Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-07-31

1
The hard times in financial cir
cles, for the last two years. has led
to much speculation as to the cause,
and while we lay no claim to new
discovery, yet no doubt the perpet-
ual tendency of Congress to inter-
NEEDLE with existing tariff laws, has
its evil influence in the general bust
ness depression of the country. 1t
is certainly dcmonstrable now tothe
most enthusiastic admirer Of the
"free trade policy that the Ameri-
can people are not ready to accept
that theory Of the tariff. The man
ufacturing interests of the country
cannot survive the change; the agri-
cultural will not The reduction of
the wool tariff a few years ago, de-
pressed the price Of that article from
80 and 40 cents per pound, to 20 and
% cents per pound; and so it would
be with any other industry in CON-
petition with a like industry across
the ocean. England, now surfeited
by an over-production, is ready to
flood this country with the products
Of q pauper labor. Reduce the tariff
on manufactured iron and steel, and
English manufacturers win soon
stock the American markets with
these articles at about what it costs
us to mine and transport the raw
materials. This will drive our man
ufacturers Of these. articles to the
wall. 1t is impossible for us to COM
pete with foreign producers Of a spe-
cific article, when we pay labor from
200 to 800 per cent. more than they
do. The Golden Club of England,
has been laboring faithfully to prove
to the American consumer that pro-
lection is discrimination in favor
of the American producer as against
the consumers; but the history Of
the American system goes to prove
that n competition is stimulated
among home manufacturers which
steadily reduces the price of the ar
ticle produced here.
A SOUTHERN writer denominates
Negro christianity an Unconscious
hypocrisy This is certainly
grave charge, and one that we cannot
altogether successfully refute. But
we may look to the cause ofthis con-
dition, which is certainly partly
chargeable to the southern clergy
For two hundred years che moral
training of the Negro was in their
hands, even the directing ofhis meth
cd Of worship. The Negro, inlet
tered, and forbidden the use Of books,
could learn little but by aping his
white instructor. So those who live
in glass houses should be careful
how hard they throw stones.
On, shame on American woman
hoodl Again IRE we called upon TO
chronicle another outrage enacted
by the hydra-headed monster, color
prejudice. Eight young women Of
the Vincenncs, Ind, High Scholl,
said to be daughters of Republican
fathers, refuse to graduate becausea
colored young lady stands at the
head of the class. Let 1t be said iii
praise Of Miss Bragg, the young lady
so ostracised, that she appeared alone
upon the platform ON the day ap-
pointed for the exercises, read her
essay, and received the diploma
which she SO richly merited. Honor
TO her, and high honor to the Princi
pal of the school, whose strong sense
Of justice enabled him to enforce the
law in the face ofsuch bitter preju-
dice.
The Government continues in it's
49,
liberal work. The Fitz John Porter
Bill recently passed the Senate and
has been signed by the President
and is now law Notwithstand-
ing Porters disloyalty during the
Rebellion, yet he is rewarded just