The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-08-16

Editors Of the Virgtnian:


small parties are setting up side shows here
and there, it is evident that the two great
parties now have the attention of the great
body OF voters, and the question raised by the
President in his last annual message, cordially
endorsed by the st. Louis convention. and
which finds exemplifcaton in the passage of
the Mills bill by the House of Representatives,
Is being carefully studied from ocean to ocean
and from the Lakes to the Gulf. 1t affords
fine field for the practical observation of the
effect produced upon the public mind by the
agitation of a great economic question. 1t
augurs we'll for the Republic, and says plainly,
st war is over; we cannot make progress by
discussing dead issues the WatchWord HENCE nc
free ballot and fair count must always be re-
membered and should receive proper atten-
of the rs al policy advocated by the great DEM
ocratic party cahnoJ fail to be a benefit to the
country, making our vast domain great lee,
ture-rOOm IN which the student OF political
economy may gather much information, and
thereby be better enabled to decide which is
the Democrats or that advocated by the Re-
puplicans beg space in your valuable jour
nal to present a few thoughts, crude though
new may be said, but 1t may serve to show that
the negro believes there is part in the chorus
for him. NIthing narrow, in considering
question like this, VIII do. 1t is not question
bound by race considerations, but broad
interested. The Constitution gives Congress
the power ito lay and collect taxes duties, i'm
for the common defense and general welfare of
the United States and the Republican party
believes that the general welfare will be best
promoted by SO laying the duties on articles
imported as to protect those engaged in the
manufacture of like articles here. The DEM
orratic party is possessed of such charltaoieCl
spirit that it calls all such imposts "legalized
ROTH cry therefore 1t advocates tariff for rev.
enue only. Pardon depression that Demo-
cratic charity may be apostrophized. Oh,
charity, what Can we say against theel Thou
art the greatest of the three most prominent
virtues. Thou wouldst open thine arms Wide
to receive all the world. Thy motto Is "The
world is my ield.' Thou lookest to the ends
~ bn orfh for onl,i nnfS
thy kindness. Canadian free lumber, Austral-
ian free wool. and the raw material OF all the
world have no terrOrs for thee. Thou that
buyest where thou canst buy the cheapest, and
sellest where tnou canst sell the dearest, let US
embrace thee as the friend of the world. Wh1le
the legisl ators of other countries. and those
here of the Republican faith, legslate for their
respective princpalities. + klngdomss ana anr
the world, and to legislate for all nations
What more can be said to raise thee higher IN
public estimation? What more to make tnee
dearer to the heart? What more to make thy
name more impressive upon the memory?
What more? Why this says the Republican
party: "C2ority begins at homer
1t is by the practical application OF the adage
that charity begins AT home that this nation is
one OF the most prosperous on the lace OF the
globe
capital is timid, says Senator Frye and we
may add. it will not venture out if IL thinks
there is danger ahead.
Every time manufactory closes labor suffers
through all its ranks; for the skilled or I'M
skilled laborer must seek employment when
he can do no better, in the great field of com
mon labor, and II that ned is ALREADY TodSou-
ably supplied. the result must be reduction
of wages. To put the case more foTctbly: Ii IN
certain community there are 500 factory
hands and 500 common laborers, and the
factory closes throwing the factory hands upon
the common labor market. isn't it reasonable
to suppose that, the supply exceeding the de-
mand, the wages will be lowered? IL must
be SO 49,
Take the example above and see how IL Will
affe ct the merchant and the farmer. The fac-
t Try hands. as well as the others, must spend
less because they make less. and trade must
languish accordingly, and if the farmer seeks
to build up foreign trade. he must consider
the fact that transportation has little some
thing TO do with the pi offs to accrue from his
venture, besides the greater risks in getting
his mmodities to market l wish to call dt-
tention to the fact that the Democrats gener-
ally leave the question of labor GU, of the argu-
ment They speak of cheap clothing, but say
little about the ability to buy if the supply of
labor in any great field of enterprise should eX.
coed the demand.
l hope that every Republican speaker in Va.will
enueavol to g., ligh ell the voters on this great
question. All good citizens are in hopes that q
campaign OF vituperation Islander and appeals to
prejudice will be avoided. and do sincerely hope
else to say to the negro than merely to remind
him that he was once a slave If the negro Is
any thng now he is citizen full fedged, and
the men who appeal to him as such will do the
better thing for the negro and for old Virginia.
Let all unite then for one common object:
The election of Harrison and Morton, which
means the continuance of the policy of protec-
ton. More anon. Yours, &c., g. A. N.