The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-15
TIE "B1NNERp ANSWERED.

TIE DINNER" ANSWERED.
II Is an agreeable fancy which Tim APrEAL In.
dulgcs, that the Southern people arr not moved IN
such matters, like other people, by sclf-intercst,
but this Is only pleasing fiction. There Is none
who more fully appreciates and admircs the noble
characteristics Of the Southern people than the
writer Of this article, and there Is none
who has a profoundcr feeling Of fellow
ship and sympathy with them in their
past mperlshablc history, their present endeayOrs
aud their hopes and aspirations for the future.
Yet In some respects, all people akin, and the
Southern people have the same instincts OF self
preservation aud selflnterest which actuntc the
people OF the North or West or East II the Of
Southern people were convinced that their best
Interests would be promoted by n governmental
policy ofprotectlOn the mass OF Southern people
would he protcctlonists. II would not be a 6no
poetic ana mngnanmous sentiment 10 confer ben
cilis on the North or West but II would be sen
tmcnt OF self interest based upon d desire 10
especially promote the community Of interests In
the South. We appreciate aud enjoy line sentiment
but II sa cold bloodcd aud intensely prosiac fact
that when the average southern man becomes
financially interested In an enterprise he eyinccs
the same disposition to further his selfish I'm.
tercsis that ohaacterizcs the northern man. lie
may not always have the tact aud expcrtncss Of his
Northern brother, and he may DO moro prone TO
take his case on OCCASION but no is ready and eager
Ia avail himself Of all the helps which advance his
fortunes. II Il our observation that when men
who have been loud Ia their denunciation
of monopolles become financially interested In
monOpoies their opinions undergo change
and they cease to bcwal the oppression Of monop.
olics. IL Is our observation that when men who
may have been outspokcn In favor Of low tariff re-
form become interested In industrial enterprises
m n rul hon IN ha taar
lection Is good thing for the country. The ind
yidual naturally looks after his individual In
tcrcsts
Now, II seems absurd 10 talk about wiping out
the protcctionists IN the SOUTH by the Rntiprotoc
tion delvomncc OF the ~ Louis Convention, or
any given policy Of the Democratic party. Proteo
tionism In the South Is based on selfintercst and
an increasing class Of Interested citizens are con.
WINGED that their Interests are promoted by pro.
lection. You may argue that they take an CT
rpncOus view Of the matter, but NJ long as
they believe a. they do the protection scnt
mont remains sclflntcrcs Is a stronger influence
than party platform, when It comes To individual
action, and II may become a stronger influence In
politics than party predictions, especially when
II Is coupled with the plausible theory that the pro
lection Of Southern industries will prove an ndyan-
iaEe to the whole people OF the South. Tho pro-
tccilon sent iment Of the South cnnnot he easily
wiped out, but II Il possible To transfer II 10 the
support Of The party which cmphatlcallY iavor
protection.
We are familiar with the argument here
in repeated by our esteemed contempory,
The Nashville Banner. The plea Of self.
interest Is the plea OF the highwayman as
II is that OF the combine, tho trust and the
monopoly. Because he must have S5,-
100000 Of profit each year, the combincr
must have sl7 per ton Of protection on steel
and steel rails. But the Constitution Of
the United States, which is com
pact Of protection for all tho people
alike, is opposed TO the qualification
Of tho necessities or seliinterost OF
the few at tho expense Of the many.
According TO that instrument, all men are
TO be free and equal alike and to enjoy
equal privileges and the blessings Of the
same guarantees. No man can by any
provision Of that constitution claim special
protection for his business or special cxemp-
ton, and II any law Of Congress las by the
existing robber wartariir) men are specially
protected in their manufacturing interests
II is at the expense OF the masses Of the
people, who are thus robbed that men
may put illegiiimatc millions In thcirpock-
cts This Is the fundamental law and not
sentiment. TnE ArrEAL has no room for
mere sentiment Experience has forced
the conviction that this is not only prac-
teal but an intensely selfish agc, and that
rnpacious sclishness is growing apacc
~ result Of tho robbcr tariff which,
speaking for the people Of Georgia,
Judge Twigs rcpudatod. lie rcpudiated
itnot In any sentimental mood, but in the
spirit Of protest that became sound and
healthy Democrat who ropudiatcd robbery
and declared that his people did not want
10 grow rich by means condemned in
morals and by the Constitution Of the
country. The robber tariff is an infamous
burden imposed upon an unwilling people,
and Judge Twiggs rghtcously stiginatiscd
II for what {, is when he said that his peo.
pie did not wish to grow rich by Il.
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