The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-21
HOPE FOR A NEW SOUTH.
Protection One Of the Necessities-No Soil,
South this Year-Blalne tho Favorito.


c., by the eleven Southern States east Of
the Mississippi. Mr.. Hart is the editor
of the Wheeling DAILY INTELLIoENcER
and President of the West Virginia
Board of immigration and Development,
He was seen by reporter Of the Pres,
and, in answer to a series OF questions,
gave his views concerning the present
condition OF the South, its aspirations
and its political predictions.
~ do not care to go particularly into
the political situation in the South.
Some problems with which We in West
Virginia do not have TO deal are yet to
be solved in most OF the Southern States.
In West Virginia we have small color
ed population, which cuts no con-
siderable figure politically, and, more
over, the two great parties are on
so nice balance in West Virginia that
it is going to take this years election to
determine whether the State is Demo-
cratic or Republican.
81 do no not understand the situation
in the far Southern States so well as
gentleman who live in those States, and
so | would be discussing a matter on
which l am not thoroughly advised il
we were to go into that phase of the
subject.
81 can say, however, that this very
phase OF the general situation in the
South gives great concern to thoughtful
and progressive people. This is particu-
larly true of the young men who feel,
as many OF them assured me at the
Southern Immigration Convention at
Hot Springs, North Carolina, that while
this question remains as it is there isal-
ways something TO explain, and the
lack Of explanation operates to some ex-
tent to the disadvantage Of the far South
ern States.
Speaking Of the young men at the
convention brings up another matter.
This is the tariff question. You would
have been pleasurably surprised il you
hadheard those bright progressive young
men express themselves on the question
which to-day marks more sharply than
any other the dividing line between the
political parties Of the United States. l
took special pains to canvass my fellow
delegates on this question, and pledge
you my word that l did not find single
free trader among them, and you must
remember that the convention was
largely composed OF men actively en-
gagged in the politics OF the South.
ITO man they declared themselves
in favor OF protective tariff: l may say
Of tariff for protection, which they I'M
derstand to be a very different thing
from n hugger mugger of tariff with
incidental protection. There was none
OF the mugwumpish splitting OF hairs on
the tariff question among those young
fellows.
"They wanted protection because il
had built up the North and would build
up the South, and they were only afraid
that the underpinning OF the whole
American system might be knocked
away before the South could get advan.
tage OF it. Those with whom l talked
said that the Mills bill meant destruction
to industries already established in the
South, and that there was no use talking
about establishing any more, il, unfortu
nately, the bill should become law.
"Knowing that l had come through
by way OF Washington and had mingled
little with the craftsmanship at the
capital, they ask me what the prospects
were for the defeat OF the bill. Not be
ing in position to make an oracular de
liverance on the subject ! asked them i
they would have any doubt on the ques
ton ofthe passage OF the bill il the Dem
ocrats had comfortable working major
ity in both houses. One of them, who
had served in the Confederate army, re
piled:
"'No; the jig will be all up
"And vet" said to him, ~ suppose
you gentlemen will support Mr.. Cleve
land this year as you did four years ago
ellis answer to this was:
"Ifit were not for shat great black
cloud that hangs over the South We
would vote for protection with a rush
and we wouldn't stop to ask the name o
the ticket we were voting. As 1t is, au
free to say that the horror Of even thu
remote possibility OF negro domination
may induce-wiIl induce-men whC
think Just as I do to vote once moro TO
party whose industrial policy We know
to be in direct hostility to the best in
terests of our section. This may strike
you MS IN anomaly in politics. So it is
So is the political condition OF the Soutl
an anomaly in politics.
~ asked this gentleman whether HI
thought this state OF aifairs-intelligeu
men voting against their interests and
all their aspirations for the future
would last forever.
"'No, not forever he replied. Per
haps not much longer. Its day is draw
ing to an end as we become convinced
that the odious combination OF negr
and carpet bag rule has gone forever
You must understand that politics will
us Is very onesided affair, and on
young men are becoming FESTIVE. Abou
the same class OF men continue in tn
management, and pretty nearly all tn
same names appear on the ballots yea
after year. The rulers Of our polite
have had pretty much their own way
and we young men go TO the polls AM
ratify what they wanted ratified. Sup
pose, now,' he said, with q merr.
twinkle in his eye, some day the youn
men OF the South or single Southern
State should resolve that they had hat
enough Of this. Suppose that instead Q
going to the polls as mere ratification
meeting, they should assert their indie
pendence and support an Independent
ticket-don't you see what might hap
pen? Already thishas happened in spots
| look for more OF it on 0 larger scale
This would settle the negro question, 70
il would divide the negro vote. The Re
publican party will not endure. 1t |
not fixed institution. There will com
party Of another name with protection
as its corner stone, and the young bloc
OF the South will help to make 1t,
don't think it possible for political oil
ganization called Republican TO accom-
plish very much in the South. There !
TOO much to wipe out that cannot b
wiped out. The Republicans OF tn
North may not understand this, bu
we do
Northern Republicans and protec
ionists may think what they like OF tn
view Of the situation, but 1t is the vie
OF Southern men who are favorable