The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-18


they come to vote"
The letter seems really TO explain
something, aud may interest Northern
"a we'll as Southern Democratic voters.
1t is as follows:
The Letter ON Southern Mistakes
In Congress.
MY DEAR FRIEND-You complain
of Democratic folly, and you ask, Who
is responsible? Here are some figures
and facts from you may draw your
conclusions:
There are 1926 members in the
House. OF these, 1874 are Democrats
and l4l Republicans, go that the
Democratic msjority is 43.
OF the l84 Democrats, los are from
the southern States and rs from
Northern.
OF the 76 Northern Democrats, 80
are from New York, New England,
New jersey and Pennsylvania, aud A
are from Western States.
You see by these figures that the
Southern Democrats are numerically
stronger ttau the Northern. In iatt,
the Southern and the Eastern Demo-
cIa,s together are within one vote as
strong as the whole Republican side.
Acting together, the Southern men,
bers-in caucus, for nstance-would
outyote their Northern friends every
time, aud by large majority-l08 to
~. That numerical preponderance
throws great responsibility on the
Southern men, because it gives them
great power. Ibis power they have
unhesitatingly accepted, as / will now
show you.
They elected for Speaker of the
House Southern man, and they took
to themselves very great share of
the committees which frame and
guide the legislation and policy OF the
House-you will perhaps be surprised
when tell you how large a share.
OF the tiity.two committees in the
House the ch aiTmen OF thirty.three
are Southern men. In twelve the
chairmen are Western Een, and New
York, New England New Jersey and
Pennsylya lia have just seven chair
manships among them. You under
stand that the chairman Of a commit
tse is an important and influential
person. The chairmen Of comm tees
dc very much to guide and frame the
policy OF the party in the House.
Probably you vial admit that, with
thirty-three chairmen out of total of
tifty.two, large responsibility for the
good or bad conduct OF affairs lies
upon Southern men.
nuN IaoG ft,rkhar 80 Nko
of the most important committees.
The Ways and Means stands first.
1t has eight Democrats and five Re-
publicans. OF the eight Democrats
five are Southern men, two are West.
ern men, and one alone represents the
whole OF New York, New England,
New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Here
again you see the South very largely
predomina es.
Next comes the Appropriations
Committee. The frat action OF the
House when it met was to Smash
RandslP-an Eastern mau, by the
way-by taking mort OF the important
bills from his committee. The South
joined the West in that piece Of folly,
for surely 1t was stupid thing for a
party Just coming into power to begin
it's campaign by Donnybrook fair
fight in its own Iauks. Still, the APP
preparations remains an important
committee. 1t has nine Democrats,
OF whom four are Southern men,
three are Western men and two rep.
resent New York, New England, New
Jersey and PENNSYLVANIA. You see
once more that the South FREEDOM.
mates.
In the Judiciary Committee six
Democrats are from the South, two
flom the West aud one represents
New York, New Eng and, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania.
The Silver Committee has five South
ern Democrats, two Eastern and one
Western.
The River and Harbor Committee
has seven Southern and two Western
Democrats. None from the East, and
not one represeu ting a harbor.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs
has six Southern Democrats, one East
ern and one Western man.
The Committee on Commerce has
four Southern Democrats, three West
ern and one from the East.
The Committee on Postoflices has
four Southern Democrats, four West
ern aud one from the East.
The Committee on Pacific Railroads
has six Southern Democrats, one West.
ern and one from New York.
These are the mort important COM
mittees. You see for yourself that
they are all controlled by Southern
men, and 1t is substantially so
throughout. You may reply that the
Southern members being by far the
most numerous, il is natural that they
should have most Of the important
places.
/ don't object to that. What / say
is that having thus taken control of
the House and of it's legislation the
Southern members are responsible to
the Democratic party for what may
happen-for the policy or no policy
pursued and for the success or failure
OF the present Congress. You ask,
"Who is responsible and / show
you this by actual figures. The South
is responsible, and l wish you people
could see that it is a very serious re-
sponsibility. l am going to try TO
make you see how.
Take the silver question. That a
Southern man is an idiot to speak 2
vote for a debased dollar, or one OF
uncertain value seems to me too clear
Tor argument. The South is borrow
ing country. 1t has great natural re-
sources, and no capital to develop |
them. How eau you expect to borrow
money at favorable rates il you vote
for dishonest or uncertain dollar. |
Who is going to lend to you or invest
in your enterprise in that case2 This
government now boTows at per
cent, or lees, II you could force US to
pay bonds in silver do you suppose