The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-08-16

viii our neighbor give any reason for
characterlzng as a "free trade" measure
a tariff which gives AZ per cent. of pro-
lection. and only 5 per cent. less than the
war tariff? 1t Will have to give its rea-
sons some day, and il might as well do it
now. -Vindicator.
We certainly do not propose to keep our
unsophisticated contemporary in suspense.
We always feel like helping the helpless
and enlghtening the darkened and con-
fused understanding when we can. So we
will accommodate our Responding neigh
Dor and tell him just how it is. Tariff
duties might be fixed at at an average of
Al per cent, and then work practical free
trade. 1t depends altogether upon the
articles subjected to custom house levies.
1t can be reduced to 40 per cent. and be
much more favorable to protection than
Al per cent. If we import such foreign
products as wool, which we raise ourselves,
free of duty it, is free trade. If we allow
tin-plate to come in free of duty it is free
trade, especially as we produce it in the
form of iron and steel, which constitutes
30 pei C0HU, VI UtlO OulpGOltlOu' ~ we ar
low salt and lumber and iute and flax,
hemp and other fibrous plants, which we
can produce, to come in free, it is free
trade. When you get at the per cent. of
the tariff by placing wool, &C., on the free
list, and put tariff of 100 per cent. on
rice and 6S per cent on sugar, it is not
equalzng the tariff and reforming" the
sources of revenue. 1t is simply dis
jointed, illogical, partizan device to catch
votes regardless of principle or policy as
it affects government. England is a free
trade county, and yet she collects one
third of her revenue from import duties.
Tobacco, coffee, &C., are taxed at the
custom house, but as to everything she
produces herself she insists upon free
trade She wants to invade the markets
of this country with the articles produced
by her as we'll as ourselves, and faYors the
Mills bill because it asks free trade on Ger.
tain articles. 1t would be very easy to
average the per cent. at AZ, as it is claimed
the Mills bill does, and yet the MEASURE
be practically free trade. Every tariff
law, the per cent. of the levy Of which is
given by the Vmdicator, ranging from
1889 to 1864, was a protective measure.
and the operation Of every one of them re-
suited in benefit to the country. and yet
the tariff rate ranged from per cent. to
40, except in the years 1861 and 1864. And
every intervening measure-that of 1883,
1916 and 1857 was for revenue only or
practical free trade, and brought distress
and ruin upon the country, just as the
Mills bill would do were it a law.
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If the Vi,adicator expects to fool any in
telligent voter by publishing what is
claimed to be catalogue of mortgages Oh
the lands of Western States, as evidence
that the country has not prospered under
protective policy, it will be very much
mistaken. If such mortgages exist, they
were given by persons who borrowed the
money to get a start. The East has the
Surplus money. and the West the virgin
lands. The East has the surplus labor and
energy, and the West the field for theil
useful application. But whatever the
conditions under which these alleged mort
cages are created, if they exist, they dc
not represent poverty and distress. They
mean that energy and pluck have united
with borrowed money to make something
and that is precisely what is being done
The West is growing In wealth at a mar
velous rate, and much of this growth il
the result of aid furnished in the Older
communities where money has accumula
ted as the fruits of long years of apple
ton, economy and business tact. Tbs
Va,sdicator. is driven to the most unreason
able and illogical extremes to construct
pretext for the position it holds. and which
it is unable to defend upon any rationa
grounds.