The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-05-16
TARIFF IN THE SOUTH.
Object of the Proposed Protective
League.

Object of the Proposed Protective
League.
WASHINGTON, April "a Colonel II. q.
Parsons, of Virginia, the Republican orig
inator of the project for forming South
ern Protective Tariff League, had this to
say on the subject:
THE Chattanooga Convention, that is /
called. vii! meet for single purpose, thai
is. to form Southern Protective League,
similar in purpose and powers 10 he Ma
tional Protective Tariff League, limited,
however. to the lhirty-three Congressional
districts in the mineral regions of the
South. 1t will naturally be composed of
business men and people more or less in
terested in mines AMI manufactures; it
will have no more 10 say about color or
nativity or previous lo!itical as ISOLATION
than the New York League. OF which Mr..
AmidOwn is President. 1t will, however,
be likely to take more direct part in
elections.
1.-The very purpose of its b, ing grows
out of the fac that our constituents have
been repea edly defraudt d and betrayed.
and it is necessary to secure members OF
Congress who will 9 superior 10 party dis
cipline. In Republicm districts, while
4 the party remains trne to its high tariff
views, the League can only make the more
sure the success of the majority by advis-
ing the selection of strong candidates and
h., IN Aicfr inf,
where nearly every member in two Con-
crosses had violated his pie dyes and his
Instructions, an independent candidate
can be broug 1t out by lthe hightariff d m
Gratis that will not he Objectionable to the
Republicans and will secure their support.
''By that kind of cooperation a body of
strong men. stronger than have eyer been
sent from these districts. Can enter Con-
gress TO act together, with the advantage
of being able to make it certain that no
caucus dictatiOn will lower the tariff Aud
imperil our new industries. Since the
agitation commenced it has been suggested
that we are alike united and interested in
the subject of South American trade, and
see no reason why that may not be made
the second plank of our pledge or platform
With all the people of the South, anc es
pecially with her young men. the idea of
opening the avenues to Central and South
America is attractive on account of our
nearness. The markets are more to us
than the manufacturing districts of the
North; all our railroads and rivers reach
southwark. If, in consideration of our
bringing free sugar and ole from Cuba, we
could furnish the island with iron and
steel and wooden manufactures free OF
duty, our nail-mills and foundries and
shops. from Wheeling to birmingham.
would get new orders; and so with Mexico
and Central America and South America
eff we could open trade and railroad
communication along the And es, new
gold fields would be explored. If we could
reach further South and connect with the
La Plata system of railroads, every railroad
of the South, from Baltimore to st. Louis,
which reaches towards this connection,
would be interested in the new trade and
travel. The Gulf of Mexico is a placid
sea from Mobile. New Orleans and Gal
weston. Steamship lines could be run to a
railroad across the Isthmus and connect
ing with the system of the Pacific Coast.
or to a line up the Magdalen River and
through the heart of the Southern CONT
nent, and if the condi ions were so changed
that travellers and mails were sent from
London to South America. instead of from
New York to South America via Liver
pool. our railroad systems and our indus
trial systems would profit.
Back of it all, however lies this fact
there is large and independent body OF
men in our mountains who feel that the
solid South is being maintained at too great
cost. 1t checks immigration. alarms cap
itaI and limits the freedom of debate. On
affairs. large body of high tariff Demo
Gratis AMI old-line Wings are withheld
from their natural alliance with the Re
publican party. In this way they may
maintain, if they will, their party name
and local alignment and at the same time
strike blow that shall be eflicacious for
the protection and the extension of their
business interests. There can be no more
objection to high tariff league in the
South, which includes men of both par
ties. than there is to The National Pro
tectige League or TO the Home Market
Club of Boston.
The next Congress Is held by a small
margin, and in the succt eding one this
movement, if it takes definate shape, may
become powerful through holding the bal
ance lof power, Thirty voters of men
who are free to act on party lin's up L
every question but two. but bau nd to act
together upon the question of the Ameri
Can tariff and south American trade
would have an important weight of men
and the South might dictate again, and
for the good of the country.
s.CircuiaEs have been sent out, to par
ties most likely to become interested, and
the voting is between Birmingham and
Chattanooga. with the chances in favor OF
the latter. The meeting will probably be
held in june"
lee! Ice!! Ice!!!
Having made arrangements for sup
ply of ice | will lie prepared as usual tC