Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-06

us chief justice of the Supreme Court
of the United States for thirty-four years,
was able, by his decisions, to mark
out the foundations and establish
governments, with ample power TO
maintain itself against all enemies at
home or abroad. Mr.. jefferson was the
author and champion of the other theory,
and, no doubt by reason of his observa.
tons of monarchy in Europe, was actu-
ated by an honest opposition to what he
called concentrated power, forgetting,
however, that the power of our national
government was the power of the people
when administered by the nation as well
as when administered by the State.
These two opposing theories were mani
tested in every question: great and small
they appeared in the politics of the first
half century, though even Mr.. Jefferson
exercised what he thought was an uncon-
stitutiOnal power in the acquisition of
Louisiana, and Madison approved the
bank bill and the high protective tariff,
and Monroe asserted the highest National
power in respect to foreign affairs. The
result of the first half century was to es-
tablish the principles of John Marshall as
against those of Thomas jefferson, and
nothing disturbed the tendency until the
question of slavery unfortunately became
involved i'll party politics, when the inter
ests of slavery induced the : ,uthern lead
TO cripple and limit and narrow the pow
ers of the National government, and eX-
tend the power of the State and local au-
thority. was upon this dividing line be-
tween National and State authority that
the war was fought.
Now, in these questions, whatever may
be said Of the past, the State of Virginia is
far more deeply interested in Republican
IDEAS than the State of Ohio or any of the
Northern ideas. What you want is a gov
eminent able, not only to protect you
from foreign powers, but also to develop
your resources, protect your industries
improve your rivers and harbors, and in
supporting your schools, and in co-opera
ton with the States, to create and regu-
late those great lines of communication,
both of water and rail, that tend, by alb
solute free trade between fifty millions of
people within the United States, to in
crease the intercourse and supply the
wants of the American people.
The constitution cOnferS upon the ma
tional government ample power of taxa
ton to collect revenue for all these pur-
poses without burdening the people of the
States with oppressive direct taxes.
Under the constitution no State can
levy duties on imported goods, and thus
this bountiful source of revenue is cut off
from them In effect, if not expressly, all
States are prevented from levying any
form of excise taxes, or taxes on produc-
ton or consumption, because the imposi-
ton of those taxes would tend To lnjure
the State that levies them for the benefit
of adjoining States that do not.
The States have increased in such num-
berS, distributed over II vast region of
country, that the possibility of injury to
any State by national authority is too re
mote to be feared. Therefore it is that
whatever might have been the merits of
the opposing theories of Marshall and
jefferson, certain it is that now the inter
ests of Virginia should be on the side of
IA strong national Government, instead OF
a weak one, should be in favor of national
authority rather than of local authority,
and the largest possible development of
internal resources consistent with the
revenue of the United States.
so on the doctrine of the protection of
American industry which is now becOm-
ing chief question of American politics.
The Republican party plainly and strong
" announces its purpose to protect all
forms of American industry, not only of
the workshop but of the farm, by levying
duties on foreign goods that can be manu-
featured or produced in this country. The
object of this policy is that our people
may be induced to manufacture at home
every article essential to American life
and industry. We insist that this policy
strengthens our country, makes it more
independent of foreign nations, that the
labOring men employed in manufactures
furnish the best market for agricultural
products, now consuming nine-twelfths
of all the surplus products of the farm.
We also insist that this policy gives EN-
ploymeut to capital, enables manufacture
ers to pay more wages to the working men
employed, and protects them from sharp
and undue competition with foreign labor,
while home competition in time reduces to
the consumers the price of the article.
More than this, we clam that the protec-
tive laws tend to develop the natural re-
sources of our country and the production
of the raw materials vi industry in our
midst, giving employment to tens of thou
sands of laborng men in every state pos
Sessed of the treasures of iron or coal or
other minerals
The Republican party believes in and
acts upon the principles of John Mar
shall If trusted with the powers of the
National government they will be fairly
exercised for the protection of our indus
try, the development of our resources, the
Improvement of our commerce, the regu-
lation of our railroads, and in every work
of National policy which would seem to
add to the industry and promote the en-
terprlse and comfort of our people.
What have you to hope for in this re-
spect from the Democratic party a lag
gard all the way, before the war and since
the war, having no affirmative prin-
power to propose anything or co
do anything for the common good;
playing with a civil service law to which
its leaders are almost unltedly opposed !;
tinker!ng with our currency by demonet-
izing minor silver coins, and paying Off
the non intercst-5earing instead of the
debt; at sea upon the
tariff, with Carlisle, Tucker, Morrison,
ana Hurd pulling one way, and Randall
and others the other; processing to be for
IL tariff for revenue, and proposing a
horizontal reduction of protective duties.
1t proposes nothing, it does nothing, and
il nothing except an incumbrance on the
national life OF our country.
Why should Virginians cling to this
party that appeals to nothing but the
names of its ancestors.
Upon what preteXt was this party
brought into power They said the Re
publican party had been in power for
twenty-four years, and had been guilty of
frauds and populations. They wanted to
count the money and examine the books.
Well they have counted the money,
and every dollar was found to be
on hand, even to the last cent,
They have examined the books with