The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-22
SECTIONAL POLICIES.

SECTIONAL POLICIES.
The New York Herald, noting the fact that
the government is now practically in the
hands Of the South, that section being award
ed the speakership and thirty-three of the
fifty-two chairmanships, expresses regret that
the country is not better governed, and that
the South is inclined to act with the West as
against any policy originating or particularly
popular in the East. Quoting and indorsing
the words Of Northern Democrat on this
point the Herald says: Where in the West
are you going to pick up ffty-one Democratic
electoral votes in 1882 But New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut have just that num-
ber." From this the argument is made that
it is to the interest Of the South to espouse
policies formulated in New York, New Jersey
and Connecticut evidently to the end
that the Democratic ascendency be pro-
longed. The argument cannot be sustained
for two sufficient reasons: New Yorks
thirty-six votes. upon which Democratic sue
cess hinges in event of this plan being fol-
lowed, cannot be counted on. In the last
national election it was carried by less than
], 100 votes and minority of several thou
sand in all the votes cast This narrow mar
gin, upon which Democratic success is
founded, was secured by the man who, two
years before, carried the State. by plurality
of nearly 20e,0 In point of fact, New
York and New Jersey are Democratic only by
reason of the tens Of thousands Of ignorant
voters in New York city and Jersey City, and
then by only the narrowest margin. The
South, nor no other part of the country, can
afford to build a policy on such an uncertain
ty The second objection to the attempt to
hold these States by adopting platforms to
please them is, that while bidding for an un-
certainty, they create uncertainty when
everything is now secure for Democracy.
The thirty-six votes of New York are not
to be carried by Democracy on national prin-
ciples. If the chiefs of Tammany, of Irving
Hall, and of the county Democracy in New
York city can be brought or bribed into har-
mony, so that they will manipulate elections
to the same end, New York is Democratic.
Without something Of this kind, that State
can never be counted on for outside of the
city it is, and long has been, thoroughly Re-
publican.
1t Is narrow not to say vicious thing, for
any party to argue that the interest of any
one section Of the country lie with some other
section as opposed to the third. The policy
that will not spread over all the country alike
is dangerous and unpatriotic. It has ever
been the aim Of the Republican party to have
but one policy and to stand by it with equal
candor everywhere. In this respect it has diff
fered from the Democratic party, the plat
forms Of which are always enigmatical and
have been variously interpreted to accommo-
date them to the locality in which they are
expounded. The Republican party has had
but one policy for all parts Of the Union, and
has had the satisfaction of seeing all sections
| Of the country prosper alike. Under the pol
icy of protection, which has been denounced
as measure devised for the benefit of the iron
monopolists Of Pennsylvania, the iron manu-
featuring interests Of Tennessee and Alabama
have been so developed as to make these
States able to underbid Pittsburg. The in.
terests Of the South were looked after by the
Republican party, and that, too, without re-
| ceiving in return solitary electoral vote
from that section. Under the same
Republican policy Of protection, Geor-
gia has been enabled to compete
with Massachusetts, and Connecticut in the
manufacture of cotton goods. The material in
terests of Georgia have been conserved and
developed by party which gets nothing and
can hope for nothing in return. The Repub-
lican party is not, and never has been, Sec
tional in its views, and cannot be appealed to
to cast its lot with this or that portion of the
Union. Intent only on wholesome legislation
for the whole country, it speaks the same
language to the South as to the North, to the
East as TO the West, aud leaves no doubt as to
its intentions.
The Herald is driven to confess that eff the
South has still able men, it has not sent them
to this Congress" Its conclusion, from the
Sterile and ignorant policies and forcible-
feeble debates of the present session. is that
craftsmanship is dying out in the South. It
could not well be otherwise A fenced-in
policy, that does not reach beyond certain
sectional lines, or is laid down to catch
the suffrage of certain city or State
to the prejudices of others, is not
the kind to breed statesmen. It never has and