New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-18
LIGHT FROM MIR. PRYoR

Mr.. Roger A. Pryor, an original seceSslonA''
.rd !" Arc aaser,, of 1851, and a lifelong Dem
ocrat Of the Free Trade variety, prooaoiy
knows what he is talking about wneh NO soy
that his views expressed in THE Herald Oh
Sunday will displease his party. For ne ue.
clares with striking frankness that preslueh'
Harrison. by making Protection the main issue
between parties. will "break up what Is caiieo
,ha Solid south. and attract very large pro-
norton of the Southern vote to the hepuohc"ii
narty.D The reason given for thus Dehel Is
that E" the South is strongly in favor OF JUS
t;nctly protective tariff Certainly onlS IN,
formation will not crafty the Senators anu
REPRESENTATIVES from Southern States who nave
heen vociferating that the South was sono
against Protection, and dreadfully indignant
beoanse il was Systematically "robbed Tor the
benefits of the North.n But Mr.. Pryor appears
to believe, as Republicans do, that the acIuai
opinion of Southern citizens is not permtoeo 70
be represented by the Southern votes thai arc
cast and returned.
Mr.. PRYOR recites what readers OF THE IRiB-
TINE have often learned from its columns that
the development of Southern mining ana man
ufact,rres has created great revolution IN inc
actual sentiment Of the Southern people. he
saws also, that the ancient Wing party was p"
most respectable and weighty power at the
South. % and that " the descendants OF its MEM
hers now on the stage have inherited the prin-
ciples and prejudices Of their ancestors" MI
Pryor states that, "as an economic quesaon,
the principle of Free Trade is demonstrate"
and !" the protective policy is discredlted by tne
argument Of the political economists bu0 u
may he indispensable 10 the advancement and
oompleteness of the resources and the power OF
the oountry.n This is a really startling adj
mission for Mr.. Pryor, but ne evidently De-
lieyes that in his change Of thought he repre-
SCENTS powerful body of Democrats and former
Free Traders at the South.
The South also leans toward the Republican
party because 1t believes in internal improve
ments and in liberal expenditures for develop
ment of resources. The old State rights no
tions Mr.. Pryor admits with refreshing can
dor. were asserted by the South exclusively Tor
the purpose of defending slavery. But that
institution being gone, Z" the necessity OF Fed
eral aid in rebuilding their fallen fortunes and
repairing their wasted resources compels the
Southern people to aggrandize the federh
powern On that topic also Mr.. Pryor says Ms
" own political faith underwent modification"
and while, as mere matter of dollars ana
cents, appropriations for the army and navy
and for education are wasteful expenditure, yet
such expenditure is essential to the prosperity
and security of the country" MIR. Pryor says
that he wants no Office, and is " only private
and powerless citizen, but however small my
influence, it is my duty to exert it for what
conceive to be the interest Of the country"
This distinguished Democrat has come 10
believe so nearly in Republican principles that
he is liable to be called traitor by his hot
headed Democratic friends. In his old State,
for instance, It IL not clear that he would find
it quite safe to live and to take any part in pub
lie affairs But if his judgment Of Southern
opinion is correct, it will not long remain the
fact that the election judges and polling clerks
do the voting. When strong body Of South
ern Democrats secede from that party, and de-
mand free, fair and honest elections, the votes
returned for the Birmingham district in Ala
bama will not long be more than two 70 one
Democratic