Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-02
''IHE " EW SOUTH %
LII 10 still Yesr wing for Cheap Labor and
free Trade.

Republicans who earnestly desire the
prosperity OF he southern States, and
therefore hole to see them abandon
their old free trade doctrine and em-
brace the advantages of protection,
nave frequent occasions for discourage
ment. NOtN outstanding the advantages
within easy reach of the southern states
If they would only avail themselves of
protection ami proceed to develop their
natural resources, they persist in the
hehet that the benefits of the tariff are
tor the North alone and can be nothing
but an INJURY and burden 10 people
south of Mas and Dixon's Gne. 1t
would seem that this dogma oush to be
as dead as julius Caesar, and long ago
entombed with slavery and secession.
Unfortunately, however, it is a cherish
ed living doctrine and is held in the
South as firmly to-day as it vas half a
century ago. Nor is the traditional or
inherited doctrine of free trade believed
merely by these who follow ia the foot
steps of the fathers in the belief that all
wisdom is EN- bodied in the historic dog
mas an traditions of the south. Even
men who are regarded as representatives
OF the "New South" aud in alignment
found opposing protection in the old
Bourbon way. and for the old Bourbon
reasons A painful exhibit of this
nature was made by Editor Hemphill
or South Carolina, Ia his recent inter
view IN New York. A man of fine train
ing and ability, Mr.. Hemphill is rep
resentatlVe Southern journalist of the
most progressive class. He was too
young to take part in the rebellion, and
belongs with the men who have grown
up since the war aud who claim that
shey face the rising and not the setting
sun. Yet when it comes to the tariff
here is the way Mr. Hemphill talks In
replying to comment of the New York
Press
The press suggests that by applying
the clvllizipg influence" and encourae
ing Immigration to and investment IN
the enterprise Of the South, with its
genial climate and millions of acres of
cheap land, etc and CONTINUING the
infamous protective system, "a tide of
Immigration will turn into the South.
outnumber the old Bourbon niger
hater element, and bring civilization to
the neighborhood of every necro's
cabtain." 1t appears. after all, that the
Press cares more for protection than it
does for the negro I have 10 doubt
that if the south would agree that tbs
mass should be robed for the benefit
of special classes in particular section,
II the south would consent to be taxed
IN the interest of the manufacturing
Industries Of the North and East, it
would not care button what became cf
the negro as voter
The South taxed in the interest Of
the North" That was the dogma Of the
lator-oWlng old free traders of ante
bellum times and remains the inheri-
lance of the cheap labor advocates of
TO day Because they intend to keep
labor cheap and seryiIe, they had no
use for g protective tariff and could
gain nothing from it. That was The
doctrine OF the Calhouns and McDufies
and Mr.. HemphiIl ehoessit thus:
| would not restore the negro to
slavery if could, but | would, if posi-
bic, prevent him from voting until he
IS qualified to vote intelligently upon
questions which effect his owl interests
not less than the interests of lis white
ne ghbors.
In other words the negro is to be
prevented from voting" so long as he
tries to vote as the free white laborers
of the North have done, and in the in