The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-06-24
A Convention of Nations.

Nature has bestowed for our prosperity
and contentment.
A Convention of Nations.
The Senate has passed the bill intro
duced by Senator Frye, which provides for
the promotion of the political progress
and commercial prosperity of the Ameri-
can nations" A similar proposition was
suggested during the Carrie Id administra-
ton, and Mr.. Blaine was numerically
criticised and abused by some of the very
men who are now supporting the policy
they then denounced. Our readers have
not forgotten the sensational terms in
which this dissent was manifested. 1t was
charged that the purpose was to precipi-
tate hostilities with England, and that I'M
less the conservative sentiment of the
Nation prevailed in the rejection of the
suggestion, it would be but a short time
before the people of the country would
have on their hands gigantic war; These
declarations were the outgrowth of jeal-
ousy of Mr.. Blaine's truly American pol
icy, or of cowardice in the assertion Of the
rights and interests Of the United States.
Time has indicated the wisdom and
foresight of Secretary Blaine, in present.
| ing to the country comprehensive plan
| to advance the commercial intercourse be-
tween the American Republics, and crys-
talize the Influences which are destined to
draw the peoples of South and North
America into closer business relations.
The bill provides for conference of del
egates from each of the Republics of Mex
| leo, Of Central and South America, Hayti,
San Domingo, and from the Empire of
Brazil, to assemble in Washington, at the
| invitation of the President, to confer
with representatives of the United States
in regard to such questions as will promote
the common welfare of the American
| States. Among the measures enumerated
are the formation of customs union, the
establishment of steamship communica-
ton, the adoption of uniform system of
weights and measures, a common silver
coin, plan of arbitration of differences
and such matters as may promote peace
and prosperity The measures agreed up
on are to be recommended to their respec-
tive governments for adoption. For the
purpose of meeting the expense of this
conference the bill appropriates 100000.
1t is wise proposition, and cannot fail to
be of national benefit.
The Convention when it meets will
| Ic;,or 70 l;rrbt tho v,act racouroac nf tho Re-.
publics named, and the commercial advan-
tages which must necessarily follow mu-
tual arrangements for the interchange OF
products and the enlargement OF trade be-
tween the several countries, will add
greatly to the wealth and power. OF the
United States. 1t is wise suggestion
and when it's fruits shall have been fully
realized, the wonder will be that even
Democratic stupidity should have been so
obtuse as to have opposed it.
That intelligence is generally found to
be opposed to protection and Ignorance III
| favor of it was never more clearly demon
strated than in the vote of the New York
members on the question of considering
the Tariff bill Such men Of ability as
Hewitt and Belmont voted in the atfrma-
tive, whilst votes in the negative were
cast by such noboddies as Tim Campbell.
Muller aud Merriman. But as it is always
sure that in the end intelligence will win,
just SO sure is it that tariff reform will
not always meet with defeat.-State
Hewitt is interested in iron manufac-
lures on the sea coast. He favors free
ores-prefers them to ores mined oy
American labor, because he can get them
| for less than it costs to produce home
ores. He gives preference to foreign cheap
labor over home labor, and would grow
rich at the expense Of the laboring men OF
his own country. Belmont is the son of
the Foreign Bondholders' agent in this
country his sympathieS are more with
the English than with Americans, and he
cares nothing for the labor element in this
country, The others mentioned are EN-.
phatically representatives OF the working
men, ssand for that reason are opposed to
free trade The States admission means
great deal and will have its effect in the
Richmond Congressional contest.
And then as to Intelligence - Look at
the men who are running the great indus
trial enterprises of the Countrywide fac
tories, the furnaces, the wooden mills and
workshops of all descriptions, nine-tenths
of whom are for protection-and compare
them with the doctriAaires and theorists
who champion British Free Trade, and
their relation to the wants of the people.
That will answer the State effectually.
All honor to Virginia's Democratic
representatives in the House. Every one
of them cast his vote for the consideration
of measure that is intended to relieve
the people from some of the burdens of
Federal taxation that unnecessarily and
unjustly weigh upon them. A large ma
| iority of the Democrats Of Virginia are
| in favor of tariff reform, however much
protectionlsts may howl and gnash their
teeth. And they intend to have it.-Stdte.
The State is the leading metropolitan Or
gan of the Democratic party. 1t speaks
by authority when it says "a large major
ity of the Democrats of Virginia are in
favor of Tariff REFORM Tariff re-
form means free trade, and every Dem
ocratic member from Virginia last Thurs.
day voted to take up Morrison's free trade
tariff bill. But there is a no inconsidera-
BILE Democratic contingent which is not
for free trade, and this will be fully proven
when the next ballot-box test comes. Jno.
S. Barbour and Geo. D. Wise were, when
elected, protectionists, but have become
demoralized by association with their par
ty in Congress. The protection sentiment
will find expression in both Of their dis
tricts next November, and it will be an
expression that will surprise the Bourbon
| free traders.
AS the Blair school bill has been defeat
ed, we think it time that the Southern
press and people should quit talking about
| it. To revive it at the present session. is
impossible, and to complain about it is
only waste of time, and gives ammuni-
ton to the Republicans. 1t was nothing
but buncombe bill from the beginning.
and one of very doubtful propriety and
usefulness but now that it is dead, there
is nothing to be made by trying to revive
it except on the Republican side of the
house.-Ly7achbuay Advance.
The Advmace is usually very candid, and
for this we admire it. In the above par
agraph it virtually admits that all the in