New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-24
SECRETARY FOSTERS VIEWS.
THE TARIFF THE GREAT ISSUE OF THE
CAMPAIGN.
ILLOGICAL POSITION OF HOUSE rEMocRATs-THE
SOLID SOUTH WILL FIGHT OUT
in1 IrLEhnAfH 10 HE TKLBUNE.1


Washington. Aug. 23.-secretary Charles roster
talked to-day with correspondent concerning the
political situation. In answer to a quesuoh Us u Ills
views Secretary Foster said:
"Well I have been In Ohio during the last rev
weeks and that is a Republican state Of course, MT
Harrison will carry it, and we are going 10 elect i'eeh
or sixteen Of the Congressman mink tne seherA al
situation Is about favorable for the hepuohcah
party rs 1t could be. Mr. IIarrsons election, tmhk'
Is assured 1t is my candid opinion that he Will not
only carry all the Northern States but TWO or 'hree
OF the Southern states as WELL
"The great Issue OF the campaign Is the tar1h. Inc
Democrats have taken the position OF oppehs III
customs revenue, though necessary 10 the sup
port OF the Government. That is the true meaning Oh
their declarations They have drawn themselves up
IN line In opposition any protection great or nte'
Incidental or otherwise, declaring II all uhcohSu-
utional They cannot get away from that
"Thcy have had great deal to say about the pahK-
rupt Treasury The Treasury is not bankrupt. we
are meeting our obligations the Government is geuhg
along all right and Treasury Is In good conditoh'
But IL they honestly believed that the Treasury WAS
bankrupt how do they explain their conduct curing
the session OF Congress Just closed! The House dld
not cut down expenditures. They did not Try 10 DC
wise any means OF increasing the revenue, which they
have declared was not sufficient to meet the expendi
lures ON the contrary, the House passed DIS 10
reduce the revenue s3OOO0,OOO year. 1t looks rs
II they we're determined TO make sure OF 1t and banK-
upt the Treasury, II it were not so. BANKRUPTCY
seems TO b. what they wanted. Ihey VIII Proo"o''
not make much out OF that cry.
"Their leaders saying that they are as SOUND
on the silver question as we are. but everybody
knows TINT the party believes In the free coinage OF
silver and that they will seize the first opportunity
they can get to enact a Free Coinage law lhelr
pretences on that point are false They are trying
to make a Force biz issue, but they are not sue
ceching The life Is all out OF that. The Democrats
ore splitting I'D in the South by OF their own
methods As long ms there IS any attempt from the
outside to reform the methods In the South and bring
about fair elections anything they can term force,
they manage 10 hold together TO resist It, But II they
are left 10 fight among themselves, II we 90 not resist
them. they will suffer by their own frauda- AS d
matter OF policy never favored anything like force
I voted against the bill when l was In Congress-
Malone was right about his plan In Virginia. though
| did not realize 1t Mt the time. lie opposed any
Republican candidate for Congress being put In tho
field and proposed let the Democrats fight 1t out
among themselves. Under such conditions, independ-
| ent candidates are bound to come out. Both sizes
contend for the negro vote and they are bound 70
count II.
Look at Alabama. The Jones men counted the
negroes in the negro districts In order to get their
rcpcsenation in the convention and nominate their
man. Then Kob ran as an Independent ana Tue
Jones men had TO count the negro vote in order To
elect their candidate. The reform starts Win the
primaries In the fight Of rval candidates FOR Sill
premacy and keep, up all the way through II there
Is no common enemy TO combine against. IL there
Is a white county OF 5000 controlled by one candi-
date before the convention. and another candidate
controls black county OF 5000, the latter is going
10 Insist uih counting the negro vote In his county
in order 10 get strong representation In the con
yention a. his rival Then when II comes 10 the
election he must have these same votes or be Deaeh
That is the way II was with Jones In Alabama.
The negro vote enters Into the question OF party
organization and factonal supremacy, and they nave
TO fight IL out among themselves.
Republicans have boon hearing so mhch ABOUT
breaking up the solid South that they have got urea
OF 10 great extent and have 10 faith but feel
confident now that IT Is going to be broken up tins
tine. think II Is gone"