New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-01
TILE NEV SOUTH.

During the first year Of President HARRISON
Administration there were strong hopes CA
pressed by prominent Republicans that ne"
order of things at the South was about 10 ap-
near. Southern men of high character ana great
business influence came forward in considerable
numbers declaring their attachment To the ne
publican policy of Protection, and their deter
mination to aid the Republican party Oh inc
ground that its success had become necessary
70 the industrial development of the South
The Northern mind was much impressed ny
these manifestations. There was 1eeilllS Chdt
at last the old South, the South oil pfeJuuce anu
passion, the South of narrow ana mean race
hatled, the South of vindictlveness ana heOei-
ism was about to pass away. NO words can
fell how intense was the qualification, IN the
minds Of richt-thinling and patriotic Northern
men when this prospect opened to them They
boned everything for they knew that the IN
dustrial development of the South did lndeed
depend upon the breaking-up of that narrow
Bourbon domination at the South by which the
growth of new industry had so long been re-
tarded.
A Republican Congress had been elected with
President Harrison. 1t recognized the duty OF
enacting laws embodying Republican principles
It realized that no duty was more sacred than
that of protecting the right of the citizen to his
equal share in the government of the country
and while making no attempt to interfere WIN
local or State elections, endeavored to provide
by law for fair and equal suffrage IN the elec-
ton of members of Congress. Instantly a now
went up from Southern Democrats, which was
expected. Nobody supposed that they would
like to be deprived of their power TO elect mem
bers of Congress by fraud or that they would
hermit such a change without protest and re-
sistance. But the strange thing was that the
Southern men who had protested passionate at
tachment to Republican principles and readiness
to devote themselves to the cause of Protecuoh
Joined in this protest as angrlly and with DIS
little reason as the worst of the Bourbon Dem
ocrats at the South. Nobody could understand
why they should be unwilling to have a far
and equal vote for members Of Congress- Yet
those men were instant and urgent in remon-
STRANGE, telling Republican Congressman that
their cause would be absolutely hopeless at the
South if an attempt was made to pass the Lice
ton bill.
The bill was passed by the House, but failed
in the Senate. The elections of last November
disclosed a remarkable state OF facts instead
of Republican gains in Southern districts there
were losses The Republicans succeeded IN
holding only part of the districts which natu-
rally belonged to them. 1t was claimed that
the overpowering Southern prejudice against
negro suffrage and against any effort to secure
the constitutional rights of black citizens at the
South in the election of members OF Congress,
had swayed o great number of voters who pro-
fessed attachment to Republican principles.
Those men evidently felt exactly as the Bour-
bon Democrats felt, that an attempt to secure
honest elections for members CT Congress was
an insult and wrong to the Southern States.
Now it is said again that considerable bodies
of substantial business men at the South are
disposed to give their aid to Republican prln-
ciples. They feel it is stated, that the success
of tho Republican policy of Protection Is neces.
sary to the welfare and the development OF
their section. Some of them are to meet at no
distant day, it is said for the purpose OF con-
sidering what ought to be done to promote the
Protective policy. 1t seems to be not out OF
| place to say to these gentlemen that they are
either in favor of honest elections or they are
| not Republicans 1t may be tC them disagree
able alternative, because it may involve brave
and possibly self-sacrifcing antagonism to the
| mob rule and ring rule which prevail in some
of the Southern States. But the issue cannot
be avoided There is no power TO divest the
Republican party of responsibility for meas
ure which belongs to it, and is necessary and
an essential part of its policy. Nothing that
can be done by Southern men or by Northern
will lessen in the least degree any hostility to
the party growing ont of its advocacy of this
measure. The party as whole has to face
manfully ana frankly, the responsibility for Its
belief that elections ought to be free and honest
| in every State. If there are Southern men wh'
do not believe this, or who believe 1t but dc
not dare to say it, it may be well for them t.
consider before they go any further that tho
Republican party cannot sacrifice its convictions
for the sake of winning support i'll any section
Of the country.