The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-10-16
OF THE U. S. TREASURY, TO HIS
FRIEND IN NEW YORK.

WASHINGTON, Jam, 25, 1882
Nh Dear Sir. = \ x x [ will
now attempt to answer your inquiries on
the tariff question. The agricultural in
terests of the South have formally arrayed
themselves against the manufacturing in
terests of the North and time alone will
give us the result. Both parties are san
guine. For myself, l dread the conse-
quences of the struggle. because | think
| can discover that the great leading prin-
ciples of National prosperity are to be
sacrificed to sectional views and interests.
The Southern planter refuses to give the
protection necessary to foster our rising
manufactures. He will not aid in putting
down the ruinous foreign competition. He
tells you on the contrary, in plain terms,
THAT the protective system stands con-
demned in our own country, and by the ex-
perience of the world, and almost unani-
nous opinion of the enlightened men of
modern times" If our distinguished
statesmen who profess to have studied the
commercial maXims, and watched the
manufacturing progress of other nations
under their protecting systems, can adj
vance such erroneous sweeping opinions
as theSe-if they can find in our legislative
halls, abettors to aid them in welding their
bosom of destruction, we must no longer
deceive ourselves. but, on the contrary,
learn this notifying truth, that so far
from being that enlightened nation we so
often style ourselves, we are i'll fact not
one degree in the science of political econ
omv above the monks of Spain and Jews
of Portugal
The tariff has done much for the indus
try of the country. To it we owe the gem
eral unparalleled prosperity it at present
enjoys. Some sections of it, whose great
staple is cotton, perhaps suffer, but they
would have suffered still more had it not
been for the tariff. A bale of cotton, a
tierce OF rice. or a hogshead of tobacco.
will not go far In paying for bale of En-
glish broadcloth OF muslins. At moder-
ate calculation it takes 200, 900 900 of dollars
annually to do the people of the United
States. Abolish the tariff annihilate our
manufacturing industry, and import from
Europe all we want, and what would be
the consequences The country would
be Inundated with British goods from
Maine to the Gulf of Mexico; from the
Atlantic to the Mississippi river, and in
the course of few years, we would accu-
mulate such an enormous debt to England.
as would cripple us to such a degree that
the youngest among us would not live to see
it liquidated. If our farms were not mort
gagged to her, the produce would be before
the seed is grown-all the agriculture of
the country-all our banks, canal and rail
road stocks-all our capital would not be
sufficient to discharge one-half of it, We
would be indebted to her for almost all the
necessaries of life, provisions alone ex-
cepted, and then we should not be able to
cook without her utensils. What de-
pendent, what a humilating position for a
nation like this to be placed in! We have
the finest climate. good soil, a cheap gov
eminent, Industrious habits, great terri
torial wealth and yet we must forego all
these advantages, turn all our manufacture
ing establishments into poor houses, and
become steady customers to those ofMother
Britain for all her wOolens, cotton, and
gewgaws. We must retrograde to those