The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-04-25
:'HURsDAY,
DEFERRED M latter
The Sou h and:Protect1on.

The Sou b and. Protection.
It seems that the proposition to organ
ize protection party.in the South. to be
composed of members of both the old par
ties, is taking form. at Birmingham last
week about 800 gentlemen, Republicans
and Democrats. met and declared their
purpose to unite in an organization with
the object in view above stated. More re.
Gently a number of prominent Democrats
in Birmingham and that section have de-
CARED their hearty sympathy with the
movement, and have promised active co
operation and material a d in its further
ance. Among them is Mr. Thos Sedden,
son of Hon. Jas. A. Sedden, eec'd, OF Vir.
ginia, Secretary of War for the Confeder-
ate Government. Mr.. Sedden is largely in
terested in iron manufacture and other in
dustres in Birmingham, and has reached
the.conclusion that protection is the true
policy for the new South. Others OF like
political utilization have similarly declared
themselves. and it looks like a formidable
organization would be perfected to effect
results in Congressional elections.
There is no question but that the tariff
is the paramount issue for the people of
the South to consider and determine. 1t
comprehends the industrial future of the
Southern section. Without it there can
be no substantial and broad guaged degel
opment. With it the South must become
the great manufacturing centre of the con-
tinent. for the raw material is at hand,
with the best system of labor in the world.
to enable investors and capital to operate
successfully everything related to iron
and cotton, especially. With these branches
of industry, established and successful, of
course others would follow, until the con
troll of the manufacturing interests would
be located in the Southern States.
1t is natural that there should be ST me
reluctance to contestant OLD party orgsni-
cations are not equal to the necessities of
the case and that Democrats and Republi-
cans are attached to their political identi-
that fair expression of public conviction
cannot he gotten on the tariff or any other
question affecting national policy, under
present political conditions. There would
not be much trouble in this re pect were
it not for the pestlferous few who incite
an abnormal feeling as the only mta IS TO
grasp official position. That is thei1 pol
itics. They have no other ambition. But
with the great mass of the people it is
different. They are beginning to under
stand their true interests, and the devel-
opment of the wonderful resources of
the South can never be even approximate
ly effected until there is a change in the
methods and agencies which control pc
litical organizations.
Whether the movement referred to is
successful or not,.the motive which is be-
hind 1t ought to be be commended. 1t is
desire to obtain an honest and favorable
expression of public opinion on this i'm
portant question and to elect men to Con-
gress who will voice the sentiment and
represent the interests of the Southern
people-who will vote for measures and
olicies that will encourage development
and stimulate enterprise in the Southern
section. Such consummation is worthy
of the sacrifice of prejudice, and if neces
sary to its accomplishment, even the sur
render of party relations. Certainly it is
movement that ought not to be spurned.
but should be calmly and dispassioately
considered IN the light of the material
welfare of the South.