The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-08-28

MnnrOe. 1883. -ia,t- S-oS
.Sdans 4;,9
JACK sou ~ $500. :. s..
Van Buren,. ..........-... -. 1.1l
Harris ~ and 'T,lrr.... s. ..., 6.49
Polk ....... !. ....-, 40S
Taylor and Fillmore =. \. &C.,. 4.19
Pierce. ...-...-.. ....-.t.5. 3.56
llilc0ln u. .-... 10
Johnson. ... 81
6ran6 ...... .............-.. II
Hayes NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. zoos
Arthur to June 30, 'S3. ....... f.001S
Three mills. One and eight-tenths mills
In view of this record, do the people
want a change?
But we are told that there is no real
issue to be decided. Read the decara-
tions of the two parties on the tariff and
see if you cannot discover an issue. The
Republican platform is plain and outspoken
in favor of protection. But what does the
Democratic platform say ? No mortal man
can read it and make heads or tails out
Of it. 1t is a mere tumble of words.
Randolph Tucker interprets it to mean an
endorsement of his free trade notions, and
Carlisle, and Morrison, and Watterson, are
in the same boat. Out my way they call
it protection, and if we could induce
Tucker to come to Ohio and deliver the
same speech there that he delivered here.
we would carry the State by 70 900 instead
of $4,000. THE fact is, Democratic inter
probation of the Democratic platform
means free trade in one section and pro-
lection in another. with Office us the chief
aim all tile time. But how does the party
stand upon this question? You farmers
are feeling the effects of the reduction of
the tariff onlwool this year. and the Dem
ocratic speakers will tell you that a Re-
publican Congress made the reduction.
Let's see how the record stands. The re-
duction of the duties on wool was recon-
mended by the Tariff Commission. When
the Commission report reached the SEN
ate, Jno. Sherman, a Republican, intro
duced an amendment providing for a
restoration OF the rates of 1867. That
amendment was defeated. Sixteen Repub-
licans voted for it and fourteen against it,
whilst twenty-six Democrats voted against
it and only three for it. A majority of the
Republicans wanted wool better protected !;
nine -tenths of the Democrats were opposed
to its protection. When the Tariff Com
missions report reached the House, the
Republicans again protested against this
feature. They were told if they would
allow the report-which involved a re-
duction Of taxation of 100000 a year,
and of which the wool tariff was compar-
atiyely minor feature-to pass as whole,
that the committee of Ways and Means
would introduce as it's amendment the
restoration of wool duties. With this
understanding, the report was approved.
The committee prepared it's amendment,
but before that schedule was reached Con-
gress adjourned. The next Congress was
Democratic. When the resolution was
offered before it. putting wool back to it's
old rates. it was voted down by 11S to 1875.
OF those voting in the affirmative "a were
Republicans and 81 Democrats. Of those
voting against the-wool growers ia were
Democrats and IL Republicans. Those are
the facts of the case. The farmers can
judge for themselves which party has
been favorable and which hostile to their
interests.
In discussing the tariff question gener-
ally, the speaker referred to the figures
presented in Blaine s letter of acceptance,
as indicating the Nation IS progress under
the protective system. He spoke of the
wonderful advance made in perfecting
labor-saving implements, citing the pro-
gress from the old reaping-hook of free
trade Democratic days to the harvester Of
to-day. Heproved how protection by build
ing up home markets and creating home
competition, had reduced the price of
the manufactured article below it's
cost under free-trade, whilst at the
same time it had made the artisan pros
porous and his family happy and well
cared for. 1t had advanced the price
of farm products by increasing the
purchasing capacity Of grain, eggs, fruits,
vegetables, &c. And in this connection
the speaker gave number of interesting
figures, comparing prices for various pro-
ducts OF the factory and farm under the
two systems. Reading from a letter of
Robt. Porter's. he showed how family of
three-husband, wife and daughter-work-
ing late and early in smithy of Eng
land, were only enabled to earn $513 per
week, and contrasted that with the wages
paid for the same labor in America. His
exposition of the entire tariff subject was
lucid and convincing, and interspersed as
it was with apt anecdotes and telling
points, it made deep and lasting i'm
preston. In closing, Judge Foraker paid
splendid tribute to Virginia, her great
men and her magnificent resources, and
with impassioned eloquence appealed to
the people to lift the old State from the
mire of Democracy, and start her on the
road to material wealth and greatness.
During the course of his speech, Judge
Foraker paid a splendid tribute to the
bravery of the men who fought with Lee
and jackson. The soldiers of both armies
were the first to clasp hands, and he always
felt at home when he met in social life
now the men who had met him with steel
and lead twenty years ago.
We only wish that our space permitted
us to give every word of this grand speech
as it was uttered. From beginning to end
it was punctuated with applause, and at it's
close cheer after cheer resounded, and
drowned the music of the Band.