Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-25
no ADVICE TO GIVE.
REPUBLICAN SENATORS MUST ACT
ON THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY.
1,stoss.- Men Think tho Chamber of Com
meroe should Take No Action on
the Force Bill.

There is very little likelihood that the
richmond Chamber Of Commerce Will
take any action opposing the passage OF
the Lodge force bill Ivy the United States
Senate. =,
II is not probable that the body VIII
even give further expression than mas
already been done 20 its views concerning
tho unjust and iniquitious measure which
oil far-minded men hope will never be
enacted into law.
This seems 20 be the sentiment OF the
members Of the Chamber and thcy are en-,
dorsed bv the community. as ~ ~ peneVeu
that auything that might be done would
move utterly futile. The idea is that the
Eepubhcaus in the Senate should be ieit
10 act on their own responsibi bility unless tbe
leading men of the North become inclined
a. use their influence with them, and that
II they without regard To what Is right ana
fair shall determine to pass the bill the
people Of the South viii prepare TO pro
ieci their rights and see that they get
their dues.
In the interviews with leading business
men on this subject published In yester-
DAYS Dispatch, which we're very geneIaiiy
read and with great interest there Wefn
several suggestions that IL might be well
ringing resolutions in opposition TO the
bilf. though the majority OF those whose
cuiuiOps were quoted were not IN faVOr OF
any sicp being taken now. During the day
our reporters sought eXpres-ions iioih
number of leading members OF the Chain-
her az Commerce as % the a9visability. OF
the Chambers taking any action or giving
expression 90 its views, with the result iOi-
lowing
President John II. Purcell.
Colonel Purcell, the vigilant and ener-
f,etic president of the Chamber, Is man
of strong convictions, and he generally eh,
presses them briefly and pointedly:
don't know" he replied 10 the DisPdiGt
mans inquiry. that have any OPINION 70
advance. | don't see that there Is anything
FOR the Chamber 10 do, nor do i DeileVe
auv further action will be taken. My re-
ply 20 the Atlanta Constitutions telegram
sbo,,t the commercial convention, when l
scut hv hdvice Of the Board of Directors
disposed Of the matter so far as We are con
cerned and we were unanimous IN lhe
oninion therein expressed that ~ IL un-
wise for tho Chamber to indicate IN ad-
vance of ITS passage any course OF action
poy'r ASK ANY FAyoRs.
"Wbat do YOU think of the proposition
that the Chamber adopt resolutions pro
testinc against the bills passage " tht
President was asked.
THAT idea WAS advanced at the meeting
crf our board few days ago rephed Colo-
mel Purcell, "and the CONCLUSION was
reached that such course would be use,
- N the sentlnent Of the North and
the calm Judgment of the senators tall TO
rreyent the passage Of the bill / don't
think ANYTHING that the southern people
can 10 will be Of avail. Besides, am not
inclined 10 ask any fsvors ot them, II
this bill il not passed something VIII DC
done 30 annoy us. ana thlhk We can can
stand whatever the malignant kepubhcans
can do now as we'll as We bave done IN tho
naSt think the South Will be able TO de
vise means 10 take care of herself, ana
when IL gets 20 that we cannot stand living
here any longer-a day that i don't thlnk
IS AZ al likely to conceive VIII nave 10
cmigrate."
40 BoYooTTNo.
Colonel Purcell said further that he does
not a. all approve the idea OF boycotting
the northern merchants. many of whom
are our friends and heartily In sympathy
,xith the south in this fight. because Re-
uuhlican Congress shall be so uuwlse and
unscrupulous as to fasten such law upon
n. Colonel Purcell shares the opinion OF
many others seen that the South VIII not
allow herself 10 be imposed upon and VIII
not suffer as much as her enemies hope
for.
MIR. W. h. ouaries.
The Chambers directory is composed Of
excellent businessmen, and among the
most thoughtful and sensible of its NOM
bers Mr. ". II. Quarles holds rank. The
reply of Colonel Purcell to Mr: Howelrs
telegram he said yesterday, =" consider
TO have been Just what was right: IL SAID
lust what heartily endorse, and did not
90 n bit too far. / am opposed 10 the
Chambers taking any action, and the boy
cottlue idea finds not the least favor with
me. dislike both the word and the prln-
ciple. and am surprised that such sensible
men have gwen II serious consideration.
oprosED TO BoYcoTrNG.
"Some Of our best friends socially, po-
l,ically. and commercially are IN the
North and IL would be gross injustice 10
them 10 withdraw our patronage because
the United States Senate with large he
publican majority tramples on their
wishes and ours and trespasses upon our
rights Boycotting should not be toie-
rated much less cOuntenanced and adyO-
Gated, and am sorry that any southern
commcrciallbo entertains such an idea
as practicing it. The good people should
frown down any such idea. Let u be
governed, as we have always eDdeavored
10 Toe. by what is right and We are not
likely 10 suffer so much ss some people
may think"
VIZ CAN STAND III.
Referring to the matter of adopting reso-
iutions Of protest. Mr. Quarles said: 3" You
remember the old story about the rats re-
solving 20 bell the cats so that their ap-
proaoh might behoraded? Well, any reso-
iuti0n that We might adopt would be about
as profitable | am opposed tOresoiutlons.
If We doanything let us act and this IS not
the time for that. | hope the bill Will not
pass. but If IT does think Il will fall fiat.
IL can never be successfully operated IN
the South The white people. in my ludg-
mcnt. will always be IN the ascendancy in
the South and It will take more than an
election bill 10 throw this growing and
prosperous part OF the nation into the
hands and control of our enemies"
Norman '. Randolph. ESQ.
Nr. y. V. Randolph, the president of tho
largest paper-bOx company IN the South,
II not IN this country, one of the most pub
Lc-sprited citizens Of Richmond, and an
nct.ve member Of the Chamber of Com
merce. never takes halfway ground on any
question. but always has his opinions
clearly formed and can support a PROPOSE
ton with sound arguments. | am op-
posed TO the word boycott" be said yes
ierday TO a Dispatch reporter. believe
too many prominent men iii the North are
interested IN southern enterprises 70 allow
such an inlGuitous measure as the force
hlil 20 be put into operation, as tDey must
know that the business relations existing
between North and South are SO intimate
that what Injuries one section Will hurt the
other.
NORTHERN PEOPLES PROTEST.
Il am satisfied" he continued. that
the protest now being made 10y prominent
men in the North 10 their senators Will
prevent the passage of the bill and l am
opposed to saving in advance what the
south ought TO do should it become a law.
Nv advice TO the southern people to-
day Is the same that II was twenty years
ago. and that is the sooner they make them.
selves independent by manufacturing all
classes Of goods, particularly OF iron and
wood. ia which the section 80 abounds
and TO which the climate and facilities are
peculiarly adapted, the better II will be.
MONEY AND INTKLiIGfNcE.
Money and intelligence will rule this
country IN the future. and the South has
the intelligence and is fast acquiring the