New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-07
HENRY CLAY.


American patriot was apparent in its true
way. He was no Yankee, buta Hebrew
of the Hebrews, Southern man OF the
planter class. How he came to see that
in the progress of the industrial arts-in
the education and employment OF the
whole people, consisted the true prosperity
of the whole people, can not now 20 con-
iectured. Perhaps it was the inspiration
Of an able and independent intellect.
Possibly in feeling the wants Of war, and
perceiving in foreign countries, to which
he was sent as the representative OF
this country, he discovered this great
truth. Howsoever he came to know
the great value Of education and en-
ployment, it is evident he has done
more to encourage their adoption by an
American system than any man OF his
age. What was his return for this great
discovery? Precisely that Of any other
great benefactor. A party arose against
him which was not the party of Jefferson,
from whose principles Henry Clay never
departed, but a party calling itself
Democracy, which reviled him as an abo-
litionist. which DETAINED him as guilty OF
corruption of which he stood acquitted by
a life Of integrity, which stigmatized all
his efforts to compromise sectional diff
ference, which was in spite of his inter-
ventions forced to bloody and disastrous
issue. The Southern opponents Of Henry
Clay habitually claimed that agriculture
was the only proper pursuit. Shepherds
and farmers were always virtuous and
vigilant. Manufacturing populations were
vicious, commercial inhabitants ready
to truck or barter their liberty
for personal or professional gain.
The principles and policy which
Henry Clay maintained have triumphed;
the opposition doctrines which the South
ern Democracy waged with such unscru-
pulous and unrelenting hostility have
been overthrown. The class and the class
interest which the Southern Democracy
claimed to be alone fit to govern and sup
port the country are reduced to poverty,
to industrial imbecility, and to the pur-
suit of Office by force or cunning as a
means of subsistence. In their effort to
obtain the political control of the South
they advocate the prescription OF their
own fellow-citizens and form a combina-
ton with the very politicians who be-
trayed and who now despise them. They
admit the want of those industries which
Henry Clay devoted his life to introduce;
but in the selfish purpose to secure the
Offices of the South by prescription, in
timidation and violence, they have Gre
ated such dread among foreign people
disposed to immigrate that they avoid
md abandon the Southern States.
The memory of Henry Clay survives.
The wisdom of his admonitions is adj
nitted even by his most embittered an
sagonists. Why, then, should not the
Southern people look to his precepts and
he apostles of his doctrines for aid? Why
should they continue to be used by those
who followed Henry Clay to his grave
With obloquy as wanting in fidelity to his
native land? Above all, why should they
rely upon class of men who despise all
he industrial pursuits to inaugurate the
new era of industry which can alone re-
generate the South?
We have the American protection
system Of which Henry Clay was the ad-
vocate and author There is neither the
power nor purpose to overthrow 1t. A
duty for revenue is and is like to be duty
for protection. The Democracy OF Penn
sylvania, Of Connecticut, Of Louisiana
and Missouri are in favor of protection.
The doctrine of Clay, whether in accord
with the earlier construction of the con-
or not, is now the law. The
whole people of the nation now construe
the constitution of the whole people of
the nation. If they say that protection is
either by construction or
by legislation, who can say it is not?
Why, then, when protection is as firmly
established as emancipation, should not
the South avail itself of protection? Pro-
lection does not alone secure to the me-
chanic in Maine a preference over the
same foreign fabric which he makes; the
mechanic of New Orleans is entitled to
enjoy the same advantage. He might
avail himself of forty per cent on iron,
leather or cotton goods. The mechanic
of New Orleans may see fabrics of the ut
most perfection of American make either
in the stores here or removed out for bet
ter exhibition at the Fair Grounds. Who
teaches the mechanics Of New Orleans
that they are entitled to the same protec-
ton with these Eastern or Western me-
chanics? Certainly not those who enter
tain or inherit the hostility to Henry Clay.
They teach the mechanic that he is thus
run out of his own market by political mis-
government, and that if they will install
the opponents of Henry Clay in the ex-
elusive possession of Office and patronage
the mechanic will forthwith be prosper
GUS. 1t matters very little that the de-
partment Of this government already
under the control of this party imposes
tax on the mechanics for permission to
work at his trade. They still asseverate
that the sole remedy for the industrial stag