The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-07-12
Mr.. LOWS Case.

The text of Mr.. Seth Lows letter an
his purpose to support Cleveland
is important, as showing the motive and
the reason for his course. He says the
tariff question is the ''chOsen battle ground
of both PARTIES and he cannot support
the Republican party because it has de-
clared for a policy which works away
from free trade. while he believes in a
policy which leads towards free trade,
or in other words the gradual over
throw of the protective system, with
view to the early establishment OF free
trade
Mr.. Low has thus clearly defined his
position, and being an importer by occu-
patton and free trader on principle, he
has honestly and fairly declared his pnr-
pose to support the candidate and the
party which reflects his viewS-Cleveland
and the Democracy. That is the way for
a man to do Not to dodge the question
and declare for free trade in one place
and protection in another.
Inasmuch as the Vindicdtor has quoted
Mr.. Low to sustain It's own position, and
that of Mr.. Tucker. we presume it will
approve the reasons which Mr.. Low as
signs for his change. Mr.. Low has very
little to do with The practical management
of Low Moor iron furnace. although he
NAV be stock holder. He is much more
largely engaged and interested in the i'm
porting trade, and nearly all the importers
are free traders, as to remove the customs
levy would relieve them of some Trouble
and enable them to charge larger profits to
their jobbing customers.
The owners of Low Moor haye faith
in the United States Senate to prevent
the passage of any such measure as the
Mills bill or any such policy as that re-
commended by the President in his last
December message. Some OF the stock
holders are Democrats, we know, not be-
cause they approve Democratic notions
on the tariff question, but from loca
prejudices, and when they cast Demo
cratic vote In a National election, they
pray for Republican success. There is
not one of them. we venture to say, who
| will deliberately say he approves the st.
Louis platform, on this tariff question, OF
the Mills bill or the President s message
But even if all of them should do so
backed by the VipdicGtor and Mr.. IL. ST
G., Tucker. that would not be ILL argu
ment in favor If The policy. 1T would only
sh Nv that the Democratic party and al
who support it are practically enemies OF
| American Industries and American Labor
wlelher they know II Or not. Fart izaI
eXlseucies and local Influences may change
the political II ions and &C ion OF men
but they do not change lrinciplr OF
D llcy, or the lie ults of either. Ii MT
! Low makes choice of The parry That tt nds
| to free trade, because his lnteIt SIS ale more
allied TO the importing trade Than tt
M inufactures. aud the l'iudicutor and Mr.
Tucker take sides with him from party
necessity. it is no reason why the wage
earners and the farmers and The business
men general of Vi gl';ld Should cul
their own Threats. because of the folly
or delusion of either or all of them. The
practical people of Virginia have then
faces set against free trade and any pol
| icy or measure that leads in that direc
ton. The reform they want must come
from a protective and not free trade
standpoint, and to attempt to deceive
them by loose and illogical statements. Oh
specousaor false appeals, will be like "bit
ing fie.n