New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-07
drawn UP.
THE lppgAL TO THE SoOTH.

"The Herald,n though opposing the Presi-
! dent. declares his Inaugural that OF an hones'
and strong man. "The Sum-" also opposing
him. praises without reserve his directnesS
and evident sincerity. The most ineeingen.
adyersaries Of President Harrison admit 1na "a.
his appeal to the Southern people on the Sarin
question, and especially his appeal to the IN.
| terests ofsthose engaged in the development Oh
mines and manufactures, was admirable in tone
and most impressive in reasoning. Yet IL Is
the belief of most Democrats, and tne hopo
of nearly all, that reasoning, however po-
tent, and the appeals, however kindly ano con-
siderate, will completely fail to change the az
titude of any Southern State ;.
Why is there this confidence Clearly IL
is because the people are known to have prac-
ticaIly no voice in the Government IN paris OIL
the South. A conspiracy of politicians VINO
usurped power on the pretence that IL was
necessary in order to prevent negro DONNA
ton and utter ruin" was foolishly sustained IN
that usurpation and in many crimes by deceno
citizens and now the decent citizens cannot
control either their party or their States, how
ever much they may desire to do so. For the
same dishonest methods by which Republican
voters have been and are rendered poWerieSS
are employed with equal effect TO put uo"h
any independent candidate or body. Pnmary
meetings and conventions are controlled NOV
by the substantial citizens who have the great
est interest in the prosperity of the South but
by the politicians who have fastened them
selves upon party and State alike. 1t Is as
easy TO rob white man as to rob negro In
the name Of Democracy.
Those who doubt whether this is the true
explanation should study the course OF events
in States and districts where manufacturing
and mining development have wrought the
greatest change in the voting power and In
the beliefs of the people. Protection has
gained thousands of jealous adherents in the
Virginias in Alabama and Tennessee. Yet it
would be'easy to name districts in which the
rapidly growing zeal for protection has been
entirely suppressed by peculiar Democratic
methods, and practically denied all hearing.
West Virginia would be known as strong
Republican State to-day if there could be
free and fair vote and honest count. The
Birmingham district in Alabama would mob
elect a Democrat of the Carlisle variety to vote
against the interests of every capitalist. every
workingman, and every landowner in that dis
trict, if the party was ia fact controlled by Its
voters, or If the election were free and honest.
The strong delegation of Southern men who
waited upon the President shortly after the
late election and assured him Of their SYM
pathy with his beliefs, have a great deal Of
influence throughout that district in other
ways, but they have no power to control tho
Democratic party, and have yet to show that
they can secure an honest election.
To such men the President says, in effect:
"The Republican voters of the South, white
and black, must be defended in their rights,
because in no other way can the will Of the
real people find expression on the tariff or any
other question" Until fair and free vote
can be obtained, and honest returns Of the
votes actually cast, the New South haS no
right to hope that Northern capital or North
ern enterprise can be attracted. To men who
know free government and care for it, gov
ernment by mob law or fraud is not congenial.
and offers no security for any investment. The
injury done to the colored citizen is a fatal
barrier to prosperity, and as the President just
ly suggests, it threatens infinite mischief here
after.
The question to be solved within the next
four years is whether New South is possible.
If there is manhood enough, and wisdom
enough, in any city, district or State in the
South, whore political crime has prevailed, to
restore to the people the self-goyernment of
which they have been robbed, with full pro
lection for the legal rights of every citizen,
that restoration will be not only hailed most
gladly by Northern men who caro- little for
partisanship, yet much for security and pros
perity, but it will also be followed by business
growth and immigration such as many other
parts of the South will await in vain.