The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-04-18
HARRISON AND THE SOUTH
The President Has Long Talk with a
Republican Senator.
Washington Cor, ST LOuis RennhIic

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| Washington Cor. st. Louis Republic
WASHINGTON, April 15.-During q
conversation day or two ago
which President Harrison had with a re.
publican senator, and which was free and
extended, the president reviewed the re.
publican machine in nearly all the south
ern states, paying particular attention to
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. His
conversation, as reported to your CORE
sRondents by the senator with whom he
conversed, shows that he thoroughly I'M
derstands the southern situation. He said
he was convinced that there was a thor
ough understanding between a few white
men and few negroes for the disposal of
the offices, but beyond that they had no re-
gard for each other. He said he was
thoroughly disgusted with the southe. n
politicians that came in contact with him,
and that under no consideration could he
consent to put the federal offices in the
south in their keeping. He said that he
felt kindly towards the south; that he was
of southern extraction himself, and many
of his warmest friends were of the south
or of southern leaning. He said he was
convinced thati it was for the best interests
of the country that sectionalism should be
wiped out, and that seotionalism could not
be wiped out until the parties were divided
on some preponderating principle, and
not on race question.
THE RACE QUESTION TO BE DROPPED.
So long, he said, as the parties were
divided on the race question the country
would be divided by sections, because the
great masses of the negroes resided in the
south, and the northern people did not
understand the peculiar position in which
a white property owner found himself in
a community where ignorant negroes were
in an overwhelming majority. He said
that his mission would be to make the
economic question the dividing line be-
tween parties in the south instead of the
race question. He said it was his intention
to appoint to office in the south only such
men as enjoyed the entire confidence
and respect Ct the communities in which
they resided irrespective of party. He
thought that the protectionists naturally
belonged in the republican party and that
he would do all he could to make their en-
trance to the party easy. He felt con-
WINGED that by appointing to Office in the
south protectionists, irrespective of the
question whether they voted the demo- |
cratic or the republican ticket heretofore,
hat he could build up new republican
party in the south, national in character, |
With the race question eliminated. He said |
hat all that WAS necessary to divide the |
negro vote in the south was to divide the |
white vote in the south. He thought that |
he young men of the south and the !
men of the south, and the influ- !
'nce of the banks and business interests |
# the south would favor party pledged !
% high protective tariff. He minated |
strongly that it was his intention at least
10 try the experiment; that he would |
make his southern appointments slowly
md carefully; that he would appoint to
,ffice only men of excellent character who
we're known to be protectionists; that he
would not inquire whether they voted for
Harrison or Cleveland at the last
election, or whether at the next local cleo
ion they would support democratic
)r republican candidates. He felt quite
ure that there were 100000 voters in the
outhern states, who were acting with the
lemocratc party pathetically and not
rom any governing principle, and that
f he recognized the progressive element
hat believed in protection he would divide
he white vote, and that as a natural Sc
luence the colored vote would also divide.
Then he thought politics would assume a
more elevated tone; that parties would
lIvide on principle; that the southern
question would be eliminated from ma
ional politics; the race question also
and that a real union of
he sections would necessarily follow.
HAS NO USE FOR NEGROES.
He said he was convinced that it would
lot be good policy for any party to sp-
'oint negroes to prominent federal offices
n the south. He said that he had dis
used the matter carefully with several
beral-minded southern men during the
ast few months, and was fully convinced
hat while southern communities were
eady to treat the negro fairly; that is,
rotect him in his property protect his
fe and person, and in a general way
reat him kindly; but that the whites
the south would never be satisfied so
ing as the negroes were placed in po-