New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-12
TIRED OF THE OLIGARCHY. (
DEMOCRATIC pRoTECTIoNISTS IN THE
SOUTH READY TO BE REPUBLICANS
GENERAL HARRISON INDICATING THE NEED OF
ORGANIZATION AND AGITATION IN
THE SOUTH FOR JUsTicE-ADvo.
Gates or GENERAL MALONE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TofTHE TBIBuHE.

Indianapolis, Ipd., Jan. 11.-General Harrison
said two very significant things to-day TO the two
Alabama Republicans, Judge Stratton, of Jasper,
and Colonel G. +. Kirkland. of Birmingham, who
had come on to say good word for the Protec-
ton movement recently started in that State As
Judge Stratton told the story OF the nervie', the
Prcsident-elect had these friendly criticisms to
make on the Birmingham movement:
1t seems to me that the white Republican
vote in the South is suppressed as much as the
colored vote"
Then shortly afterward the General added:
You gentlemen come here and go into the
closet and whisper about the suppression of the
vote, but when you get home you don't act 40
cordingiy. You don't practice what you preach
The Generals idea" said judge StrattoE,
:" seems to be that the white Republicans In
the South ought 10 a certain extent, to work
out their own salvation. They must organ
ize, agitate, start a press that will represent
their views and give no quarter to the old
Bourbon theories. 1 think he would hike to see
new and vigorous party fight made in al
the Southern States. He would probably favor
National election law which would insure in
the black counties n fair ballot and an honest
count But he wants the white Republicans
not TO depend so much on the mere superiority
in number Of the negro vote. He Is ANXIOUS
10 put some backbone and self-reliance into the
Republican organizations in the South. think
he will DO it, and he will settle tn Southern
question during his Administration
Judge Stratton is a native of Mississippi and
fought in the Confederate army. So did Colonel
Kirkland, who is n South Carobnian by birth
Both m.n became Republicans at the close OF
the war, and both moved 70 Birmingham within
few years. The one is q lawyer by profession,
the other wholesale dealer In lumber. Judge
Stratton was the spokesman Of the party at
General Hsrrisons house and also at the hotel
when they returned.
I" The Birmingham movement he said, to the
Tribune's correspondent, is by far the most
significant thing in Southern politics dnce the
close Of the war. IL that
the business element in the south is
coming TO the rescue OF Southern Republication.
Up to this time there have been single defections
from the Southern Democracy. General Long
street. of Georgia. was one conspicuous convert.
Generals Beauregard. Early and Wheeler thought
OF coming over. too. but the storm of abuse from
the Bourbon press frightened them out Of 1t.
General Lonsstreet could not make the fight alone.
lie had no organized support. This Birmingham
movement has money and organized intelligence
behind It, ard it's force will be felt all the
South Even now the party Of capitalists that
called on General Harrison in December
is arranging for the publication OF
daily Republican and Protection newspaper in
Birmingham There is not to-day single Re
publican daily newspaper in the Gulf States and
the publication OF such Journal in Northern
Alabama, backed by brains and capitni, will DO
the signal for an active warfare on the Bour-
bons all over the South"
1.-The Republican organization is in harmony
then with the Birmingham Protectionists "
Yes; the Republicans in Alabama viii wei
come such an element with open arms. The
Democratic Pro,cctionists who called on General
HARRISON have been so bitterly attacked ever
since by the bourbon press that they win never
80 back to the Democracy They win have
10 drift into The Republican party. The Birming-
ham business men told General Harrison plain
truth about the South People there who have
an interest in business mining and manufactures,
in all industrial pursuits but agricultural, are
ready 10 abandon the Bourbon Democracy. But
no fight can be made against the Southern oh
garchy without an organized Republican party
We favor the giving OF Federal offices throughout
the South TO Republicans OF high character and
standing. but we deprecate the sort OF non
portisan policy which would weaken us
in the struggle OF the next four years
III we can have National election
law passed and n straight issue made on Pro
lection and general industrial Development apart
from race prejudice, we can carry at least two
or three Southern States We are organizing now
for the fight for Congressman in 1890, and hope
10 send Republican Protectionst or two 70
Washington from Northern Alabama in 1872
lis there any special election Inv you are
anxious 20 see passed.
We'll the Sherman bill introduced Mt this ses-
| sion Of Congress by the Senator from Ohio would
| he entirely satisfactory 70 all Alabama Repub-
| licans. There is this simple way TO deal
with the question Congress might take up each
Southern State separately and reduce its repre-
sentation in the Electoral College, on the ground
that a large portion of It's lawful vote is sup
pressed But any election law that insurcs proper
supervision of the polls by United States officers
win give us the chance to carry Alabama. As
IL said before, the business men of the
| northern part OF the State are beginning 20 see
| that the existence Of Protection sentiment de-
| ponds upon It's opposing tooth and nail all the
| old Bourbon tradition, and the best element Of
| the Republican party win naturally come TO the
| front to help new and powerful party organiza-
| tion'
as there hrgAhcgro vote in Northern Ala
bamap"
mo; in the thirty-three counties in our part
OF the State, the negro vote cuts no great figure
In one county, Winston, where a total vote Of
| 900 was cast, two-thirds of the vote being
Republican, there was one negro who came TO
| the polls and he voted for Cleveland"
"Did you talk to General Harrison about any
Alabama man for the Cabinetp'
"Ycs, we told the General that we wonld like to
see Ex-Governor William II. Smith put in charge
OF q Cabinet portfolio. Mr. Smith was born In
Georgia and was raised in Alabama, but OF the
outbreak of the Rebellion he went North and
Joined the Union Army. He came back In 1865.
and was elected Governor Of the State in 1870,
holding office until 1872. lie has also been
OH the Alabama bench, and is now one Of the
lmost prominent lawyers in the northern part
OF the State. He was TO come here with the
other Birmingham delegation, but thought 10
| .to a. ttttal.fn i'm