Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-08
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 1894.
Mr.. Cleveland and Louisiana.

The sugar-planters convention. held in
Louisiana day before yesterday, declared
mat Its members have heretofore loyalty
)upporVed the Democratic candidates and
so-operated with that party under the
belief and with the assurance that the
Democrats would maintain a fair protec-
hon on sugar. Much to our surprise the
convention adopted also the report OF the
Committee on Resolutions. which de-
flares in plain. unmistakable language
hat the sugar planters or their represen-
latives had personal and positive as
mrances Of Ike import from the Demo-
cratic candidate for the presidency III
lS92, Grover Cleveland, and also the per-
sonal assurance Of the leaders OF the
Democratic party to the same erect
This averment comes from men OF UNI
Doubted veracity. II was intended by
Them TO be so worded as TO contain nothlhs
Except the truth. on the other hand, IL
concerns President Cleveland, who WILL
we take II, deny that he ever
promised or purposed to favor su-
par-bounties or customs-duties on
s,gax TO be levied for protection IN
tteafof "for revenue only Mr. CieVe-
land. we are confident, can make a sats-
factory denial to this purport. lie may
have used language which his louisiana
friends interpreted TO mean that he wouiu
favor sugar bounties as well as customs
duties but he never intended to pledge
himself or the Democratic party to pursue
such a policy. Whatever truth there -
IN any statement concerning Mr.. CleVe>
Lind Is owing to the fact that he was
looking at the matter in one hsht anu
the Loulslanians were looking at II III
another light
However let the past take care of ITSELF
md let US ask what is to result to the
Democratic party and to the country
from the determination Of the Louisiana
planters to cooperate hereafter with the
Republican party-that is. II such is their
determination? The convention. so the
telegraph tells us. declared in favor OF
an alliance with the Republicans on ma
tional issues These are the only issues
In which we in Virginia are concerheu'
Well. we think il may be set down as
certain that the national Democratic
,,,rtv will never be induced 10 come out
for silgar-bountles These bounlies are
wrong in themselves. SO, also as to Gus
toms-duties on sugar. levied for pro-
lection. These. too. will probably not be
allowed by The people. "a free breakfast
table" is a cry that will penetrate every
corner of the land outside of the sugar
producing States. Sugar is one OF the ne
cessaries Of life. 1t Is used by everybody
1t is used by all classes. The poor man
nays the duties in proportion TO the
quantity Of sugar he uses We conclude
therefore, that If the Louisiana planters
insist upon protective sugar-duties OF
upon sugar bounties they VIII have 20
seek an alliance with the Republicans
as, indeed. the convention OF Thursday
declared they would have to do. And
Il is not TO be denied that the Republi-
cans everywhere. North and South, have
educated the rank and file Of their party
in the belief that to protect American
Industries by the levying OF customs
duties Is TO perform a patriotic duty.
Louisiana, therefore, may be turned
over to the Republicans by the Demo-
asts. We say ''may be-" We shall
Aeeply regret to see the solid South be-
come a divided South. The negro ques-
ton may appear to have been settled,
as the Louisiana convention says il mas;
but It Is only in appearance Nobody can
forecast the future Of the negro race nor
the future policy of the white race.
We await further developments in Lou
isiana. 1t Is not impossible that the
tugar-planters will think twice before they
anally decide TO part company with the
Democratic party. The right side ought
10 be stronger than the wrong side Has
DOT the Democratic party the right side
Of this question?