The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-02-16

For the VALLEY VrRGINIAN i
Tue Tariff and Labor,

MeSsrS Editors As the inc is draw
ing near when the American people will be
called upon to decide which Of the tive
great political parties Of this great nation
are to control for the next four years, al
low an humble observer Of political events
for the last forty years to advance a few
thoughts
And as the tariff appears to be the ab
sorbing question, wish to give my opin-
ion on that matter
/ 1t does appear to me that there is not a
laborng man, be he farmer or mechanic,
in the broad limits of this Union that is
not benefited by 4 protective tariff. II
has been too ably discussed by tie ablest
statesmen of this nation for me to at.
tempt to throw any new light upon it, but
it does seem to me that past experience
should be a sufficient guide for the future
4 During the existence of protective tariff
the country was prosperous, industries of
all kinds flourished, furnaces lighting the
skies all along the Appalachian chain Of
mountainS producing remuneratiye pay
to the manufacturer ana employees the
treasury of our country in healthy CON
dition. View the scene twenty years
after. Through the administration of the
Democratic free trade party protection
was withheld from our own people The
! United States was made the mart for all
foreign commodities. The work shops
were closed and the Workmen forced to
hunt their homes in tie western part Of
our land, where homes were cheap-com-
PEELED to till the soil to support their fam
ilies-thus becoming producers instead of
consumers, leaving the great field of man
nfactures to be farmed by foreign labor
The owl and the Dat took their abode in
| the furnace stacks, while British iron was
laid at their very base at a cost of over
500 per ton as soon as their fires had
been extinguished. The treasury of the
country became bankrupt, so much so
that in 1856 Mr.. Buchanan found difficulty
to raise money from any source to carry
on the government, United States bonds
being haWked about the markets and re-
fused at the enormous discount Of from
123 to IA per cent This was the condi-
ton of our country at the close of the
Democratic administration. When the
National Republican party came to the
rescue Of the nation sectional feelings that
long had kept the country in confused
state, could be held by the bonds of the
constitution no longer and war, such as
never had been known on this continent,
was carried through period of four years
toa glorious triumph in behalf of consti-
tutional rights.
La the midst Of the clamor of arms the
Congress of the United States met and
passed tariff bill, protecting home mau-
ufacturing, increasing home industry.
| Contrast the pictures While the
clamor Of arms was heard throughout the
land; millions of dollars being almost
daily expended by the government, the
wheels of industry were put in motion
throughout the o0uLtry- except in the
South. The hammer was heard in every
hamlet, the looms re,echoed the sound Of
industries Of other mechanical enterprises,
the Old furnaces that had stood d0raant
for 20 years were resuscitated, and thus
the country became busy hive of home
enterprise, depending upon no nation on
earth for sustenance. With country
possessing the natural resources the United
States does a climate suited to all in
dustres; soil producing every herb
necessary for the sustenance of man or
beast with almost every mineral known
in mineralogy The Republican admins
tration in the midst of war formed that
vast domain west of the Mississippi into
proper limits. and organized them into
territories, with view of early admission
| into the United States, thus making a
source of profit to the government, and a
home for thousands Of her citizens out of
that vast territory which had for years be-
fore only been an expensive region draw
ing upon the treasury of the United
States,
During this time the war debt went on
increasing. until the beginning of 1864.
The yearly interest on the debt had grown
to a hundred and thirty three millions dol
lars in gold. On the 5th of December,
1865, resolution had been passed in the
House of Representations pledging the
faith Of the United States to the full pay
ment of the National debt, both principal
and interest, With all the objections that
could be brought against the party, and its
measures, true to its principles and policy
of government. With the tariff enacted
% years ago; it met the great emergency,
And so steered the ship of state, that U.
$. bonds day are sought after for safe
| investments at figures for above par. But
say the opponents, too much money has
been accumulated in the treasury, the
tariff must be taken Off OF foreign cOmmo-
dlties that our treasury may be drained.
| This matter has been too ably discussed
by that far seeing Ohio Senator, showing
how that the money might be expended,
| giving employment to thousands Of our
laborng people, and enhancing the wealth
of the country in needed improvements,
for me to attend it. Aud as to free trade
being benefit to any American citizen, I
cannot understand it,
Adult that he can buy his shoes, hats,
blankets, cutlery, and all other wares
cheaper. Surely the price paid for these
goods will be carried to foreign countries,
draining ours of the currency that should
remain with us. A policy which If per-
sisted in will eventually exhaust the gold
mines Of the United States, to pave the
streets of London, Liverpool and other
commercial cities of the old world and
close the workshops OF our country. bring
on one of the greatest financial panics our
country has eyer witnessed, with an empty
| treasury and the citizens compelled to sup
port the government by direct taxation,
the manufacturers having abandoned their
former ayocation and gone into the pro-
ducing class, thus compelling the whole
country to look to foreign countries for
the sale of all American producers. with
her own vast minerals dormant.
It by a protective tariff we may have to
pay something higher for q few articles,
the money VIII be with US to pay with.
Low tI.,. T