Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-13
CHANGES In THE SOUTH.

now known to be Charles Pomeroy Sher-
man.
CHANGES In THE SOUTH.
The Probable influences of President
Harrison's Tariff Policy.
From an interview with Gen. Roger A. Pryor
" take it that he president Harrison)
is man of cautious, conservative charac.
ter, and that from his ancestral connection
with Virginia he entertains no feeling of
resentment or hostility to the Southern
people. His inaugural is significant in
two important articulars-namely, an abb
stention from interference with the race
controversies of the South, and an ayowed
purpose to uphold the policy of protect
i've tariff as against revenue tariff.
"If he will conduct his administration
upon these lines laid down in his inaugu-
raj, and will appoint respectable characters
to office in the Southern States, in my
Judgment he will break up what is called
the Solid South, and attach very large
proportion of the Southern vote to the Re
publican party Against this tendency,
and to counteract the confidence of the
people in the Republican party, will be
opposed the influence, first, of the habit of
association with the Democratic party,
and, second, the influence of the Demo-
cratic politicians who find their account in
maintaining the Solid South, and to that
end in keeping up the antagonism be-
tween the races.
"On the other hand, the influences oper-
ating to detach the Southern people from
the Democratic party under the operation
of the policy indicated are obvious and
potent. The South is strongly in favor of
distinctly protective tariff. Since the
war the manufacturing interests of the
South have been developed with extra
ordinary rapidity. These interests of
nascent manufactures require, in the con-
ception of the Southern people, for their
exploitation high protective tariff"
do you think, General, that the South
wants a protective tariff?'
"The South sees in its manufacturing
interests promise and the potency of a
new and most hourishing regime. The
actual indications of public sentiment in
the South are all in the direction of pro-
tective policy. l mean the sentiment of
the people. Even in Texas, where there
are no manufactures, the wool interest
clamors for protection. The mineral re-
sources of Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama,
and other States. demand protection.
Then, too, cotton factories are rapidly
springing up in the cotton States. The
combined effect of the influences, repeat,
is to make the Southern people the cham
pions of protective policy"
'Why has this not been manifested at
the polls in the late Presidential cleo
ton !"
Hitherto this nfuence-namely, the
protective policy-has not attracted the
Southern people to the Republican party
because OF the paramount and irresistible
apprehension of the race conflict. All is
sues in the South are subordinate to the
supreme necessity Of keeping the educated
white classes in control of the govern
ments, and so long as there is any menace
by the ascendency of the ignorant colored
race the apprehension of that contingency
will keep the Southern people solid in al
lance with the Democratic party. But so
soon as this fear is dissipated, that moment
the influence of the tariff will assert and dis
play itself. 1.-THE sole party issue before the
people of the South be protective tariff
as against the revenue tariff, they will
support party which represent the cause
of protection. You will observe
the tact with which in his inaugural
President Harrison appealed to the old
Wing element in the South by his invoca-
ton to the memory of Webster and Clay,
thereby appealing at once to the hearts
and principles of the Wings of the South"
| have always understood that Vir-
ginia was the headquarters of the Southern
free-traders. Is 1t possible, General, that
Virginia is for protection ?"
"True, Virginia was in times past the
stronghold of free trade, but under the new
regime her people have indicated uni
formly preference for the protective
policy. They so declared in the Demo-
cratic platform adopted at Roanoke two
years ago, and by the refusal of their
Legislature to indorse Cleveland's so-called
free-trade message, although in that Legis-
lature the Democrats were overwhelmingly
in the majority"
But, General, you have been Demo-
GRAFT of the strictest sect, disciple of the
State-rights doctrine and a secessionist.
Am to understand from what you have
said that you still retain those principles,
or have you discarded them?'
~ am still Democrat, attached to the
interests and traditions of my party, but
do not believe that the disruption of the
solid South would be of detriment to the
Democratic party. On the contrary, it is
my clear conviction that it is solid Dem
ocratic South that makes a solid Republi-
can North, and that for any loss of votes
in the South the Democratic party would
be more than Unidentified by an accession
of votes and power in the North
While my paramount duty as a citizen
is to the whole country, / own that my
views of public policy are largely colored
and directed by my regards for the inter-
ests of the South. With the extinction of
slavery, the recasting of the Federal Con-
stitution by the recent amendments, my
own political faith underwent modification.
There is no room now in our system for
the doctrine of secession. And while l
still think rs an economic question the
principle of free trade is demonstrable
doctrine, yet other than mere economic
interests must operate in the conception of
scheme Of public policy. As mere
matter of dollars and cents, appropriations
for the army and navy, and for education,
are wasteful expenditure, but yet such
expenditure is essential to the prosperity
and security of the country,"-N Y. Her