one time held in
the South, it is assumed that natural
sympathy exists between these sections
But the South has advanced more rapidly
in an understanding and appreciation of
the protective policy, as suitable to her
condition, than the West has in the free
trade fallacy. rendering unity of action
on this question more difficult, aye. impos-
sible, than ever before. The politicians,
lioWSNCA, w lloo CCCLi w uuuOlOUttIQ tllO.
Even Mr.. Carlisle, with his acknowledged
ability and craftsmanship. does not appear
to comprehend it, as evidenced in the ar
rangement Of his committees and the
prominence given to the free trade senti-
ment.
1t is plain enough for the way-faring
man though fool to see, that there can
be no natural combination between the
South and West, in the interest of free
trade, and that the plans and schemes of
the plotting Democratic Free Trade leaders
to consummate such coalition will prove
a failure. The Democracy however. has
virtually chosen it's ground of contest for
1884, and from it there can be no retreat
without disaster, The startled and con-
founded newspaper critics, who have just
awakened to the true condition of things
and the fatal coils that are already around
their party, cannot change the issue. or es-
cape from the meshes into which they have
been inveigled. They cannot ignore or
protest out of it. 1t is Democracy and
Free Trade, on the one side, and Republic
canism and protection to home labor and
home enterprise on the other. This is the
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