The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-11-01
THE REASONS ARE GOOD.
Pointed Answer of Judge Yelloft.

folnted Answer of Judge Yelloft.
A few days ago committee of leadin,
gentlemen of Baltimore among them lead
ing manufacturers and ten Democrats
VINO will vote the Republican ticket, in
Vlted Hon. George IeIlott, Chief Judge o.
I the Third Judicial district one of the
judges of the Court of Appeals, and tht
Oldest judge in point of service in the
State, to make formal statement of his
position. His reply was received Tuesday
Ii Is all the more valuable because it comes
from man who has been pronounced
| Democrat, and it is addressed to sach gen
tlemen as James E. Hooper, of the Wood
bury Mills; Richard Cromwell, of the
Mount Y ernon Mills; Enoch Pratt, the
the millionaire and philanthroplst. and
others of eqral prominence. The letter is
as follows:
GENTLEMEN: In your communication
list received you request me to give pub
lie expression to my views in relation to
the vitality important question involved in
the present political contest. You very
properly suggest that the paramount issue
OF the day, the Protection to American
industry, rises far above the plane of par
tizan politics. so that no improperly
would attach to one occupying judicial
station in defining his position thereon,
such course being rather o patriotic duty
which will contribute to avert public
disaster. feel the full force Of this sug-
gestion and could / at this time withdraw
myself from the sphere of the duties ap.
pertaining to my official position nothing
would afford ne greater pleasure than to
90 present at the proposed meeting, ard
give expression to my opinions on sub
Ject which, next TO the preservation Or the
organic law of the land, is ths most i'm
portan5 which mas ever occupied the at
tention OF the American people. The
pleasures afforded by an attendance On the
meeting would be the greater, as among
the numerous signers to the communica-
ton addressed to me perceive the namee
OF gentlemen who have hitherto differed
in regard to their political affiliations, and,
therefore, fully recognizing the fact that |
am invited to address an assemblage of
patriots and not of partizans, although [
cannot be present for the reason already
assigned, beg you to accepta written ex.
preston OF some Of my views on the sub
ject Of Protection to American Industry.
SOME LESSONS FROM THE PAST.
Let US recur to the past and learn wis
dem from the lessons If experience.
THE American colonies ought not 10
be permitted to manufacture hobnail
Let them occupy themselves in cultivat
ing the soil and buy the manufactured
products of Great Britain"
G'his was the policy proclaimed by the
British minister anterior to the outbreak
of the American Revolution. That Reyo-
luton emancipated us from the political
control of England, but left ua still in q
condition Of commercial vassalage. ihe
gagacious mind of Washington soon per-
ceiYed the dependent condition of this
country and directed the attention of
Clngress to the encouragement of domes-
tic manufactures. His recommendation
was repeated by Jefferson in his first an
nual message. and Madison while Presi-
dent strongly urged the Importance of en-.
couraging home industry by protective
tariff, which would effectualiy relieve the
country from its dependence On foreign
nations. But during the administration
OF these three great statesmen the peculiar
condition of transatlantic affairs saved the
farmers of America from the antilles
which would have resulted from the want
of a home market. From the commence.
ment OF the FRENCH Revolution, soon after
tho organization of Our Federal Govern
ment, until the final overthrow of Napo-
leon S colossal power on the field of Water.
loo, during the period Of twenty five years
all Europe was engaged in wars conducted
on gigantic scale: the whole Of that con.
tinent became an immense military camp.
abe enormous armies employed had to
be fed: supplies Of food were obtained
from America, and our farmers, few in
number in a sparsely populated country,
had an ample market for their products
and prosperee ana grew rich; but the dis
bandment Of these vast armies brought
about disastrous change in the prospects
of the American producer. Europe pros
duced her own food and no longer pur
chased cur agricultural products. Eu
rOpean goods came into our markets, and
our farmers had no markets abroad. There
was also no adequate home market for the
American farmer because domestic manu-
features could not be established, the
ruinous foreign competition rendering
such Industrial enterprises almost wholly
impracticable. The farmers, obtaining
small prices for their products, were in
yolved in debt. Many were ruined, and
their land had to be sold. 1t is we'll known
that in 1874 some Of the finest farms in
Baltimore county were sold for about Que
fourth the price paid for them ten
years antecedent to this calamitou3 period.
THE POLICY OF MONROE AND CLAY.
In view of this disastrous condition of
things President Monroe in his inaugural
ad 1ress earnestly advised the creation of
home market by means Of protective tariff.
The great statesman, Henry Clay, strongly
supported this policy and by his influ-
ence obtaiasd the passage of the tariff
act OF 1924. The beneficial effect of this
legislation soon became apparent. Pros
perity was restored to the county, and IN
his second annual message President An.
drew Jackson clearly Indicated the salpta-
~ effect Of the protective system and
strongly urged its continuance. This ar
gument on the constitutionalty Of the
measure is as clear and satisfactory as any
that has ever been presented.
The troubles resulting from the nullify-
ing ordin snces of South Carolina ultimate
ly led to the destruction of the protective
system. Henry Clay, to avert the danger
Of civil war, aud the probable dissolution
CT tt e Union, consented to gradual re-
DUCT IN Of the duties on imports, and the
result was that in 1916 American industry