New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-23
~ APPEAL TO THE SOUTH.

The Hon. $. B. Elkins has made valuable
contribution to the campaign in the speech de-
Ivcred Yesterday in West Virginia. Mr.. Elklns
snoaks as one who knows how the South has
hoon aided in development by the Republican
policy. 1t is passing strange that IN spi'e Vi
the wonderful results already attained tne Po-
ltical power of the Southern States IS sui eN-
erted almost unitedly against the pohc! vi 'he
Republican party, and yet not so strange wheh
il is considered that the votes OF the South are
not the votes of the people.
1t is natural that Mr.. Elkins speaks strongly
and eloouently Of the resources OF west VIZ
einia and of the magnificent future when Is
opened to the people OF that State by inc pro-
lection of home industry. His speech Is crowo-
cd with information, and is throughout an able
and effective defence of Republican measures
and especially of the Mckinley bill, but IT APP
meals with special force to the people OF the
southern States, where mining and manufact-
ures have already been developed with remark
able success through Protection. The dement's
Inns realized by the farmers of those States, IN
the larger and nearer markets for their prod
ucts, immeasurably outweigh the many o.her
benefits which the new tariff conferS. Whiie
Mr.. Elkins is right in claiming that the ne"
duties on agricultural products will beneft the
farming class in all the States, by closing the
doors through which foreign farm products
worth sixty-Rve millions yearly have been IN
troduced vet this benefit will be more directly
felt by the people of the States along the sea-
board and the Canadian border. but the far
greater and more enduring benefits derived
from the establishment of manufacturing works
and the opening of mines in States prevlOusi!
devoted TO agriculture almost exclusively, ana
from tho creation of home markets for farm
nnducts not even the abundant statistics
which he presents can measure. That IS
blessing which the Southern people have not
vet begun to appreciate, apparently, though III
almost every Western State it has been realized
for years.
MIR. Elkins dwells most forcibly upon the
magnitude and value of the home market 10
the producers of this country, and submits
great array of facts to show how this market
oyershadows all others in importance. 1t Is
the literal truth that the United States could
better afford to foregO all the advantages OF
any foreign trade whatever, as completely as
if its people were shut in by an Impossible
ocean of fire. than to allow that home market
to be seriously impaired. The people of this
country sell to all the rest of the world seven
hundred millions worth, more or less.
But the people of the United States
self to each other already mole than
ten thousand millions worth of products
every year. not counting second or third sale
of any article, and this domestic trade is ex-
banding at the rate of 80 per cent at least in
r 18th nf
would quite outweigh in value the entire ex-
port trade of the Nation. Contributing by his
own enterprise and faculty of organization and
leadership, as MIR. Elkins does, to the rapid de-
velopmcnt of West Virginia, he has some right
TO appeal t. the people, not of that State only.
hut of other Southern States, to uphold the
Republican policy which has made that de-
veOpmcnt possible.