Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-07
7, 1888



Surprising tous are the attempts made
by some Of onr contemporaries OF the
press TO induce the white voters of the
south 10 divide on the tariff question,
when they know that the negroes will
vote the Republican ticket whether the
Republican party declares for or against
protection. for or against a largo free
list, or for or against any other politico-
economical measure.
One of the most strenuous of the adj
vocates OF tlrih-reform Is the Char
lottosyiIle CrOgicic. II has never
abandoned the old antc-bellum teach
ings OF the Democratic party on this
subject. But it scents danger ahead
when Journals proiesSciiy Democratic
coolly talk of dismissing all the Pro-
tectionist Democrats Of the South, and
indeed Of the whole country, to the Re
publican party The Democrats OF the
South constitute apcculiar party. They
are many OF them men who were Wings
i'll antc-bcllum days, and Of course be-
leved in the creed OF the Wing party,
which included belief in the benefits
t. the whole county of protective
tariff. Thcse men have taught their
sons the same doctrines. Nevertheless,
they have been compelled 10y the circum-
stances OF the case to join hands with
the old Democrats and their sons in the
effort to protect the South from
unjust. unconstitutional, and unpa-
triotic legislation. In other words,
whilst the Democratic party in the north
ern States is composed almost altogether
OF Democrats holding the faith OF the
Democrats Of tue years preceding the
war between the States. the Democratic
party in the southern States includes
large number OF persons who hold the
faith held in those days Ivy the Wings.
These two parties, consolidated into one,
constitute "the solid South
The extremists among the anti-Protec-
Zionist Democrats propose to dissolve
the solid South by turning the old Wings
OF Prottctionists Of the present Demo
cratic party over to the Republican
party. SIR. WArGEnsoN does not hest
tate to declare thet their proper place is
in the Republican party. The Wash
ington Poei goes to the same lengths
1t quotes the prediction of a leading
Republican that Mr.. CLEvELAND's treat
ment Of the tariff question Twill almost
wreck party lines, and comments as
follows:
"If Mr rillsbury speaks by the
card-onl We think he does-he has
given the Post the most gratifying as
sumnce that has come from any quarter
for many months. The one thing po
litical that we have longed for, waited
for, and worked for Will have come when
the advocates Of revenue tariff and the
advocates OF a tariff for protection are
on opposite sides OF the party lines, with
no stragglers, no milk-and-water con-
tingent diminishing between the two
parties.
AS we have already said. that sort of
talk and the policy advocated might an
swer very well if the negroes could be
induced to divide upon the same ques-
ton. But when we all know that they
vote the Republican ticket without re-
gard to any such question as the taritl,
it would seem to be the height of unwis-
dom for the white people to pursue
course which will inevitably reduce their
voting strength.
Now We come back to the Charlottes-
vile Chr0nicie, that consistent anti-Pro-
tectionist paper, and quote it as follows
"Now, we suppose the editor of tue
Post desires the success OF the Demo
cratic party. If go, we can tell him that
a strict division on tariff lines would, IN
our opinion, and that of most observant
southern men, give the Republican party
the control of two thirds, if not all the
southern States.
alt may be very well in the North and
West TO urge all 'the advocates Of rev.
enue tariff and the advocates of tariff
for protection 10 range themselves on
opposite sides of the party lines, but in
the South that policy will never DO for
Democrats. The South is the bulwark OF
Democracy. Thar lost. all is lost. A
very little reflection will convince all
reasonable men that a division on the
tariff, or any other economical Issue,
would be worse than folly. 1t would be
ruin. Here in Virginia, for instance, we
have a majority Of Democrats (mostly
white of some ten or fifteen thousand.
OF these Democrats at least one fourth or
one third are protectionists OF the Re
publicans al the whites who think are
protectionists. and the negro vote wlllRo
with their party, no matter what its atti-
tude may be on any OF these issues.
What chauce, then, would the Democrats
have II this, or any issue of the kind, was
made the controlling issue OF the can
yass?
We are confident that the Democratic
National Convention will not pursue the
dangerous policy recommended 10y Mr..
WArrERsoN and the Post, yet We do not
consider II smiss TO utter word of warn
ing. Sectionalism, centralism, and pa
ternalism are much more dangerous
hereSies than protectionism.