The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-07-19


Press, we find number of instructive
paragraphs on the subject of the tariff.
We quote one of much force:
The Press taliff talk to-day is taken
from recent letter or Adam J. Burke, of
Albany, n. Y, to the Albany Citizen, in
reply to the free trade speech of Congress-
man Tracey On the Mills bill Mr.. Burke
talks directly to the point, and we COM
mend his words to those who are honestly
striving to get at the rights of the tariff
question. MI. Burke says;
Again our misrepresentation gives as
an illustration of the benefits that Will ac-
crue to the workingmen from the free
traders bill: Suppose twelve pairs of
shoes Can now e bought for $30-under
the Mills bill they will be bought for
{s2a 80. a gain of $500 BY what mental
process he worked out this problem so as
to get the aforesaid result | cannot tell, as
the twelve pairs of shoes never paid one
cent of duty. The calf from which the
skin was taken was born and raised in the
United States. The tannery that tanned
it is located in the United States.
1.-The men who made the shoes are liv-
ing in the United States. Where does the
Mills bill raise or lower the price, when
everything belonging to the shoes is now
produced in the United States? But our
Congressman says the shoes should be
made in Europe and be, under the Mills
bill. admitted free. Then what would
become of our wolkingmen? They would
have to be cut down to European wages,
and even then they could not compete, as
there is a craze in this country for lm>
ported goods, and they would find mar
ket even If we could produce as good an
article, and panic would be the result.
Suppose ali the articles enumerated in
the Congressman speech be admitted
free, viz cook stoves, crockery, cheap
glassware, cheap cutlery, carpets. sugar,
molasses, salt, clothing, shoes, wool hats,
furs, ladies' bonnets and hats. all kinds of
farmers tools. medicines, thread, needles,
thimbles. scissors. ETC., blankets. UNI
brellas, cotton hosiery, undershirts, Win
dow glass and starch. All these, he says,
can be manufactured in Europe so much
cheaper and the poor man will be that
much better off. What misleading state
mept. Where wi II the poor man then get
employment Who will then pay the
mason So day to work on house
The landlord cannot rent for over 81
month Who will pave our streets :?
Who will use our shoes or carpets? Where
will the money come from to support our
local institutions? Who will patronize
our grocery stores Who will eat the
farmers butter and eggs? He will suffer
thus by not having home market for his
products. Some free trader will ask what
do they do in Europe where the men have
to work for the same wages as our me-
chanics would have to if the tariff was
taken off. | have been very recently in
Europe, and what I found them doing
there was living without animal meat or
any of the luxuries the American work.
ingman enjoys.
LAS one Englishman said TO me, Our
country is one vast almshouse, and will so
remain if America don't take off her pro-
tective tariff And adds: DO you think
Cleveland will accomplish anything for us. ,
This Englishman now works in house
on Beaver street. He could rot wait in
England until the English representatives
opened this country up to English manu-
facturers. What will the farmer be bene-
fitted by free wool +? How can American
farmers compete with Australian farmers !?
"In Australia one man and four dogs
can attend to 5000 sheep. In this coun-
try, where we have severe winters, one
man cannot provide winter food and
shelter for more than ten sheep. What
will be the result A clean sweep OF that
industry. Australia will furnish this
country with wool, as she has as many
sheep as all the world, and can produce as
many more for one-tenth what any nation
on earth can. Should war break out and
England stop the wool, our sheep gone,
what would become of US? Just think OF
it.