The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-14
PROTECTION IN THE SOUTH.

The Conference Of the Southern Prooctlonists In
birmingham today marks the beginning OF what
promises to be an important political movement
Alabama, Mississippi, Texas Arkansas and Ten
nessce are largely represented. The object of this
meeting Is TO reorganlze the Republican party OF
the South upon n protection basis, bringing to.
gethcr the friends Of the American system ana
giving direction 10 the opinion, now 50 widely
prevalent In the southern States, In favor OF new
order Of things, the abandonment OF free trade
llourbonlsm that has stood In the way OF Southern
development, and the building up OF industrial
interests The promoters Of this movement are,
for the most part, solid men OF business who have
not been distinctly Identified with partisan poll
ties They are men who believe that business
issues should DO paramount II is understood that
| President Harrison looks upon this movement
with favor. lie Is said 10 regard II as the most
feasible plan for sinking the racial issue aud divid-
ing Southern voters upon the same lines OF division
| that are found In the North There IL no room for
doubt II Southern protcctlonlss eau be brought
| into one party II will be a formidable element ut
the start and soon develop into tremendous po-
litica force The protection sentiment Is Wide
spread In both the border and Gnlf States and It
has n constant and rapid growth. Prcjudices have
been allaycd The benefits Of the protective policy,
demonstrated by quarter Of century Of progress
| at the North and the industrial revival OF recent
| years In the South have gone far toward eradicat
ing sectional feeling and have turned attention 10
| vital questions. The Republican economic policy
commends itself 10 practical men Of the South by
its results II surface indications not mslead'
| ing, the movement now begun will put the South
on new political footing within the next four
| yean.-CmciiHdh nmos.sidr.
The above, as every reader OF The
APPEAL will see at a glance, is far and
away from tho facts Of politics at the
South. In tho first place there is no
eagerness anywhere in this section for the
advancement OF the policy Of protection.
On the contrary, there is an eagerness for
tariff reform, and general tightening Of
the load Of taxation. For this reason the
recent conference at Birmingham was
confined solely and altogether TO a few
white Republicans OF Alabama, who have
always been Republicans, there not being
r II delegate present from Mississippi, Texas
or Arkansas. II was purely Il Republican
protection gathering, aud there was not Il
Democrat present. II Is, therefore, so far
rs the mombels Of tho latter party
are concerned, anything but feas-
IDLE plan for breaking up the solid
Democratic vote at the South. II l.
also an impossible movement at the
South, because tho protectionisis are In no
Congressional district in any Of the South
ern States strong enough TO elect a mem
Der Of Congress, and aro consequently
nowhere strong enough 10 make a serious
inroad in the Democratic ranks, the solid
ity Of which is essential 10 the peace and
safety aud consequently the prosperity Of
the South. The 7inci-Silr Is very wide OF
the mark as TO the true state of affairs
politically at the South. II II will turn TO
the political platforms OF the Democratic
party In each Of the Southern States
promulgated last year and note tho
unanmity, especially IN Alabama, Ten
nossec and Georgia, with which thoy
were carried, Il will see that this Dir
mingham movement, 30 enthusiastic
ally Endorsed by President Harrison,
Is purely chimorical one and will result
in nothing Tor the party now dominant in
National affairs. II will result In nothing,
because the Republican economic policy
does not commend itself at the South, the
majority Of whose people are agricultural
lists and merchants who are opposed TO thu
robbcr tariff, which accumula,cs a surplu
every year that has been the fruitful
- source OF loose financial legislation In tn
o form Of cxtnyagant and couupting appro
: prialiona No, the South Is solid. II
h solid for rclrcnchmcnt, economy aud 70
y form, and for acuuailmcni Of the tariff a
"a a first aud necessary measure Of rctrcnch
mcnt that would inspire and provok
economy In every branch OF the Govern
mcnL
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