The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-19

Hanson Among the Protectionists.
The speech of Maj J. F. Hanson, at the
dinner Of the American Protective Tariff
League, in New York on Thursday night,
excites no surprise in tins state, where he is
well known. He is an open and an avowed
protectionlst, and has been for years He
is mistaken, however, when he says that
very large minority Of the whites and
nearly all the blacks in the south are pro-
tectionists. The percentage Of southern
whites who are protectionlsts cannot be
very large. Only those who have some
interest which they think would be bene-
fitted by protection are protectionists in the
sense in which protection is advocated by
the leaders of the Republican party. The
leading manufacturers OF this state
manufacturers who are engaged in the
same kind of manufacturing that Maj.
Hanson is-are not urotectionists.
As for the colored people, it cannot be
said that they are protoctionists. There are
very few of them who know what the doc
trine Of protection IS, and, what is more.
they don't care anything about it. II they
could be made to understand it there isn't
much doubt that the great majority of them
would favor a low tariff 1t would certainly
be TO their interest to do so. Under low
tariff their wages would be as high as they
are now, and the purchasing power of their
earnings would be greatly increased.
1t is not exactly clear what Maj. Hanson
was driving at when he said that the south
had representation IN cong 'ess far beyond
that to which she was entitled upon the ba is
of population represented by that portion
Of her people par icipatIng in and deciding
her congressional el ctions He seems to
desire to be understood that the blacks have
no voice in congressional elections. Is that
the case, Are not the blacks free to vote
at any congressional election in the south3
In what district in Georgia were they pre-
vented from voting in the last congressional
electlonl Did they not elect a republican
in the Second congressional district Of Lou
isiana al tie last congressional election-a
district which includes part of the city OF
New Orleansl
1t is true that the blacks do not take
much interest in congressional electors but
it is because they don't want to and not be-
cause they are prevented. The repu bican
party throughout the South is disorganized,
aud those of the blacks who are republicans
do not see any benefit to them in voting.
But because they don't choose to vote is
that any reason why the south's represen-
tation in congress should be reducedl At
least half the whites do not vote
If Major Hanson's argument is carried to
its legitimate conclusion the south ought
not to have representation in congress for
the white voters who remain away from
the polls
The idea that representation in congress
should be based upon the number of votes
cas- instead of the population, is a falla-
cious one. There may be good reasons why
only a small percentage of the votes of a
congressional district is cast, but these
reasons would not be sufficient to deprive
the people of that district of representa-
ton. The people Of states wAich do not
cast their full vote are as much interested
in good legislation and in having their in
terests looked after as if every one of their
voters cast his ballot. If they are satisfied
with the vote they cast outsiders have no
cause for complaint. The views expressed
by Maj. Hanson on this point suit the north
ern republicans, becau they would like to
see the political power of the south re-
duced, but they are not sound views and
will never be adopted by a majority of the
people of the country.