The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-10-15
Nh. CAMERoN'e LETTER.
One of Tirgihia's Ex-Goverhors Tslls Why
He Has Left the Republican Partv.

MN. SAMEHtSND tx En-.
Dns of s.egihia's Ex-Goverhors Te,is Why
He Has Left the Republican Party.
The following is EX-GOVERNOR Will
lam E. Cameron's letter announcing
his determination to leave the Repub-
lean ranks:
TO w. S. DAsHIELI, ESQ, Richmond, Va
Der Sir: / have been taught by the events of |
eighteen months past that men OF our ante
cedents and convictions can no longer, with |
seitgespect. lend Our voices, our votes or even
the negative support OF silence othe Repub.
lcan party as it is expounded by the organiza- |
hon in this State or as 1t is administered by |
the present executive and legislative depart
ments of the United States Government.
The Republican party preserves no longer
the semblance OF speaking for the entire
Country, but bases its claim to supremacy on
sectional prejudces and sectional interests,
pure and simple. Not only SO, but the direct
prs Of its policy have not hesitated in the at
tainment Of their ends to prostitute the plight
ed faith of the party in sight OF all the world
and to renounce in their Congressional enact
ments the promises solemnly made to the Chi
cago platform. They stand self-convicted. not
only Of false pretense and punic faith, but of
mathematical malignancy in seeking to retain
power by awakening the war sentiment at the
North and West and by resurrecting all the
stock phrases OF fanaticism and sectionalism
which could stir the South into resentment and
retort. This object was and is to force the
fighting as between Il solid North and solid
South, and at the same time to use the small
contingent of Southern Republicans in Con-
gress to minimize the power of the South by
such political denominations Us the lodge bill,
and by so framing q tariff law (under pretext OF
protection to American labor and American
products as to increase every burden OF the
customs upon the weaker section, and as to
leave in force in all its shameless inequality
the revenue tax upon The tobacco OF Virginia,
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky Missouri,
Maryland and Florida
The utterances of Mr. Mckinley on the floor
OF the House, he the patron of the Chicago plat
form and the leader OF the House Of Representa-
tives and the chairman Of the committee which
framed the tariff BILL and the action Of the Sen
ate in regard to the tobacco clause, constitutes
an open declaration Of war against Southern
development, and we must realize that this
action apart from its inherent injustice is de-
.iberate, wanton and absolute Justification OF
solemn promise given to the tobacco States by
the National convention.
The record on the Blair bill is 70 better, and
the tariff act, with Its socalled revision and
equalization OF import duties. bristles with
determinations against the South and those
industries and products in which Southern Re-
publicans have the same interest as Southern
Democrats. The Lodge bill IS miscalled the
fierce BILL" because in operation 1t would be
impossible OF enforcement to the ends pre-
tendedly sought. To enact 1t would be to par
alyze the commercial progress OF the entire
country and to set back Southern develop
ment, in which Northern capital Is large
ly engaged, half century. But the
main sufferer would be the negro, who,
| by this vicious effort to neutralize in
eyitabie conditions, would be deprived OF
all the safeguards which now surround
him. Personally and politically he would be-
| come the scape goat In a local strife in which
| Mr. Lodge and Mr.. Reed would have no concern
@nd no influence. The passage of this act into
law would be o public calamity. Its passage by
the majority OF the House Of Representatives
fixes the responsibility on the Republican par
| ty. The call for a halt by Senator Quay in the
| Senate only voices the protest Of frightened
| financial and commercial North, and only
| proves that Mr. Quay is afraid to risk this cam
paign on an issue which one section would re
gard as Il blunder and the other as q crime
| sec no reason to believe that the President
| has not been in active sympathy with all tina,
| his party has done and left undone in Congress
|
one whit in advance Of the legislative depart
| ment. He has done nothing south OF Mason's
and Dixon's line since his Inauguration, exccp
to recognize with reluctance that any sucl
country existed. His appointments with jus
a few enough honorable variations to prove the
| rule, have been Of men not representative l,
character, influence or capacity He has shown
| utter inaptitudc to square his actions with hi
utterances, his performances with his prom
ises, his principles with his prcjudices, OF hi
status with his statue. He has been the instrll
ment, willing or unwilling, OF the machine ele
mcnts of his party, and for want of bold an
brave and catholic action he has made hinsei
responsible for the fact that in the North an
West there is a divided Republican party an
that in the South there is none worthy Of tn
name.
After less than two years Of his administra
ton, Mr. Harrison has removed the last vestig
with which we had hoped that the Repnblica
party, by fostering an American policy, by sui
ordiIating the past to the present, by cqua
consideration for all sections by removal Of ur
necessary burdens of taxation, might prove i
self the rcstorer Of the Union as well as tn
preseSyer of tho Federal Government.
1t is not worth while for one man or on
thousand men to seek to stay the current {
partisanry which has swept Republicanisl
| from It's leSlblm uOOfluSS. Dut oho ehlA
remains in my judgment for us to do-for me
who recognize higher duty than that whic
can be expressed by a party name-and thu
is to free ourselves from all part and lot with
party which has No faith too sacred for VOL
tion and recognizes no pledge as too soem
to be broken. can not lend myself to the o.
preston of my people, and if there is no poll
ical organization which meets the full measul
of our approval we can at least leave Thu
which violates our every idea of right and sent
ment
Not presuming to set up for any other me-
or set of men standard of duty, and willing
concade to every one else that freedom
thought and action have always claimed
myself, my resolve, founded on desire to
true to myself and my country, is to refuse 6
sympathy or cooperation with the Republic;
party in the crusade against this section whit
it now espouses and under the leadership
which it submits. Sincerely your friend,
, WILLIAM E. CAMERON.
CONGRESSIONAL LYING.
A Habit Calculated to Injure the Mora