New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-11
A SOUTHERN STRONGHOLD
REPUBLIcANIsM IN EAST TENNESSEE.
TRADITIONS AND MATERIAL INTEREsTs-MR
EVANS AND HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER
HOW TO BUILD UP THE PARTY
IN THE SOUTH.
IrEox A STAFF CORRESPONDENT or TIE rnBrSEI

Chattanooga Tenn. JAN s.-East Tennessee 10
as strongly Republican as Pennsylvania or Ver-
mont. Everything has tended to make it so.
Intensely Whig before the war. the people
strenuously opposed the secession of the State
and were loyal to the Union. When the war
closed the Republicans Of East Tennessee were
not carpet baggers. dependent upon the manipu-
laton Of the negro vote. out the oldest and best
stock Of the white population, loyal to Whig
traditions and fully in sympathy with the Ma
tonai policies OF the party. During the last
fifteen years the whole region from the Appa-
,achian chain midway across the Cumberland
tabelands has fe.t the invigorating influences Of
an industrial movement promoted by protection.
The largest gains in population and material
prosperity have been IN this portion OF the State.
One of the richest coal regions in the world has
been opened. Chattanooga has been converted
into an iron centre manufacturing interests and
timber resources have been rapidly developed.
marble quarres have been worked on large
scale. and agriculture with great range Of
products has prospered with the growth of popu-
laton and the diversifcaton OF industries.
Motives of engh tened self-interest, as well
Whig traditions and the memories of war times.
have made this rich and beautiful section Of the
South a natural stronghold of Repubcanism.
Fifteen years ago Chattanooga was a poor.
shabby, unpromis!ng town. without streets, side
walks sewerage system, and with few
spritless industries II is now a lourishing
manufacturing centre, with population Of $1,000.
when all the outlying suburbs are included and
with many millions Of capital invested in in
dustres and sl0,00O0O0 II annual products to
show for II and an aggregate business of s40-
600 900 of all kinds The visitation of yellow
fever in 1873 was warning that was promptly
Needed. and the city is now exceptionally we.'
paved and severed. Most picturesquely stu.
ated II is handsomely built and is fairly pull
sating with energy and enterprise. Factories.
foundries, business blocks. hotels, churches.
schools. bridges. railways and electric roads have
multiplied since 1878, ard the prosperity Of the
town has advanced by leaps and bounds. with
out adventitious aid of artificial booms and land
speculation. but the normal consequence of its
natural advantages "A manufacturing centre.
No city made greater material progress during
the decade preceding the election Of 1892 than
Chattanooga, and none has received more direct
injury from the interruption OF the industrial
policies with which the Republican party Is
Identified
Republicans OF Chattanooga and East Ten
nessee do not waste their breath in discussing
the race question. Any one undertaking TO raise
here the cry Of negro domination" would be
laughed out Of the towr. The negro votes with
the Republicans like the mass of the white
population, but he does not receive any special
attention. and his political support Is not
courted. Indeed, many Republicans would like
to have the negro vote permanently divided be-
tween the parties foi the sake Of removing old
time political prejudice. and they do not hesi-
tate 10 say that the welfare Of the black race
would be promoted thereby While Judge Lynch
i,o- N,IJ Ten
nessee the law is ordinarily administered with
justice and mpartialit!. the negro receives full
protection and TIE relations of the races are
more harmonious than elsewhere in the South
All these matters lie o.tside the range of Re-
publican politics. Republicans here talk about
the benefits of protection, the orderly manage
ment of National finances. the growing inn
portance and complex difficulties of the currency
question and other great issues. Congressman
like Foster v Browr and Judge Gibson have be-
hind them the same order Of Republican opin-
ion on the tariff and honest and stable finance
which is represented by Congressman from Ohio
and Massachusetts There has been fierce
family quarrel in the Knoxville district between
the IIouk and Gibson factions. about which the
least said the soonest mended: but this did not
weaken the support which Mr. Evans received
IN East Tennessee on National and state issues
His popularity not only in Chattanooga, but
throughout this section of the State. shown
by majority exceptionally large in all the Re-
publican counties
Henry Gay Evans. whether he be inaugurated
as Governor or be cheated out of the office is to-
day the most prominent Republican in the South
He is a natural leader of men. and represents the
new progressive Republicanism. which is
founded net race lines but on National poll
cies He Is a man Of force. incisive and elo-
quent speaker and an aggressive keen politician
The son of a Pennsylvania farmer. he was edu-
Gated In Wisconsin, serving during the war in
one of the regiments Of that State. For these
reasons he has been characterized by his op-
ponents as a carpet -bagger" but thirty years Of
business success and useful citizenship in East
Tennessee have qualified him to stand for gen.
uine Southern Republicansm. Settling in Chat
tanooga at the close Of the war; he became
identified with the iron industries Of the State.
He was treasurer and general manager OF the
Roane Iron Company receiver or machine
foundry. and finally the proprietor OF the Chatta-
nooga Car Wheel Works. He was one OF the
pioneers OF the new industries which has rams
formed this picturesque town into a sting
manufacturing centre, and he is recognized to-
day as one OF the most enterprising and suc-
cassful business men. He nominated for
Governor by the young. progressive elements OF
the party after prolonged struggle In conven-
ton against veteran politicians and party hacks.
Mr. Evans is a genial attractive man. who
commar Is the loyal support OF all MS followers
Everybody likes him and is proud to serve under
him and TO acknowledge his right to be regarded
as the party leader. Many Of his enthusiastic
followers are confidently assuming that he will
be a candidate for the Vice-Presidency, but he
only shrugs his shoulders and smiles ncredulous-
~ when so premature a suggestion is made. Il
have won the Governorship." he said to me- and
want 1t because 1t belong to me- have had
many hard fights In politics. and have carried
80 few Of them that think ought to enjoy this
asst victory" Then he went On to tell me how
he had iun for Congress in 1884 after serving