The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-28
Special c%orrt,ponaenee Of nc Intlliaeac.r

lo''o"iis ietler was issueu nero 'o-uny.
1t concerns every prolcctioniat in the
country, though addressed principally
IN so,tl,or, ,ro,.,,;o,;s,,
~,
WASHINGTON, u. u, April2o, lo9z.
To @e STATE boards Of te Henry Clay Club:
We arc instructed by tho executive
committee TO writo this letter in order
a. o,o,,,v 80, 1t, :, II.
"' S'' oe,o'o -" Wv p
ana INC general pan OF the movement.
The original suggestion OF forming n
Henry CLAY Social Climb for the con.
rorionon ,,nh ..;..;., cr-,La
- SUI" P,o'c"'a's u '"'
south as hav" occasion to visit the ma
tional capital, has been enlarged into
the idea OF creating Il wider %organiza-
ton that might revive tho period OF
discussion that made Henry Clay tho
greatest political teacher of the south.
Tho occasion seems TO call Tor, action.
In tho cardinal principle OF projection
the south has more ut stake than ever
before, and yet she comes lily prepared
for the discharge OF her great political
duty. The inspiring voice that directed
the Judgment and quickened the con-
science OF our people is still, and in its
place cries OF war race appeals are heard.
Percussion waits upon prejudice; parti-
sanship rises above patriotism; the
joint debates that created bold leaders
and broad minded constituencies, and
gave the bearing OF deliberate and def
ant men are denounced. The ennobIing
education that comes from the compari.
son Of views and the conHictof opinions
is denied; and we are not allowed
even the freedom-that our fathers
claimed in the days 'oi slavery, OF
forming andexprcssing anopinion. The
dwarfins Of intellect and dulling OF
every sense, that come TO people under
duress, lowers the standard OF the sons
OF the Silver Grcys. In the meantime
IL opportunity, go long deferred, has
come. The prediction OF Henry CLAW
reaches fullllment; his argumcntbrings
its perfect illustration. The dyke he
aided in erecting ~siXty.eight years ago
against the l~eveling forces OF Europe,
has sheltered the infant industries
OF the communities who saw
their advantage until they attained
q prosperity hitherto unknown among
the nations. At this vital moment the
tide OF foreign immigration carries the
constituencies Of the north away from
the support OF the protective policy.
Sectional issues cannot win.
The present administration would
have been wholly unable to establish
any policy, either OF reciprocity, or the
revision OF the tariff, or The increase OF
the navy. without southern support.
The party OF protection can never write
another statute or resist another on.
slaught with northern support alone,
Shall the South be refused the right "a
lift 4 hand in its own defense when the
competition OF Europe, passing over
the well grounded estublis hments OF the
north, shall come to DESTROY he. infant
industries, 10 close her half open mines
and put out the fires OF her pioneer
furnaces? If the tariff is in any sense
Il local issue it concerns us more than
any other section. In thirty con.
grcssional districts not n member
OF Congress fails to know that the in
tcrests of his people requires a national
policy that their Democratic party
pledge opposes, and vet, protesting tina;
the social o~vcrshadows the economic
question, and that 4 Republican senate
or President will interpose to save his
people from the commercial disaster
that his vote invites. he obevs the de.
mand OF the caucus. Even worse than
this, at home sectional issues are made
debate is discouraged, independence is
denounced, the organs Of protection are
refused support, its orators nre roiusrd
n hearing, and u sons arc left to reaJ
and hear but one side OF the argument
upon an issue in which their whole fu.
turc is involved.
Is it not reasonable 10 insist that VIZ
must return TO a higher positionP hi
not necessary to enter the domain al
general politics, or to cause division
upon state issues. It il enounh thot wc
may discuss the economic Question,
that we may elect enoupL mo,nhers .,
the national house of REPRESENTATIVE r.
preserve the guarantees of orr ;ndus,
trial progress, that We may riso ngoin
and recover our lost representative
that, in the narrow maroin al nort;na
we may seize the balance Of nowcr and
assert it 10 the advantage OF orr own
people, and that we NAV invite and
open the way for the ablcst noli,icaI
teachers TO como among Ms and take mr.
tho abandoned argument. Fortunotcly
VIC have our home texts and @insnira.
tions. The Kentucky LAWYER. Who.
eishty-one wears ago. declared fiat "th3
milton that imported its clothing from
abroad is but little less dependent than
if it imported its brend.n who aiter
wards, as Il Congressman. four wears he.
lore Webster supported protection
wrote the tarin act of 1924. and made