The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-23

and the uncertainty incident to a presidential
election. in which the tariff is the one Issue has
q bad effect upon business OF all kinds
The protection sentiment Is growing. and
growing rapidly, he added. ''It il beginning ts
psrvade even the purely sgroultural parts of
the State. Everybody in Alabama is proud of
the splendid cities of Birmingham, Annistou.
Bessemer Decatur, Tuscaloosa aud others
whose existence has been made possible by the
protection -'oicy OF the government The farm
ers find home market for what they produce
and they are beginning to argue In favor OF
leaving well enough alone, and against trying
any Questionable experiments. OF course, do
not claim that all the farmers are with us-only
few of the more intelligent The pleasant
sophistries Of the free trade politicians still de-
lude many, but the protection sentiment In
growing. IL Is no exaggeration 20 say that q
very great many of the leading Democrats Of
Alabama would be glad 20 see Cleveland de-
feated."
1t is probably true that there are more pro-
tectionists in Alabama than any other OF the
strongly Democratic Southern States But
Georgia is not far behind. Atlanta is a strong
protection city, and the same may be said OF
Augusta. Columbus. Rome and the other manu-
featuring cities OF the State.
An old statesman who was 90 officer in the
Confederate government. aud who, both before
the war and SINCE, has been q member of the
National Congress, talked at length upon this
subject:
''The three pianls in the platform of the old
South were slavery, secession and Tree trade.
be said "Shs has been whipped out of the frst
two and will now have 70 be whipped out of the
third before she can enjoy the great prosperity
In store for her,
81 have great hopes for Georgia, he contin-
ued. Anybody who looks into the matter can
al.A al l.-ls- H
Then. you know, Georgia was whie State.
and in The days before the war the protsctlon
sentiment was quite strong. The majority OK
the people were for the Union up 20 the very
time when the State seeded. and when she gets
rid Of this fres-trade hers.y, Georgia will oe an
even better member Of the Union. And thas
time is coming"
Valiant wosk has been done in this line by .
few men aud few newspapers. The Atlanta
Constitution. than which there is no stronger
protection organ in the country; tie Augusta
Chronicle. the Birmingham papers, the Annis-
ton Hot Blast and others less prominept-tnese
papers have led the fight.
Unfortunately, however, all are strong in their
allegiance TO the Democratic party, and since the
party hss promulgated its platform, these papers
have consented to smother their individual
views. They are letting the tariff question Sc
verey alone.
The situation is peculiar Here is strong
minority. embracing many Of the strongest men
in the South, yet it does not dare assert itself.
The tongues OF the advocates of protection
tied and none dares say his souls his own for
fear that he may In some way hurt the solid
South =
It is an era Of small men In Georgia This
''silsns minority" includes all, or nearly ALL Of
the strong men of the State, and the little fsl-
Iowa find themselyes ON ton Joe Brown Cap-
tain Howell, Henry Grady, Pat Walsh, Nat
Hammond-such men as these have been rele-
gated to the rear. and Colquitt and his hench-
men are trying TO run things
A sorry mess they are making Of It. They
sent to the 81. Louis convention q delegation
which contained not one man OF prominence.
Party dissensions in Savannah. Augusta and At
lanta have followed under this leadership. and.
from Democrats tand.pont things ars in
pretty bad shape
The Republicans are quietly organizing for
the coming fight The scheme to have Major
Mckinley, Of Ohio, address the people at Chsu
tauoua has been jealorsly fostersd by the Rspuo-
hcan leaders. although II mad its origin outside
she Republican ranks The people are hungry
for information upon the rsrIn uu-srfoD, ana ss
the protectionist Democrats have the highest
admiration for Mckinley they intend giving
him a roval reception upon the event of HE visit.
His speech will be good.
The Democrats naturally feel secure. but
some mighty strange things have happened IN
pOlitics.