Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-05
DEMOCRATIC DIsMAY IN ALA
BAMA
The Value of Local Markets Realized BY
Farmers and Business Men.

Montgomery Despatch to Cincinnati Com
mercial Gazette.
s'Of all the 'cussings out | have ever
heard, that with which North Alabama re-
ceives any mention of President Cleveland's
name is the worst"
The speaker was one of Alabama's most
prominent Democratic politicians, man
whose fine Italian hand is power in making
and unmaking State officials.
It's all about that message.
To say that President Cleveland's Free
Trade TRADE raised howl of Indignation
throughout all Alabamais mild expression
of patent truth, for Alabama is protection
State.
know some Of my Democratic friends
will dispute that statement, and will contend
that all loyal Southerners make hatred for
the Republican party the basis of their po-
litical creed. That is all very pretty, but
when you hit mans pocket-book You touch
his heart, and that is exactly what the Presi-
dent has done. Hatred for Republicanism
is one thing, love of money is another. When
the two clash the latter is bound to come out
on top.
So much for the general proposition. For
its proof one has only to take a run through
Alabama, or, if that is not possible, talk with
sOHt hidDdIid ptopic- lit NhdhSc "hith
has been wrought by the development of the
mineral wealth of the State is simply wonder
full And it is by no means confined to those
sections of the State which are blessed with
this mineral wealth. Every citizen of the
State is proud of Birmingham, Decatur,
Gadsden, Admission, Bessemer, Sheffield
cities which stand as living examples of the
blessings of the Republican idea, protection.
North Alabama is solid for protection, for
protection means life. Every man, woman
and child in the iron region believes that to
place iron ore on the free list, would mean
the death of industries upon which they de-
pend for their daily bread. If President
Cleveland were to read his message to these
people, it would create a riot.
talked to-day with man whose prom-
hence in the politics of the State makes his
words have great weight.
THE situation he said, sis, from polit-
ical standpoint, most alarming. The people
all over the State are up in arms on this
question, and my observations lead me to be-
lieve that three-fourths of the white voters
are against the President on the issue he has
raised. In North Alabama it is iron, in
South Alabama it is cotton. So intense is
the feeling upon this subject that | believe
you might search the cities of North Alabama
with fine tooth comb and you wouldn't find
single free trader. Why, they'd mob a
fellow of that kind up there. This feeling
prevails, not with the manufacturers alone,
but merchants, farmers, everybody talks that
way. Go into the country and you will find
the farmers rampant protectionists. They
argue that the building up of these towns
means an increased market for the pro lucts
of their farms, and they are for anything that
tends to build up those towns"
but the feeling is not confined to the
North" he continued. 1.-The planters in all
parts of the State are alarmed. They seem
to think that if wool goes on the free list,
cotton will follow, and they say, leave well
enough alone. The worst feature of the
whole business is the split among the white
people of the State. If this agitation con-
tinues the old cry of hatred to the Republi-
cans wont go down, and we will see two par
ties here in Alabama. In that case the pro-
tectiOnists will see that the negro votes; then
goOd-by to Democratic supremacy"
He talked in a sad strain, for he was wor-
ried. The old politician seemed to see the
handwriting on the wall. For years he and
his fellow schemers have had everything
their own way, for the whites have pu led
| together. Now crash is imminent, and they
tremble as they look into the future.
Democracy-at least Free-trade Democra-
cy-is doomed, so far as Alabama is con
cerned.