The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-01-01
The Campaign Of Education" or
Free Trade in Disguise, and the
DUTY of Rauuhlicaus

The Campaign Of Education" Or
Free Trade in Disguise, and the
Duty of Republicans
The Campaign of Education" inau-
gurated in New York last week by the
Democrats, and addressed by ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland, Congressman W. L. Will
son, of West Virginia, John G. Carlisle,
and others, was nothing more or less
than a crusade in favor of free trade.
In whatever'form the Democratic pur>
pose is clothed, whether in that of tariff
reform" tariff for revenue only" or
a Champaign of education its ultimate
purpose is free trade. Mr.. Mills, of
Texas, we'll defined the Democratic
creed, when he in substance said that any
tariff measure proposed by that party
was step towards free trade. 1t was
to educate the public mind in that
direction and for that end, that the New
York meeting was held. 1t was to indi-
cate the trend of the Democratic party,
that Mr.. Cleveland and others spoke.
And what does this campaign of ed
ucation,'' in the interests of free trade,
signify to the country? 1t is simply
proposition to strike down the pillars
which uphold our entire industrial sys-
TEN, ramified as it is throughout every
channel and avenue of trade, and to
which the business of the country has
been adjusting itself for the past thirty
wears, 1t is an assault upon the labor
of the country, whether in shop or field,
and would prove as disastrous to the
farmers as it would to the manufactu-
rers. 1t is bold, reckless attack upon
the forces and agencies upon which our
national prosperity rests and upon which
our national progress depends. 1t is
anti-American in all of it's tendencies, a
plot against the material life of the ma
ton, and campaign in behalf of for
eign interests as against those of the
United States. 1t is protest against
the policy that has made this country
the most prosperous, progressive and
wealthy on the globe-has established
our workshops on our own soil, instead
of upon foreign soil; has given to Amer
lean labor remunerative employment
instead of foreign labor; built up a
home parket which consumes 80 per
capt: of the productions of our farmers,
and has elevated and strengthened Amer
lean character, American institutions,
and American citizenship. 1t is the pol
icy that presents such achievements as
its trophies that this Democratic ''edu-
cational' crusade is designed to strike
down, and build upon its ruins a policy
that would OF necessity bring about re-
suits just the reverse.
The meeting in New York was a mott
fication to the country that the cam
it is to be conducted upon the lines of
Cleveland's free trade message of 1888.
1t was an announcement that the
Democratic party intends to attempt to
force the British free trade policy upon
the people of this country-to destroy
the system that has opened our mines,
built up our furnaces and factories. and
given employment to our people-that
our whole industrial fabric is to be I'M
dermined, and our workshops and facto-
ries transferred to foreign countries.
what's the duty of Republicans in Vir-
ginia and everywhere else? The very
material life of this State is involved in
the issue that has been thrust upon the
people. Not only Republicans who be-
lieve in the policy of protection for pro-
tection's sake, but many calling them
selves Democrats, who repudiate and
scorn the Cleveland idea of free trade,
should recognize that a great issue is
before them-that a great peril is threat
ened, and that there is but one way to
- %k,o& Sc, /
it down. To this end, all past differen-
cess of merely personal or non essen
tial nature should be ignored, and
united front be presented to the bold,
daring challenge, of the projectors of this
so-called campaign of education !"
That a majority of the people of Vir-
ginia are opposed to the free trade idea
of Mr.. Cleveland, and in favor of pro-
lection to American interests and Amer
lean labor, we have not the least'doubt.
The duty now is to crystalize this senti
ment-give it force and substance, and
and SO present it that every friend of
Virginia and every friend of American
labor, and American progress, shall re-
cognize his interest in supporting it.
To effect this object, those who have
differed as to immaterial considerations
should come together, and forgetting
the passions and acerbities of the past,
rise to the Importance of the issue and
the magnitude of the danger. and pre-
sent a solid front to free trade, whether
it comes in the shape of tariff reform,
tariff for revenue only. tariff for revenue
with incidental protection, or as an ed
ucational device to 6eceive the people.
Especially let the Republicans of Vir-
ginia determine that their differences
shall be of the past-that whatever sac
rifice of personal feeling and prejudice
may be necessary, to make it freely, and
thus show that they regard principle
as paramount to non-essential interests,
and are ready to march shoulder to