The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-14
Hss Harrison a Southern Policy

hiss harrlSOu a 6OuIneIn EO4Cyt
misunderstanding the fact that the Presi-
dent said in his inaugural address TIL
| he should have no executive policy that
was sectional in its character, several of
the northern newspapers assert quite posi-
lively that he has decided upon a policy
/ for the south. In a long special from
Washington, which appeared in the New
York World day or two ago. 1t was as
serted that the President had determined to
establish his party in the south upon
firmer footing, and to accomplish that OBJ
ject would urge the passage of the Blair
educational bill and would appoint, as q
rule, only native white men to Office.
From this it would appear that it is the
Presidents purpose to keep the blacks in th g
background if possible, with the hope that
the whites will come to the support OF his
administration and eventually connect
themselves with the Republican party.
The President hopes, it is said, that the
Blair bill will be received very generally
with favor by the whites, because it will
take from them some Of the burden Of edu-
eating the blacks, and he expects that it
will be so satisfactory TO the blacks that
they will not grumble at not receiving any
Of the spoils, but will be content to wait
until they are better prepared by education
to fill the official positions.
II this is the Presidents programme he
will find some difficulty in carrying it out.
1t is true be can appoint whom he pleases
to fill the offices, and it must be admitted
that, thus far, he has shown a preference
for white men for official positions, but he
will not find it an easy matter to get his
party to agree upon the Blair bill. When
ever this bill has been before congress there
has bsen a great deal of opposition to it
among republicans. Indeed, some o. its
strongest opponents have been republicans,
and it is almost certain that in this congress
there viii be republicans who will oppose it
vigorously.
The blacks are not going to be satisfied
with the Blair bill. They think they are
the bulk of the Republican party in the
south and they want whatever rewards the
party has to distribute in the south. They
are already very much dissatisfied with the
President because of his indifference to
their requests for recognition, and their dis
satisfaction may take the shape of open
hostility TO the Republican party. While
the President. therefore, may gain a few
white voters by his policy, he will run the
risk of losing the bulk of the blacks.
OF course before the influence of the Blair
bill can be felt it must become law. The
prospect that this congress will pass it is not
a very promising one II is not as popular
in the south as it was few years ago,
though if it were amended in some import
ant particulars it might command the sup
port of a majority of the southern congress
men.
Doubtless the President would like to
have the credit OF breaking the solid
SOUTH II be could devise some means of
carrying three or four of the southern states
for his party he would so strengthen him.
self politically to be pretty certain of
a denomination. The only evidence there
is, however, that he has southern policy
is his recognition of the movement to build
up white Republican party in the south.
In the face Of the assertion that he would
have no policy specially applicable to any
particular section, something more is needed
to justify belief that he has a policy for
the south