The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-08-19
Where thew stand.


observed upon the one subject, which above
all others possesses the deepest interest for
the people of Virginia. Not throughout
the whole proceedings did the word tariff
find utterance. Among business men !;
among the working classes among the
great body Of the people who are looking
forward to a new life and new prosperity
for the old State, it is one OF the principal
if not the controlling issue Of the caHy7ass.
With the vast interests to be effected by it
in this District, it is not surprising that
it should claim paramount attention. Lou
group of intelligent farmers, mechanics,
business men or laborers gather together
and enter upon any discussion involving
politics, and the subject that commands
first consideration is the tariff. 1t is a
question that comes home to the masses
whatever their calling may be. breaches
to the lowliest hearthstone it enters into
the daily life of the humblest. 1t marks
the difference between good wages and
poor wages between comfort and squalor
between happy homes and the abodes OF
want and penury. The day has passed
when it can longer be ignored. The masses
are beginning to think for themselves to
act for themselves. They can no longer
be deluded with the assurance that legls-
| lation cannot affect them as Individuals
They can no longer be put Off with the
plea that the subject is too deep for them
to comprehend; that they must blindly
follow in the wake of self constituted
leaders, without questioning their politica
infallibility. No. That day is gone and
gone forever. The stalwart manhood Of
Virginia is awakening from its long leth-
argy. The strong common-sense of the
masses is at length asserting itself. An6
| in nothing is that assertion more distinctly
marked than in the intelligent considera
| ton now being given to the question Of
! import duties.
And yet with this agitation SO prevalent
so paramount, a convention assuming te
represent the most intelligent portion OF
| eleven counties, assembled for the purpose
of declaring political principles, and select
ing gentleman to maintain those princi
pies and carry them forward in the fight
completely ignores the chief issue OF the
canvass. From the standpoint OF policy
| this may have been the wisest course. Il
was not manly, it was not courageous, ii
was not worthy of party that asks TO be
| entrusted with the control of great cOun
try.
If it did not ignore the tariff, the con
yention declared in effect for tariff fol
revenue only or more properly speaking
for practical free trade. 1t reafirmed thu
platform which its candidate of two year.
ago advocated, and upon which he wa
elected. Prior and subsequent to tha
election the present member Was recog
nized as one of the most prominent ant
pronounced free traders OF the nation ant
a member of the English Golden Club.
The provisions of the Democratic Ma
tlonal platform, in reference to the tariff
are in these words
1--WE demand that Federal taxation shall b.
exclusively for public purposes and shall no
exceed the needs of the government economl
cally administered"
at (the Republican party processes the pro
lection of American manufactures; 1t has sub
jected them to an increasing flood of manufac
tured goods, and hopeless competition witt
manufacturing nations not one of which TAKE
RAW MATERIALS"
| The Democratic State platform, reaf
firming the above, adds:
awe favor as in 1888 and 'S4 tariff for reve
nue. limited to the necessities of government
| economically administered and so adjusted II
l fG.Qn iaa a g hnrfQnk
encourage productive Industries at home, an
| offer just compensation to labor, but not
| create Or foster mOnOpOl1eS."
The District Convention re-endorse
both of these planks.
Divested of all insincerity and equivocs
tion, what is the real position of the Den
ocratic party of the 10th District in refel
ence to the tariff? What is the real meal
ing of the declarations its members hay
: sent forth as the embodiment Of the
views? The provision of the Nations
platform has been interpreted by the me
! who conceived, wrote and published it !; |
r the party that gained control OF the N
, tional government upon it, and by the PEI
!. at large who have felt it's effects. In al
cordance with that declaration and
, furtheTance of the measures to be frame
to carry its intent into effect. the Con
, mittee on Ways and Means of the preser
Congress was appointed. The chairma
of the Committee on Resolutions in th
National Convention was made the chail
man of the Ways and Means Committee {
the Democratic Congress. The man deli
gated to write the platform was appointe
to interpret it, and provide way to e1
, ecute its provisions. Mr.. Morrison set t
work with will. The session was bu
little advanced ere his bill was ready fo
action. 1t was drawn with special refer
ence to the points so plainly and distinct
set forth in the platform. The duty o.
raao material was especially aimed at
Iron ore. COAL wool, salt, hemp, and a Ion
ferred to the free list. No sooner was
known that such bill had been prepare,
that the business interests of the countr
entered their protests. Organized capita
and organized labor alike sent their depu
tations to Washington. Alarmed at tn
hostility manifested and fearing its effect
upon the party, the committee recede,
from the position it had taken abreast 0
the platform. 1t changed the provision
so as not to so seriously affect the ''monop
olistic" p iron workers and wage workers
but in the absence of organization amonI
the farmers, thought it perfectly pruden
to make its assault on the agricultural in
terests. The bill was reframed. Iron ore
coal, and other raw materials were per
mitted to remain on the dutiable list
whilst wool, hemp, wood, and other agri
cultural products were admitted free O.
all import duty.
This amended bill was reported to thu
House. On the 18th of June motion tt
go into committee Of the whole to consider
the measure-a virtual vote upon the bill
itself, so regarded and understood-wa
defeated by l40 ayes to 1877 nays. Of the
14O who voted for the Morrison bill, 13t
were Democrats and Republicans. Oh
the 157 voting against it IS were Demo
Gratis and 122 Republicans. Thirteen pairs
were announced. Of the IL who would
have voted for the bill, IL were Democrats
and Republican. Of the 10 who would
have voted against it l was Democrat
and - were Republicans. So that the
70 IL