The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-08-26

lings and tasteful yards stud the mountain
sides. and peace and plenty and content
ment reign supreme, to all appearances.
Mr.. Frank Jordan, now old and feeble,
reserved the water right to an alum spring
which oozes from the side of one Of the
tunnels. He is there now to partake Of it
for the benefit of his health. and to note
the changes which have taken place since
the time his energy and enterprise first
opened this source. Of what is now the most
successfully managed iron property in the
South.
And these are the Firmstones, employing
over 400 hands, and paying out a half mill
lion dollars annually to enrich the country
where their industry is operated, whom
Mr.. Tucker contemptuously referred to
two years ago as foreigners who came to
Virginia to make money to expend in
Pennsylvania. And this sneer and slur
we're endorsed by the Democratic party of
the 10th district in his election to Con-
gress, to represent interests with which he
had no sympathy and the ruin the policy he
and his party advocate would secure. were
it enforced. Will the people of Virginia
never awaken to their true interests, and
throwing aside partizanism and party tradi-
lions, cast their votes for the principles
and policy. and the men who believe in
them, in the application Of which her
future growth and wealth and prosper
ity are directly interested If they will
look at the record made in the last Con.
gress on the tariff question, they will find
that the Democratic party is the enemy of
Virginia and Virginia's welfare, and that
all its notes and ideas are inimical to the
State. The Morrison tariff bill meant ul-
innate free trade. It's author and intelli.
gent supporters do not hesitate to say that
such is their purpose, and that as soon al
they get the power. they will return to the
old Democratic policy and practice of free
trade, and consequent ruin to American
industries. Barbour and Geo. D. Wise were
both first elected as friendly to the proteo'
tive policy. But the power Of the caucus
the preponderance of Democratic influence
was against it, and they had to yield to par
| ty dictation. And so it will be with every
Democratic member from the South. He
will either have to support the doctrine
of free trade, or be read out of the party,
| let him resort to whatever means he may
to insure his election. 1t is the party that
is at fault, and one member is but an atom
in comparison with the strength and in.
fuence of the organization. Virginia to.
day has to look to the Republican party and
its policy to save her from ruin. Hell
growth and development the exposure
and utilization of her mineral wealth-the
great source of her future-can only be
effected under the policy of the Republic
can party.
The Tenth District is peculiarly de.
pendent upon this policy for its prosper
ity. What would be the condition Of
Longdale and Lowmoor were Mr.. Tuck
er's notions now incorporated into the
economic laws of the country /? Where
would the Firmstones be had Mr.. Tucker 3
ideas; prevailed in Congress, with their &C.
tive energy, abundant capital and liberal
enterprise? And where would be the
400 laborers they employ now, with COM
Portable homes and plentiful supplies of
the necessarles of life for themselves and
families2 And yet the people of this dis
trict are again asked to endorse Democrat
ic policy and invite stagnation and des-
olation where remunerative industries ex-
list, and where the waste places have been
made to blossom as the rose. There is not
an intelligent man in the district, who is
not hardened in prejudice, that will not
admit that if the Morrison bill, for which
every Democratic member Of Congress
from Virginia voted, in effect, were In
operation. the most disastrous conse-
quences would follow, and perjury and
suffering take the place Of peace and
plenty.
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