Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-03-25
The South and the Tariff.
Jacksonville, Florida Citizen.

The Chicago platform speaks only in
vague or general terms of the tariff. Does
the party now hold with General Hancock
that "the tariff is local issue?" The
South does not so understand it, and the
missionary campaign of 1892 may bear
some strange fruits.
For it seems to be very probable that
Democrats in tie next campaign will be
confronted with a possible revolution OF the
taft to complicate still further the present
aspect of national politics. Theparty can
not go into battle on the narrow fighting
ground of one issue without forfeitlng its
past as an organization worthy the at
tention of statesman-it cannot become
political club or set of doctrinaires.
But if the tariff is to be considered.
what is the Democratic doctrine now?
The orange-growers of Florida desire
protection for their fruit. The tobacco
growers of this State have already asked
very high protective duty for their product.
1t is certain then that the tariff for rev.
enue only" will not be accepted without
protest in this State, when others are to
reap benefits from the system.
The chairman of the American Cotton
Growers Association says:
"Let us hear no more Of free raw ma
terial because it is produced by the COM
mon laborer. Let us hear no more Of free
iron and free coal, because they are the
products of the South, and so peculiar in
their location to each other, and to that
other great raw material, cotton, as to be
the great loadstone now attaching capital
and commanding its investment in the
manufacture of this material"
The position Of the cotton-growers may
be considered doubtful, then, for even the
Richmond Dispatch declares:
"Well, it does look little inconsistent,
from political point of view, for cotton
planters to be asking for protection. But
since pretty much every thing else is to be
protected, and free Egyptian long-staple
cotton would put the sea island cotton
raisers at the mercy Of the New England
cotton manufactures, it would be incon-
sistant with common sense for the sea
Island planters not to try to protect them
selves"
How about the sugar-planter? His Or
gan in Louisiana says:
Suitable protection on sugar for ten
years will, in all probability, enable us to
produce our own supplies of sugar, and
save that large outlay of cash annually
given to foreigners for that purpose"
How do the timber interests feel? Says
prominent Democratic journal of Missis-
sippi:
''The discovery that for every dollars
worth of trade our lumber manufacturers
have gained abroad they have lost three
dollars worth at home is a stubborn,
conclusive fact that Wisconsin is not the
thing for Mississippi's lumber interests"
The Canton Times speaks boldly;
cit is plainly evident to the intelligent
and watchful observer of passing events
that the time is not fur distant when the
material interest of the South will in all
probability work revolution in sentiment
ON the tariff question. Protection is now
sought from Egyptian long-stapie imported
into this country, and rightly so. The SUI
gar interests and various other interests
will seek protection. The laborilg people
will want it from the pauper labor of Eu-
rope-like the laboring element North
The recent election was carried by the Ia
boring people Of the North, not by being
bought up or inundated by employers,
but from sensible and well-defned idea
OF protection. The political complexion of
the South cannot long remain as it is now;
negro domination and force bills are things
of the past. We are in state of transi-
ton, both financially and politically"
This last is voice from the very heart
of Mississippi; from station that has no
coal or iron interest to inculcatc change
where heretofore to doubt a Democratic
doctrine was to sin grievously, perhaps IT.
redeemably.
Alabama began to doubt long ago. North
Carolina will ask for protection. Georgia
is becoming manufacturing State.
What will the outcome be? How may
the revolution in sentiment" be stayed?
As the Citizen has said before, the course
pursued by the President may solidify the
South again. But if the President appre-
ciates the present attitude of these States
and meets them halfway, there can be no
doubt that the statement in his inaugural
address will be proven true; the sectional
spirit will cease in the land and the peo-
pie will divide in politics on other than ge-
ographical lines.
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