Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-01
WILL 1T STAY SOLID?
Republicans Breaking Into the Dem
ocratic South.
SECESSION OF THE SUGAR PLANTERS
louisianians Who Are United for
a Bounty.
r E G. ENT CON TON
SECESSION OF THE SUGAR PLANTERS
r E CENT CONVENTIONS
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

September %, 1894.
The present political situation in Louis
lana originated in a mass meeting of the
sugar planters, convened the 18th Of
last May, in the Academy of Music, in New
Orleans. Comparatively little Importance
was attached to this assembly, as the dem
ocratic element proved strong enough to
defer the radical measures then first enun-
ciated by Mr.. Henry Mccall of Ascension
parish and Ex-Governor Henry Clay War
mouth of Plaquemines. 1t was called os-
tensibly to discuss the effect of the Wilson
bill, which had just been passed by the
House. and the probable effect exerted on
the sugar industries by the repeal of the
bounty law. The attitude of the Louisiana
Senators was the topic to which most at
tention was devoted.
Senator White, in resigning his place in
Congress to accept nomination to the
Supreme bench, was roundly censured for
having deserted the interests of the plant
ers at a moment when a crisis in the tariff
debate was imminent. Nor did the con-
vention orators forget to score Senator
Canrey for having been absent from the
Senate when the final vote was taken.
There was, however, strong conserva-
tive sentiment which opposed, and success
fully, these outspoken views. Gen. VIM.
Porcher Miles, proprietor of the Burnside
plantation, in Ascension parish depreca ted
all attempts at republicanism, supported
the democratic policy, and with the assist.
ance of Mr.. John Dymond of Bellair plan
tatlon secured the convention to the party.
The meeting eliminated in the Endorsement
OF the Democratic Senator'S. euogy of the
party and compliments all around.
A Significant Incident.
There was, however one significant in
cident connected with this meeting now
become, In the light Of recent develop
ments, of vast Importance. The committee
on resolutions, composed of Messrs. John
Dymond, Gov. Yarmouth, L. s. Wilkinson,
John Z. Norris, w. 5. Parkerson, j. N.
Pharr, W. Guion and Henry Mccall, re-
ported series of resolutions, among which
was one which alluded in precise terms to
the Ill effects anticipated from the repeal
OF the bounty.
I'VE deprecate.'' said this paper, 1.-The 40
per cent ad valorem duty on raw sugars
as lnSunclent; remembering that for thirty
years the duty on sugar has ranged from
IL to 1-2 cents per pound, all over the
world, never falling below the last-named
figure. We protest against the removal of
the bounty or cents per pound and the
substitution therefor of a duty about one
half as large. We recite that, under the
distribution of the bounty, the production
Of sugar in Louisiana increased in three
years from 10000 tons to 100000 tons"
The protest, thus mildly and temporarily
entered, was adopted by the convention.
With some accentua ton this represents eX-
actly the position which the seeding demo-
Gratis at the present moment have assumed
What forces were set in motion by this
meeting and its covert suggestion of the
advisability of the bolt was shown the
9th of September, when a convention of
planters was called in Donaldsonville. Dom
jacksonville is a small town in Ascension
parish. not far from Evan Hall plantation,
the. home of Henry Mccall. OF this meet
ing Mr.. Mccall. who had been chairman of
the convention of May. was chosen presi-
dent.
Open Revolt Announced.
He electrified the state by delivering on
this occasion, before an audience of some
500 planters, a speech in which he an
nounced his secession from democracy and
his intention of afiiliating with the repub-
leans. He said that the democratic Con-
gress had deceived the Representatives of
the state with false promises, had sacri-
feed the principal industry of louisiana
and the planters of the south could attri-
butte their exemption from sugar absolutely
free only to the aid lent by the republicans.
"Fellow citizens" he cried, lit wrenches
my heart to admit that there is no safety
fer us in the democratic party as at pres
ent constituted. If we are men of self
respect, we can TO longer consent to elect
to support party bent on our destruc-
ton. If we carnot secure justice from
the democracy, We must nominate can
didate pledged to assist us, regardless If
fears of the past deter us. The old war
and reconstruction issues are dead; force
bill and election laws are buried, never
to be resurrected; the issues of the future
are industrial, commercial and social"
In strain equally significant, also spoke
Messrs. Richard Mccall, E. N. Pugh and
Judge j. N. Sims, all of whom have be-
come prominently identified with the new
movement. They advocated, and had adopt
ed, series of resolutions setting forth
much the same doctrines as those express
ed by Mr.. Henry Mccall. This action was
generally construed as withdrawal from
the old party.
Agitation I'm the Sugar Districts.
Throughout the state general agitation
followed, especially in that fringe of south
ern parishes where the manufacture of
sugar is the principal industry. In north
ern Louisiana sugar has a lighter hold on
the attention of the people; what cane
there grown is made into molasses, on
which the bounty does not or did not ap-
ply.
Immediately following the meeting at
Donaldsonville. a call was issued for a
meeting of planters, on September 6, in
the Hotel Royal. This hotel, indssolubly
associated with the revolution of 1874 by
which the rule of the republican party in
Louisiana was terminated, for a time at
least is thus linked with the regeneration
of that very party. This, a poetic justice,
has been commented on, of late, in more
than one address Of biting irony OF all
the meetings the planters had held the
one at the hotel proved the most exciting,
the most momentous. Edward N. Pugh
OF Ascension parish was chosen to pre-
side, and Mr.. d. s. Ferris was elected
secretary. Here for the first time the
planters brought up the question relative
to the payment of the bounty on this years
sugar crop; and committee, appointed to
determine in what manner it was advisable
to proceed in order to secure it, reported,
advising that legal talent be invoked
Among the speeches made there were none,
with the exception Of those by Messrs. John
Dymond and Dudley Avery, which were
not pronouncedly In favor of republicanism
and protection. State Senator A. Estopi-
nal James A. Ware, w. p. Kernochan,
Horace Wilkins IN and w. r. Howells ex-