National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-24
virginia and the Tariff.

for free trade. Absolutely owning the
labor and the loborers, uud or u system which
necessarily kept these, Tor the most part,
in the lowest and simplest employments,
the masters naturally desired TO get all
their supplies at the lowest rates, from no
matter what quarter OF the world, without
regard to any nome or American interests
except their own. IL required some degree
Of education and skill to diversity labor,
and this meant an elevation OF the slave
wholly incompatible with the continuance
Of his servile condition. How free trade or
protection would injuro or benefit the poor
whites around them were matters OF no
moment to the masters.
We need not, inconsidering this question,
go back to the ante-steam period aud the
colonial days, when the Atlantic ocean itself
interposed a natural protection which was
only partially destroyed by tho British re-
strictive legislation against American self
provision. Despite this legislation aud the
importatlons by the comparatively few sail
ing vessels Of those times, even the master
class were forced toencourage native enter
prise to some extent; and, when the revo
lutionary war came, self.defense and self
preservation made a further development
Of colonial capacities and resources an
urgent necessity Vestlges Of the mines,
furnaces, foundries, &C., that were estab-
llshed and actively worked at that date are
discovered all over Virginia. But peace
and open ports, with a tariff which afforded
but little protection, as IL was controlled
by Shareholders, soon began their represslve
and reactionary work, so that, when steam
vessels lent their aid TO n wonderfully null
tiplied merchant sailing marine, Virginia
industry was again cast down, and Virginia
resources became sealed treasures, yet to
be fully revealed and enjoyed.
The war between the states from 1861 TO
1865 was a hard experience for the Old
Dominion In many ways, but IL taught her
people many valuable lessons that were
well bought, even II dearly bought. In the
piping times Of peace nations and indi-
vlduals can contrive to get along very well
somehow, and, IL an era Of difficulty and
stringency occur In ordinary course, they
do not know what causes the evil. War,
however, brings its teachings and revela-
tions, and one Of the first Of these brought
to Virginia and the whole south by the war
Of secession was n keen realization Of their
internal insufllciencies and Of the mistakes
which had prevented acknowledgment.
The old Bourbons and masters, indeed,
learned little or nothing through all the
public and private trials and misfortunes
Of the four years. strife, chiefly regarding
the war las they still do) as the bale
full means by which they were deprived
temporarily Of the great boon Of free trade
which the confederacy promised, and by
which they were deprived forever Of the in
estimable blessings Of slavery! Neverthe-
less, to the masses of the people Of Vir-
ginia, including all Intelligent men not
welded by interest, tradition, and prejudice
to the old slavelabor policies, the war only
made evident the blunders that had been
obscured or hidden In the days Of peace. AT
once, In the face Of the declarations Of the
imperative free trade confederate constitu-
ton, there was an acute sense that any state
or population which cannot rely securely
on its own resources for all necessary sup.
plies In war is as essentially insecure and
dependent in peace. War, 1t was seen, Il
but a supreme test. under the law OF nat
ural selection, of that fitness which alone
can assure progress, or even survival, tC
either nations, or peoples, or individuals; G
test which exposes weaknesses aud theil
sources, that may easily be overlooked In
peace, although they are even then none
the less important deficiencies in the cease
less struggle for existence.
With the close Of the war and the restora
tion Of the reconstructed southern states tc
the Union, Virginia found herself II
changed circumstances, that vehemently
protested against the old-master policies
The masters were deposed. They were NJ
longer the lawful or actual rulers Of publ,
or private affairs. Labor was ali free; ever
the white labor found itself emancipatet
from the thrQlldom which an overshadowiul
system Of colored seryitude had In man,
ways imposed on 1t, as the introduction o
Chinese coolie labor has since threatened
in a measure, to inthrall and degrade al
free labor; and the voting masses had beer
so REINFORCED by manhood suffrage tina
nothing but fraud or force could In an,
degree restore or continue the ancien
Bourbon dynasty. The Republican part,
controlled federal concerns; and 1t had In
stituted a tariff policy which sufficient.
protected all American products, insomucl
that stupendous and unparalleled devel
opment Of all our capabilities had en-
sued. All the industry, materials, an'
appliances Of general progress aud pros
peIity were called into active productio,
under the most favorable auspices. Gu
capital and labor alike found themselve
fortified in base Of operations which sc
cured them from foreign aggression a
home and enabled them to prepare for sue
cessful ventures abroad. At once none
and enterprise flowed into Virginia to hell
her to take advantage OF the opportunit
offered her, and to share In the rich result
awaiting the vigorous uncoverlng of he
buried wealth. Notwithstanding the lin
= gering Bourbons and their repelling and oil
structive Bourbonism, Virginia thrllle
through all her veins OF coal, OF iron, an
other minerals to welcome her delverer
and to rejoice in the happy hour of her dc
liyerance. The great body OF her peopl
seized the occasion presented to their CT
orgies, and their free labor, now 81
curely protected from the wrongfu
competition of pauper, servile, aud Grim
nal labor, foreign and domestic, hurrie
hopefully to repair and better their fortunes
Within the past twenty years, under tn
= egis OF aprotective tariff, the old common
wealth has taken such strides forward
+ material development and growth that 81
is amazed at her own prosperity, and moi
amazed that she could ever have been {
l blind and bigoted as to favor policy whic
stayed her from the enjoyment OF her ow
. unbounded riches. 1t is all as II Virgin
had been an undeveloped territory and
7 forbidden reservation until the war tire