The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-07-04

|
but let the members come together with
the purpose of laying the foundations of
structure coextensive with the limits of
| this vast union. A large majority of the
whole American people are, in my judg-
ment, unquestionably in favor of a just,
moderate and fair protective tariff-such
tariff as would raise from customs all
| needed revenue for the expenses of an
honestly and periodically administered
federal government, and rid the people
of the harassments of the internal reve-
nue. 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
this great 'whiskey ring or combine
and let only the States resort to direct
taxation on these subjects as the States
have no power to levy custom duties.
'"The first great step, in my opinion, to-
ward the settlement of the tariff issue is
to repeal the internal revenue laws; and
then the necessary duties to carry on the
government, justly and fairly imposed
on our seven or eight hundred millions
of annual imports, judicialy arranged
with view to foster our great indus
tries by proper determinations, would
afford all needful protection, and no
doubt satisfy a vast majority OF the in
telligent people of this country. A pro-
tective tariff league, begun i'll the South
with these objects in view, ought to
spread over all the country, and consti-
tute commercial and industrial force
that would hold a steady majority in
both houses of congress, no matter what
their party affiliations, in favor OF di-
versifying the pursuits of the people by
protecting them against ruinous compe-
tition 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 America? And if so what eff
| feet do you think such a policy would
have on Southern productive indus
| tries?
s'In reply to the first branch of your
question l say emphatically, 'Yesn and
/ | have been amazed that our govern
ment has not, years ago, in its postoffice
appropriations aided the establishment
of a steam merchant marine common
| surate with the commerce we ought to
have with the more than 90,0O0,000 of
Spanish speaking people south of us on
this continent. Not over two per cent.
of the steamers that carry the inconsi-
derable trade we have with those coun-
/ tries are American. Our people pay
/ $150,0O0,000 year to foreigners to carry
our exports and imports. A perpetual
and enormous drain upon our national
wealth, and why? Because Congress
will not appropriate for term of years
for ocean mail service, even one-half as
much as it pays to carry the mails on our
rivers and inland waters. American
steamships are driven from the ocean by
three or four European governments,
/ England at the head of the list, paying
their steamship lines for postal service
enough to enable them to underbid our
ships in the freighting business. In con
sequence of this our farmers, merchants
and manufacturers are taxed $3.50, 900, 900
d year to feed and clothe the subjects of
foreign potentates and states rather
than our own people. But that is not
the worst of it. Trade follows the mail
carriers of the ocean, and England, Ger
many, France and Italy being these car
riers have nearly all the commerce with
the 80, 100000 people south of us and will
hold it till American ships carry ours.
''The effect Of different policy in our
own Southern States would be marvel
lures, that have sprung up with amazing
rapidity all over the South III the past
decade, we could defy competition with
the world with reasonable and just pro-
tective tariff, under which the South
ern States have made so fair a start,
could we have American steamers in all
our ports to compete with the subsidized
lines of other nations. We owe our won
derful progress for the last ten years i'll
diversifying our industries first toithe
protection we enjoy, and secondly to our
SOIL climate and boundless resources,
Don't let us destroy, but keep alive and
cherish the goose that lays these golden
eggs
Do you think a ''solid SOUTH political
ly is conductive to the industrial pros
perity of this section, or to the perma-
nent advantage of the Democratic
party?
, 81 do not; because | look upon sec
tional politics as the greatest menace to
our free institutions. The late war prov
ed that. The north became arrayed
against the south, and the south array
ed itself against the north, and we fought
it out to finish without gloves The
victorious side then arrayed itself against
the white people of the south, allying it
self with the descendants of negro saw
ages that two hundred and odd years OF
mild slavery had partially civilized-the
only instance in the worlds history
where any considerable number of thai
, race ever approached civilization-te
hold us in inferior political condition al
, the risk of the loss of our own civiliza
ton. That menace made us solid il
, self defence"
All other questions were as ''dust in the
balance till it was settled whether the
J negro or the white man should govern il
the conquered states. 1t took about ter
years to settle it, But it is settled. AL
the states of this union are going to bt
governed as long as there is anybody t(
govern them by the Caucasian race. An(
/ think the whole country is pretty wei
satisfied of that now. The negro has
not been profitable ally of the republi
can party in the south, in nationa
contests, for ten or twelve Years, and the
sagacous men of the party iii the north
see it. The people of the north five years
ago saw it and elected Mr.. Cleveland
If he had understood the political phil
osophy that placed him i'll power he
never would have been guilty of the
stupendous blunder of Illuminating his
free trade bill in December, 81, compel
ling a solid north to rise in defence of its
wealth against solid south in the
saddle booted and spurred in the popular
branch of congress to carry out southern
ideas of financial politics of forty years
Al