New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-15
SOUTHERN OPINION.

Our friends the enemy often wonder that the
expressed public opinion of the Southern states,
whether in favor Of a candidate, of party, or
of National policy, has no influence whatever
upon public opinion in the Northern States.
This is Government of public opinion. The
wishes and convictions of the people in every
part of the North are closely observed, and have
an influence in every other part. Thus the
earnest opposition Of people of Pacific states 10
Chinese immigration met at first little SYM
pathy or support, but presently it impressed
Northern opinion most powerfully, and mas
produced complete revolution in the policy OF
the Government on that subject. Northern
people have considered that citizens of Pacific
States have the best opportunity to know what
such immigration means, what its influence Is,
and how it affects the industrial and social de-
velopment Of those States, and have judged IL
not fair to condemn the Pacific Coast TO IN
fluences which the best citizens there regard
with intense aversion, because the evil conSe-
uuences seem to people of other States problem
atical or remote Thus the opinion OF three
States, having in the aggregate only the Young
power of Massachusetts, alone, has shaped the
laws of the Nation for years past.
How does it come to pass that the Southern
States. with nearly ten times as much voting
mower. have no such influence upon Northern
opinion? The South is wont to assert that 1t
is because of sectional hatred Northern
prejudice against the South is so bitter, men
say, that man or measure Is instantly CON
demned here if favored in that section. But
this is not the truth. The sweeping victories
for Local Option in many Southern States for
examre, have produced no opposition to that
policy elsewhere. There is no lack OF hearty
sympathy with Southern industrial develop
ment. Even when it subjects the most I'M
portant industries of the North to severe com
petition scarcely Northern voice IS heard
advocating change Of National policy for the
purpose of arresting that competing develop
ment.
The explanation may be found in the recent
vote of Louisiana. No intelligent man can
doubt that the substantial citizens OF that State
are with much unanimity opposed to the Mills
bill. and to the policy which it embodies. But
it has become perfectly well known throughout
the Northern States that the election in LOUIS
lana was carried by frauds so gross and glarlng
that even Democratic papers admit that the ]ob
was overdone and will react against their party.
In many parishes the vote returned for the
Democratic candidate exceeded the entire regis
tered vote In others, while thousands OF OPP
posing votes are known to have been cast,
scarcely any were returned. Election officers
from the Democratic party only controlled
every voting place, and were selected by the
most INSCRIPTIONS managers. The Governor
himself was so Indifferent to public opinion
that. after formally promising that the election
A Eo1
should be free and fair, he subsequently notlhed
election officers that the law must be sus-
pended,n and Democratic majorities returned at
all hazards.
II is natural and right that the apparent
| public opinion Of such State should have no
| weight A Northern man would be fit sub
ject for lunatic asylum if he should imagine
that the fraudulent returns made by election
officers chosen by one shameless law defer and
law breaker really expressed public opinion.
The obvious fact is that the votes were fraudu-
lenty returned because they would otherwise
have defeated the party which made the re-
turns Such an election does not express South
ern opinion; it only proves that Southern
opinion is suppressed
Northern citizens are fully aware by this time
that elections in every Southern State are con-
Quoted in precisely the same way. wherever it
is found necessary in order to secure Demo
cratic victory. If free vote. honestly
counted, suits the Democratic party, then
the vote is free and the count is honest.
If not, frauds are perpetrated, or free
citizens are assassinated or mastered; the
law is suspended, in the language of Gov
ernor McEnery, and Democratic maiorities are
secured at all hazards. Northern men know
that there is fair majority in favor of the pro-
lection of home industries in several Southern
States. But they also know that Southern
crimes will deprive that majority Of power to
express its will.