The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-20
The AlabamaIdea.

Although the President seems disposed to
hold to his assertion in his inaugural ad-
dress relative TO having no executive policy
for the SOUTH our dispatches yesterday in
dictate that he has decided to have a south
ern policy for his party In the south. He
appears to be very much pleased with the
movement in Alabama to build up white
republican party in the south on the basis
of the doctrine Of protection, and in max
ing appointments in that state he will heed
the suggestions and recommendations Of
the leaders in that movement.
OF course he expects that a similar move
ment will be inaugurated in the other
southern states, and the understanding
seems to be that he will give it all the en-
enlargement he can. 1t is stated by those
who say that they are in a position 10 speak
for him that he is satisfied that the most
of the southern applicants for Office can be
of no benefit to his administration, nor 20
the Republican party in the south. They
are republicans for revenue only, and have
neither the inclination nor the influence to
put their party upon higher plane than it
at present occupies. The President, there
will seek for young, earnest and active
republicans who can command a white fol-
lowing, and who will strive to make the
Republican party. in the estimation Of the
white people, as respectable as the Demo
cratic party.
Can the President find such men? He
may find a few of the kind it is understood
be is seeking, but if he expects TO see a
strong white Republican party in the south
he will be disappointed. The vast majority
of the white people of the south are demo-
Gratis from conviction. They do not believe
in the doctrine Of protection as it is advo-
Gated BY the Republican party. Outside Of
the general question whether a high or a
low tariff is for the best interests of the whole
country, the opinions of the tariff held by
the great mass Of voters, who give that
question any consideration at all, are con-
trolled by their personal interests. Those
who believe that low tariff
is best for them accept the
democratic view, aud those who
think they would be benefited by a high
tariff accept the republican view. The
south is almost wholly agricultural, and, with
few exceptions, the farmers have no doubt
that their interests demand a low tariff.
The towns and cities sympathize with them,
except where there ara factories, and even
there the percentage of protectionists is not
large The prospect therefore of building
up white Republican party in the south
with the doctrine Of protection as corner
stone is not promising
The Presidents idea is to eliminate the
color question, but can that be done! Will
the white people of the south trust the Re
publican partyl There is no reason to think
they will The section Of the Republican
party in the north will dominate the whole
party, and the southern white people be-
lieve that if the Republican party gets a
strong foothold in the south it will use its
power to thrust ignorant colored people into
positions for which they are not fit. The
Alabama idea may have attractions for the
President, but the southern people will not
be deceived by it.