Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-06-21
PROTECTION IN THE SOUTH.
FAVORABLE SENTIMENT CROW
ING.

GEN. JOHN d. IlIBODEN CORDIAL
LY ENDORSES THE MOVEMENT
FOR A SOUTHERN PROTECTIVE
TARIFF LEAGUE -- THE RACE
QUESTION SETTLED A WARN
ING AGAINST NOMINATING A
FREE TRADER FOR GOVERNOR
Cor. of the Petersburg Index-Appeal.
ABINGDON, VA,
June 10Th, 1889. I
The articles which have recently
been published in the New lOrR
| Herald in favor of the movement
to hold a convention to organize a
Southern Protective Tariff League
have attracted wide attention and
elected much discussion through
out this section. 1t is understood
that the meeting of the convention
has been delayed by the absence OF
Col. Parsons in Europe, but the
friends of the movement are san
guine of Its ultimate success. They
claim that it is the entering wedge
which will finally split the solid
south, so far as national politics
are concerned, and permit "A diyi
sion of the southern people on great
economic issues. Some of our most
conservative, eveI-headed citizens,
who heretofore voted the Demo
cratic ticket, do not hesitate to eX'
press their hearty approval OF the
movement, and predict that 1t will
exercise a most salutary influence
on southern politics.
l recently had a conversation
with Gen. John ID. lmboden on
this subject. who needs no intro
ductlOD TO the people OF Virginia,
and ascertaining that he had no
objection to the publication of his
views, | send them herewith to
you, believing that they will prove
of interest to your readers and to
the people of the state generally.
"What do you think of the pro
posed convention to fOrm South
ern Protective League?' asked.
He replied : 81 am heartily in
favor OF any movement that will
organize and crystalize the protec-
tive tariff sentiment of the whole
country for the maintenance of the
great American system of that
incompatible statesman of past
generation, Henry Clay. Therefore
am in favor of the proposed con-
vention in the south, to inauguIate
the movement. But the time has
come, / think, when every political
movement so important as the one
proposed should not be clrcum.
scribed by a section al designation,
no matter where it originates
Hold the convention by all means,
as proposed, but let the members
come together with the purpose of
laying the foundations of a struc-
ture cOextenslve with the limits OF
this vast union. A large majority
of the whole American people are,
in favor of a just, moderate and
fair protective tarift-such a tariff
as would raise from customs all
needed revenue for the expenses OF
an honestly and periodically ad-
minIstered federal government,
and rid the people of the harass-
ments of the internal revenue
laws, that cripple the agriculture
OF large sections OF the country,
and foster in two or three states
the most Odious monopoly ever
known IN our histOry-thls great
'whiskey ring or combine-and let
only the states resort to direct
taxation of these subjects as the
states have no power TO levy GUS
tom duties.
"The first great step, III my
opinion, toward the settlement OF
the tariff issue is to repeal the in.
ternal revenue laws; and then the
necessary duties to carry on the
government, Justly and fairly i'm
posed on our seven or eight hun
dred millions of annual imports,
judicially arranged with a view to
foster our great industries by
proper determinations, would
afford all needful protection, and
no doubt satisfy a vast majority OF
the intelligent people of this coun'
try. A protective tariff league,
begun in the south with these 90
jects in view, ought to spread over
all the country, and constitute a
COMMERCIAL and industrial force
that would hold steady majority
IN both houses of congress, no mat
ter what their party affiliations, in
favor of diversifying the pursuits
of the people by protecting them
against ruinous competition in any
industry with the pauper and
criminal labor of the old world"
Are you in favor of establishing
more intimate relations with
Mexico, Central and South Ameri-
ca And if so what effect do you
think such a policy would have on
southern productive industries :
"In reply 70 the first branch OF
your question | say emphatically,
'Yesp and have been amazed that
our government has not, years age,
IN its postofiice appropriations
aided the establishment of steam
merchant marine commensurate
with the commerce we ought 10
have with the more than 90,OOO,OOO
of Spanish speaking people south
of us on this continent. Not over
two per cent. of the steamers that
carry the inconsiderable trade we
have with those countries are
American. Oar people pay $780,
100000 a year to foreigners to carry
our exports and imports. A per
petual and enormous drain upon
our national wealth, and why z Be
cause congress will not appropriate
for a term of years for ocean mail
service, even one half as much as 1t
pays to carry the mails on our
rivers and inland waters. AmeTi.
can steamships are driven from the
ocean by three or four European