Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-25
The South and Protection.

The Philadelphia Press svows that
lone fourth of the South is for protec-
ton now and that one-half viii be in
five years" It assumes because but few
Southern journals went into elaborate
refutations of Senator Voorhees, position
at the opening of the Atlanta Exposition
upon protection that the leaven of his
counsel is working in the public mind
of the South. The advice of the Indiana
statesman was largely gratuitous, and in
the light of his subsequent explanation
was directed not so much to the develop
ment of the South as to prevent repeti-
ton of what he is pleased to term fatal
political blunder in the last campaign.
The South needed not TO be told by
Mr.. Voorhees,, or any one else. that its
capitalists might grow rich by putting
their money in cotton mills and iron
works, and joining the phalanx of mo
nOpolists, who, as wards of the govern
ment, are fed at the expense of the
people. But, as the capitalists of
the South are but a small portion
of her population, it is hardly likely
that the majority of her people will be
consumed with a desire to continue to
pay a princely tribute for the sake
of numbering Vanderbilts and Astors
among her moneyed men. The average
Southerner can see TO
superiority in profits paid of Southern
over Northern cotton mills would be
not only maintained but vastly in
creased, were protection per Sc abolished,
and a revenue tariff, which would fur
nish protection enough, established.
A Southerner can readily see that as
things are there is but little of the years
cotton crop left unsold. 1t is all taken
despite the cost of manufactured goods,
which is so greatly enhanced by govern
mental interference. He can see, too,
that were mills multiplied at home, he
would sell more at home, but he is not
so foolish as to suppose that the home
manufacturer would make any sacrifices
in the way of reducing the price of hi
fabrics while the tariff permitted him =
put such a high valuation upon then.
On the other hand he can see also that f
Northern mills under a revenue tariff
could survive and make a fair profit.
which few will dispute, that Southern
mil could then, as they do now, make
a better profit. He can see further that
the cheaper cotton goods the more of his
staple would be required, and while b.
might get less for it be could raise more
and at less cost, and would have besides
the benefteOf a reduction in the price of
the hundred and odd articles that supply
the daily needs of his family.
The South has no interest in protec-
ton. Every cents worth afforded by
the government is a tax upon her PEG
pie. With the burden lifted her indus
tries would not go down but would stano
on their merits with the advantages
that mske them so alluring to Northern
capitalists still further in their favor
Furthermore with revenue tariff, and
by that she understands a tariff with
revenue for its primary object, the huge
tribute annually wrung from the people
in the shape of internal taxes could
be lifted and that much saved to
the toilers of all sections. The public
thought of the South is not and
cannot be in line with that of
the East IN this question The
former has helped for years o sup
port the latter section, and ha gotten
no return. That she should be willing
to continue this support for the sake OF
enriching such of her own citizens and
the Northern moneyed men that might
join them in setting up factories may be
very desirable to the benefciaries of the
tariff, but the people of the South have
long since realized that poor law legisla
ton in the shape of protective tariff
should be discontinued.
Here and there local organ under the
shadow of mill or factory may echo
the sopbistries of the Eastern press, but
the voice of the South is for the aboli
ton of tributes and subsidies, and fair
fight and no favor for the people of all
sections.