The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-09-13
4 Gift of 100000.

1t is amusing to see how the Democratic
leaders are trying to protest away from
their free trade doctrines. When they |
first took hold of the theory, they openly |
proclaimed that they intended to fight it |
out on that line. Cleveland. Carlisle, |
Watterson, Blackburn, Mills. and others
of prominence in Democratic councils, AN
nounced their purpose to press the free
trade policy. The President led off in his
extraordinary message last December. 1t
was the keynote. He discussed nothing
else. He confined himself to this ques-
tion as paramount-as so important that
it should not be complicated or associated
| with any other matters, although it was his
duty to present to Congress the condition
of the country and our domestic and for
eigp relations. The message was hailed as
a new dispensatlon, pointing out the true
policy for this country to adopt, notWith-
standing it's enforcement would ruin our
own industries. England especially ac-
c.pted it as the very thing for the Amer
lean government to do, and for while. at
least, the Democratic press went into a
craze over the Moses who had blazed the
way for the safe deliverance of the Demo-
cratic party from all of its environments.
But the people did not view it in that
their repose and readily recognized in it
an impending disaster to their own inter
ests and the ruin of the industries whence
they earned their bread.
1t soon became apparent that big blum
der had been committed. The Mills bill,
originally framed and designed to carry
out the Presidents ideas. was doctored
and pruned and amended. SO as to take
bituminous coal. iron ore. kaOlin. fire
brick clay. wooden screws. &C., off the
free list. Then they said look at it. 1t is
| moi free trade Mills and Carlisle denied
theywere free traders-but were the friends
Of American industries and American la
Dor. and that if anybody said they were
not. they died"
But here is the Mills bill, after all its
, pruning and doctoring and amending
We have before US pamphlet prepared
under Mr.. Mills eyes and by the clerk OF
his committee. 1t gives the free list of the
bill. 1t contains In 1t in value 81 900 .00(
American products -one-sixth OF the who'll
of the lmportations from foreign cOun
tries. II places about two hundred arti
tices OH the free list, nearly all OF then
products of this country, aud reduces the
import duties S7l 900 900 in favor of for
ell IN prod And why 7 10 have
an excuse. in the first place, to retain The
internal revenue system, with Its array Of
pail agents and is complicated machinery
to -mbal rAss and injure home industries
1t is virtually relieving foreign countries
from the payment of ST. .0O0 700 for thu
privilege of Competing with our own In
= du,tries i / our own markets and retaining
" that much tax to be coll -cted through the
internal revenue officers from our own PEG
pie. 1t is not only the recognition bu
- the practical enforcement of the policy O.
free trade. for the benttis of foreign gov
+. srnments. and at the expense of our owl
'' people to the amount OF 81 900 600
: And this is the policy and the legislation
the voters of this country are asked 10 en-
y dorse and approve at the ballot box i'll N
Q vember next. They are asked, in tn
:, 10Th district. to give their endorsement II
- it 10y voting for II. St. Geo. Tucker, ant
thes are asked in the State and Marion tt
;. approve it by voting for Cleveland AM
Thurman.
" 1t IS not likely they will be so generous
1t is scal cely probable that they wiz Will
their eyes open make GIT to foreign
countrle to the amount OF wi .O''o oo0, II
order to cripple. if not destroy The indus
tries at home in which our own people ar
" employe |, and perpetuate upon 'hemselve
an internal tax through the internal reve
"A nue. laws.