The state chronicle., 1892-11-01
Republican p Policy and Southern Pros
perity.
Baltimore Sun.

NepuDHcan FOl1cy and Southern Pros
s,r perity.
1t is matter of common knowledge
that the development of the South-so
active and promising when Mr. Cleve-
land left the White House-was arrested
when the hostile sectional policy of the
present administration became manifest.
The force bill and tariff bill of 1890 were
a revelation to investors. When it was
perceived by capitalists in the North and
In England that the South was still re-
garded by republican leaders as section
under prescription the stream of money
then flowing into Southern mines, mills
and factories was quickly checked. The
Mckinley bill, it was seen, would dis
criminate against Southern agriculture
by making machinery supplies, etc, moro
expensive, at the same time that it less
ened the foreign demand for Southern
cotton. The force BILL it was
clear, would produce turmoil through
out the South, disorganize industry and
destroy prosperity. So evident was an
this that investors took fright The vivi-
flying milk of capital was stopped, ina
migration ceased and industries already
established subjected to severe strain.
The tariff lords of Pittsburg saw with
delight that the movement for the rapid
development of the iron industry in Vir-
ginia and Alabama had been arrested.
The furnaces were to stay where they
were-in the North thanks to the high
rates of the Mckinley bill and to the dis
trust inspired by the force bill. The
mere introduction of the latter measure
accomplished in part the purpose of per-
sons interested to prevent the develop
ment of the South's resources.
A striking picture of the effects of the
bitter policy of Mr.. Harrison, Speaker
Reed, Senator Hoar and other leaders of
the republican party is presented in Gen
eral StevensOn's account of his observa-
tions during his recent tour through the
South. ''Since my nomination." said
the democratic candidate for the vice
presidency, in his speech at Brooklyn,
81 have been in eight Southern and
Southwestern States of the Union and
!, have talked with men of all classes and
conditions there. 1 find the Industries
established by northern capital during
} Mr.. Cleveland's administration in lam
gushing condition; that the immigra-
r tion of labor and capital invited
2 to those States by their then
' peaceful condition, had, in q
e large measure. ceased. I find general
I and growing apprehension of evils
: which, it is believed, would result from
+ the passage of the Lodge bill or similar
threatened legislation. The enactment
of the threatened force bill into law
would undoubtedly retard the growth of
the States at which it is aimed; would
t excite in many communities race trou-
: bles and invite retaliatory legislation.
U which would disturb property values and
: discontinue and destroy the value of
q Northern investments, and its reflex
e action upon the Northern and North
IS western States would result in conse-
: Quent loss of commercial and trade re-
C lations with the vast territory now be-
n coming tributary to their wealth and
" prosperity"
e Gen. Stevenson's reference to the ere
/. flex action upon the Northern and North
is western States" recalls the truth, fire..
5 quently pointed out by economists, that
the prosperity of the North and North
west is very largely dependent upoz
that of the South. 1t has been noted
that every revival of confidence and bus
N iness activity in the South, consequent
~ upon political peace, has been followed
., by like revival in the North The gen
~ eral prosperity of 1880 and 1881 follow
ty ed close upon the adoption by Presiden
~ Hayes of his policy of Cancellation. Th
he expansion of Southern enterprise in 1885,
+ and 1889 has been pointed to as tn
n. sequel of the election in 1884 of MI
ab Cleveland, President who, it was be
in lieved, would not undertake to haras
,rt the Southern States, but would trea
n them with justice as States entitled to
share of the benefits of the Union. Th
business activity in the North durin
these same years is a very striking fac
The republican policy towards til
.t1 South being thus source of demo-
y alization and loss to the busines
W interests of the whole country,
.ho is obviously the duty of vote
Wv. to exclude its advocates from power.
,I IaS appeal" says General Stevenson, Ito I'll
Iat instinct Of self-interest and to the sen!
No -"' of common Justice in the American pc
go pie. The era Of good feeling and r
~ ~ newed commercial relations, commencir
r.: with the election of Mr.. Cleveland
,is 1884, should not be interrupted by Il
.h, W., inau guration of policy which tends
tbe I destroy popular representation and {
IA IA purity of local self government, whi
,i'. furnishes an instrument to discredit
'0' federal power to perpetuate itself, whi
~; seeks to keep alive sectional jealousi
Ia - and str.fes. which threatens imports
III III commercial interests, which offers ~
. ne cuse or paliation for its existence exec
~ the perpetuation in power Of a polite
marty which has lost p1hiic pti1onc,
ime p"IS5 ,,,-', r., S;.a -
nes. aat,,SaI s:.aas.. TLs
!, tbs as business man in particular is supposed
+snt @ know his own interest. The popu
.ho belief in this business perspicacity v
,n .no be shattered if another term of power
art, given to party whose programme me'
%. ;nas spoliation, turmoil and commercial
'n preston.