The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-07-26
r REPUBLICAN NOMINEES
Protection and Free Trade.

system of government that the revenue to
support it should be obtained at the Gus
tom house-that is, customs levles on the
importation of goods from foreign coun-
tries There was two-fold OBJECT III
this. First, To raise revenues IN mode
that would bpar as equally as possible
upon all the people, with the least pos
sible friction, and with the least posi-
BILE burden Second, 10 discriminate III thus
imposing duties against such foreign artl-
Giles as we could produce ourselves, and
thus encourage home enterprise and
no ne industry, to the end that system OF
industries. protected by system OF laws,
might he established. The industrial in
dependence Of the country was aimed at,
as we'll as its political Independence
Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison.
Monroe. Jackson, and the earlier Presl-
dents are on record in their Recommended
tions favOring this idea. The history OF
the tariff legislation enacted by Congress,
as we recited several weeks ago, shows
that in the degree the policy favored in the
laws tended to free trade to that degree
did prostraton in business and monetary
disturbances follow, The protective tar
if laws operating from 1876 to 1901 placed
the balance of trade in our favor, stlmu-
lated home endeayoT, and brought general
prosperity. In 1924 a higher rate of duty
was imposed, and this operated to in-
crease the balance of trade i'll our favor
and to still further enhance our national
wealth.
The open rebellion of South Carolina in
1888, and the demand for free trade.
brought about the compromise tariff legis-
lation of that year. reducing the levy "
per cent. This was followed by turn in
the balance of foreign trade against us and
the panic of 1887, which was the most
disastrous, considering the extent of the
development of the country, that ever at
fiicted the Nation. The necessities of the
government compelled return to the pro
tective policy. and hence the tariff of 1912
A revival Of business speedily followed
industrial enterprises multiplied, revenues
flowed into the treasury, and the people
once more felt that they were on the high
way TO prosperity. In the Presidential
campaign of 1914, the Democrats pro
claimed for the tariff of 40 in the North
ern State where manufactures were be
ing established, and for free trade and sail
ors rights and the extension of the area @
slave territory. in the South, where the la
hp aft
gvere the controlling influences. Unde
chattel slavery the South did not van
manufactures. There was comparativei
little skilled labor TO be employed. l
was nearly alt menial, and cotton was con
sidered king. There was very little cottol
produced elsewhere in the world and thi
fact suggested the i ed, as I. national pol
icy, to buy where you could buy thu
cheapest and sell where yon could sell tn
dearest" So long us the labor could b
employed in raising cotton to furnish TIL
mills and factor les of the Old W0lld th
Southern people could afford to purchas
their supplies in foreign markets. TeXa
and Cuba were eoyetsd to tAtthd slay
territory and slave labor, and hence tn
rallyng cry in 1914. i'll the south. Wa
Polk. Dallas and Texas, and fee trad
and sailors rights, and to deceive the pee
pie, in the n orth it was changed TO Polk
Dallas and the tariff of '42.' The decep
tion was successful. Polk WAS elected
The '-for revenue only'' tariff of 1916 wa
adopted known as the " ak r tariff.
Referring TO the effects OF the tariff O
1912, Mr. Blaine in his Twenty Years 0
Congre S." says:
The friends of home industry have alway
referred with satisfaction to the effect OF In
tariff of 1872 explicit and undeniabI
proof of the value of protection. 1t raised TIA
country from slough of despond TO happiness
cheertulness, confidence. Ii impaired to all sec
lions degree of prosperity which they had no
known since the repeal of the Tariff of 1873
The most suggestive proof of its strength AN
popularity WAS found IL the contest OF 1871, be
tween Polk and Clay, when the Democrats IL
the critical Northern states assumed the adyo
eacy of the tariff OF 1872 as loudly did the sup
porteIs OF Mr. Clay"
The free trade Democracy succeeded i
1914 and the Walker tariff was enacted. |
lost that party The Presidency IN lS4S. I,
Gen. CaSS, who was the Democratic can
didate, hai voted for it, and Pennsylvani
rebuked him III giving her vote TO Taylor
by which he WAS elected, although 1T wa
Democratic State. The tariff of i8.
continued i'll operation until in 1867, al
other disastrous panic succeeded. and al
other period of national bankruptcy TO
lowed. The credit of the Nation. the i'm
poverished condition of the treasury, tn
prostration of business, which Athlete
the country up to 1861, are well known
was time of National suffering and Ma
tional humiliation, attended by credit S
impaired that a small loan could not b
effected under 10 or II per cent. In 1856
the present revenue System was inaugul
ated, and from that time to this, otwtl
standing the terrible strain and ordeal o
the war, the country has gone on prosper
ing with such marvellous strides as t.
challenge the wonder and admiration O
the world. 1t has prospered in every de
partment and ramllication of trade. unit
now we have a diversified industrial
fabric without its equal on the globe
invention has been slim ulated; agricul
ture has expanded. improved and pros
pered; mines have been opened and fu1
naces and factories establishes: every al
tlcie of consumption has been cfieapened
and avenues of industry and thrift multi
piled, without a parallel in the history O
any other people. ia SO short time.
1t is natural that the Democratic part
should look with jealous eyes upon thi
national growth and wealth and cur vas
industrial system, for it had nothing to d
with its success but to oppose it. 1t hat
no part nor lot in any of the Legislation
which brought it about. It's tariff declare
tion in 1876, the first it formally announce
after the war, and every year since ha
been in conflict with the principle and til
legislation which have effected these re
suits. Its policy was to give the country
bankrupt treasury and humiliating credit
The Republican policy has been to give tn
- Nation an oveThowing treasury, credi
surprising that of any country in tn
world, while all the manufactured arti
cles which go into the daily use of the REQ
pie, have been cheapened. Ia all tie pro
70 of Il e.,