The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-19

Springer's View OF the Solid South
Congressman Springer, of Illinois, thinks
that the solid south is hurtful rather than
helpful to the Democratic party, because it
tends to make the north solid, and a solid
north means the continued success of the
/ Republican party.
There is a great deal Of truth in what
Mr.. Springer says, and there is reason for
thinking that the Republican party is not
so anxious to see the solidity of the south
destroyed as it pretends to be. 1t would
like to get a few congressman from the
south in order to insure a good republican
majority IN congress, but if it could make
two or three of the southern states republi
can it is doubtful if it wou Id do so. AS long
as the south is solid it will use the solid
south argument to make the north solid,
and it understands that there is no other
argument 80 effective in accomplishing that
! object.
| Mr.. Springer says that during the last
presidential campaign in Illinois the re-
publican stump speakers constantly referred
to the Mills tariff bill as a southern
measure, framed by two southern men for
the purpose Of injuring northern industries.
Statements of this sort, hiding as they did
the merits of the tariff question, were far
more effective than legitimate arguments
in favor of the tariff in making voters for
the republican party. The voters, as a
rule, knew little about the real issues in
volved in the tariff discussion, and the re-
publican speakers did not trouble thsm-
ealxr -, a IL, ~
their opportunities to create a prejudice
against the democratic party by declaring
that the whole purpose of the representa-
tives of the solid south was to injure the in
dustrial interests of the north.
There is no doubt, however, that the
south will remain solid, whatever may be
the effect Of the solid south upon the north,
as long as the color line question continues
to be the leading one in the south. The
white people are bound to act together 20
protect themselves from being plundered
and their cities, counties and states from
being financially ruined. When the carpet
baggers were in power and the majority Of
the offices were filed with ignorant, and
not infrequently dishonest men, vast public
debts were incurred and taxes were in
creased almost to the point of confscation.
Mr.. Springer talks about the south di-
viding on the question of protection. He
seems to entertain the mistaken idea that
there is a strong protection sentiment in the
south If he should visit the south he
would find protectionists in considerable
numbers only in the towns where there are
a great many manufacturing industries,
and where a fair per centage Of the popula-
ton is from the north. There is no use,
therefore, in wasting time in trying to
break up the solid south as long as the col
ored line question is vital one, and nine
tentds of the people favor low tariff.
Mr.. Springer is beginning to make a
reputation as a statesman, but it will not
reach very great proportions if he does not
show better acquaintance with the condi-
ton of affairs in the south than he has yet
done. He and other democratic stump
speakers ought to be able t. refuti the SLAM
ders of the republican stump speakers and
| strengthen their party in the north.