The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-05-12
To Destroy American Industries.

1t is not necessary to resort to specula7
ton, conjecture or prophesy to divine
the purpose of the free trade democrats
in the present Congress. They openly
declare the object at which they aim
and proceed to formulate measures to
reach it. They expose the meaning of
tariff REFORM so that he who runs may
read. They piacard an object lesson for
everybody TO study-one that none but
the wilfsliIy blind or stupidity ignorant
can fail to understand. AS an illustration
of the motive and what is intended, we
have only TO take Mr.. Rarter, member
OF Congress from Ohio, at his word, as
declared in Congress on the 9TH. He in
troduced several resolutions directing
the Ways and Means Committee to "re-
port to the House bills placing the fol
lowing articles on the free list: Agficul-
tural implements, paper and board
made from straw, wheat, -four, lead in
the ore, bark, machinery, sugars upon
which the law requires tariff duties, iron
and copper ores" This is Il wholesale
sweep at the whole industrial system of
this country It means the destruction
Of the manufactures of all machinery
for the farm, and the building up of
similar industries in foreign countries.
sad consequently the employment of
foreign labor to make the implements
lsed On American farms. It means the
destruction Of the market afforded by
the paper factories for the straw grown
on American farms; an invitation to the
increase of the wheat and -four products
India. Australia, Russia, Canada, and
all other wheat growing countries, upon
which now a duty of 20 per cent. is
levied, as protection to home wheat
growers, and the closing of the copper
mines of the lake section and Missouri
and the iron mines of Virginia, and 9TH
or iron districts of the United States :
1t practically says that the wages paid
labor in this country must be reduced to
the rate paid foreign labor, or our mi
ming industries be greatly crippled, if not
totally destroyed What will the mine
owners and the mine workers say of this
kind of American craftsmanship? Are
| they prepared to accept such a radical
assault upon not only the iron interest,
but the farming interest generally. as
we'll as the manufacturing establish
ments Of this country, to the end that
| like foreign interests may be subserved,
foreign labor employed and foreign in
dustries encouraged? 1t seems to us
that this movement of Mr.. Harter ought
to open the eyes of the people of Virgin
ia and the South; to rivet their thought
full attention, stimulate their careful
study of the propositions, and to impel
them to aggressive action. If they are
prepared to surrender the industrial ad
vantages we hold, then they ought to go
along with Mr.. Harter and those who
think with him. If they prefer to see
prosper American institutions; to en-
| courage American development to as
sist in maintaining the integrity and ad
ding to the wealth of their own Nation,
then they ought to call a halt to such q
ruinous policy rs is involved in the prop
ositions we are noting, and band them.
selves together, irrespective of parties, to
defend American interests, protect
American labor and promote American
prosperity. How any one who is imbued
with respect and reverence for this great
country, can hesitate us to the side he
will take and the influence he will seek
to exert, when such measures as Mr..
tartpr prnlartS are made an Issue we
cannot understand.