The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-07-12
A Democratic Statesman.

Democratic Statesman.
Hon. W. L. Scott has lately come to tt
q inclusion that he is "out of politics."
This resolution is the result of an unex
pected breaking of states and reversal OF l
plans in connection with the Craftsmanship
of the Democratic National Committee.
"Seven Mule Barnum is the cock-spar-
row that killed him with his little bow and
arrow, and hence the conclusion that Mr..
Scott is "out of politics. we DO not
think, from his recent utterances In Con
gress, that he was ever much Ill p0llllcs,
in the more serious and comprehensive
sense of the term. lie may have been mine
rings and in the caucus chambers where
wires are pulled and "things are fixed, )"
but in the way of discussing issues
from a broad standpoint and arguing ques-
tions on logical and phil osophicai llne.elt
is pretty clear case that Mr.. scott was
never in politics to hurt.
To illustrate In a running debate on
the tariff question in the House on the
Sd. he said IF the census OF 1851 is re-
liable, the adult population OF this country
Ell ragged in various pursuits amount 10
about II 900 600 of our people. and under
those census returns about 500, 600 OF our
population were engaged in what you may
call the manufacturing interests OF this
country. Does he get up here now and
announce to the country that the policy OF
the Republican party to-day is to carry on
this government and inaugurate system
of taxation that under any circumstances,
even were it practicable and could be car
ried out, would be simply in the interest
of 800 900 of the wage workers of the
country and ignore the remaining l6,000,-
900, which such IA system cannot possibly
protect 20
Mr. Scott seriously put this question to
Mr.. Bayne, of the same State from which
MI Scott halls. He does not seem to I'M
derstand the primary policy OF protection.
1t is to encourage and establish diversified
industrieS--to inaugurate and perfect
system of free trade among the States, or
the family of nations which exist under
our political system. and thus to exchange
the products of each with the other max
ing the whole an Independent power under
she jurisdiction of our laws. These dl-
uersiGed industries ramify their influence
and benefits into every avenue and pursuit
of life. They reach the farmer with home
market, the tradesman. the merchant, the
professional man, and indeed every occu
patton and engagement of civilized com
snunity. Take any locality in Virginia
where mines are being worked and fur
naces operated, and it.will Ee found that
the farmer is prosperous the merchant is
prosperous, the professional man does well.
lanes increase in value. real estate trans
actions of every kind are active, and gen
erai thrift and life prevail. 1t is SO Wherev-
er manufactures and their kindred employ
ments are found. Those directly engaged
in the mines and furnaces may not consti
tute one in seventeen, but the seventeen
get the benefits of the money and labor
invested, and community is stimulated to
fresh and vigorous industry aud enter
prises.
The true policy of this country is to hold
20 free trade among the States-all the
free trade we want-and to the policy of
protection to preserve the well paid labor
engaged in diversified industries from the
invasion of the poorly paid labor of Eu-
rope. The home industries should be so
enlarged as to create home market for
everything the farmer produces-and by
reciprocal exchanges. establish the indus
trial Independence of the country. That
which we can make or produce at home,
we should never 60 abroad to purchase
Every fabric Into which cotton goes, every
invention that calls for iron and steel,
should be fostered and fashioned at home,
thus giving assurance that everything that
grows upon the fam would find pur-
chaser at Temunerative prices. That is the
American policy and that is the policy of
the Republican party. 1t widely and plainly
contrasts with the Democratic policy of
free trade, which favors the labor and p:o-
ducts of foreign countries at the expense
of our own.
Mr. Scott s theory that only those di.
rectly engaged i'll certain industries are
protected by the Republican tariff policy
and laws. is not the theory statesman
would advance, with the experience of the
last quarter of a century to enlighten him.
The principle of protection, in its practi-
cal operation, reaches to every class and
pursuit, and benefits alike the skilled
workman, the laborer, the merchant, the
tradeSman and all the conditions which
go to make up community. 1t is the
community at large that is to be benefited
which thrills and stirs under the magic
touch of labor and enterprise, vitallzing
every fibre and current of business life,
and building up happy and prosperous
homes.
In this view of the question Mr.. Scott
has never been in politics if we are to Judge
of the range of his vision by the idea he has
advanced i'll the quotation given. He has
never been stirred by the inspiration of
true American craftsmanship OF his heart
made to throb with delight in conte mplat
ing the comforts of the American laborer
under the protective policy, as compared
with the squal0r and want of the laborer
in free trade countries.
After the Trusts.
The exposure in the House, on Monday
last, of Democratic completely in the SUI
gar trust, and their known relation to the
WhiSkay fruSt WAS followed nm on J'ueSdav