Evening star., 1900-10-05
OUR NATIONAL FORCE.
The SOuth's Obstruction of It's Own
Best Interests.

The SOuth's Obstruction of Its Own
Best Interests.
From the Portland Oregonian
Alabama wants protection for its iron,
South Carolina for its cotton, Louisiana for
its sugar In another column is printed
collection of views showing that southern
business men disbelieve in free silver and
fear Bryan's election will produce panic.
The south entered heartily into the war
with Spain, now enjoys the Dement'S OF trade
with Cuba and Porto Rico, and Is anxious
for such Pacific expansion as Will widen
the market for cotton and increase our
facilities for getting it there Yet the south
will almost unanimously cast its presiden-
tial vote for a man who is pledged to do
all he can to oppose all Its desires ana
prevent the fruition of its hopes.
Ordinarily a mans political convictions
exert some appreciable influence on his
vote. The Rocky mountain region went for
silver in 1896, the Pacific states went for
expansion in 1898 Pennsylvania iron re-
gions and Ohio wool growers send men to
Congress who will give them protection.
No man who is for free trade IN Canadian
lumber can get elected in Wisconsin,; no
man who is for free trade in Canadian hay
and potatoes need run for Congress in
northern New York. An anu-imperialist
wouldn't stay long in the Oregon delega-
ton, or opponent of federal irrigation
laws in that Of Wyoming. How many Eng
lishmen will indorse Bryan for his support
of the Beers? How many popuIists will
knife him because he declares for direct
Iegislation?'
Cross Mason and Dixon's line and all is
changed If you are in search OF first-class
gold-standard and expansion arguments,
consult the files of the Louisville Courier
Journal now whooping it up for Bryan. If
Texas needs anything at all, she needs
Asiatic openings for her cotton; but she
will give 100000 majority, more or less, for
the man who advocates abandonment of all
we have gained in the Pacific. The gold
standard business men of New Orleans and
Charleston and Atlanta and Mobile will
vote for the candidate who promises them
free silver and panic. The southern gen.
tleman, cherishing the traditions of law
abiding and law-fearing ancestors, fresh
from the studies of his library and un-
spoiled by foreign socialism, will support
the Chicago platform, with it's outcries
against settled government and its pander-
ing to mob riots. The long staple cotton
fields of South Carolina, menaced with
Egyptian competition; the iron mines and
mills of Alabama, the sugar plantations Of
Louisiana, will vote for free trader for
President.
All that the south hopes for it will strive
with its electoral vote to forbid. All that
it fears 1t will strive with its electoral vote
to bring to pass. Alas, that over SO wide
an extent of this most progressive and in
dependent of nations public opinion should
be farce and political discussion mere
mummery!
1t takes 2o4 electoral votes to be Presi-
dent. If Bryan is elected, he will get 1856 Of
them south of the Ohio and east of Texas
and Missouri. Not one of them will repre-
sent the convictions of the south upon the
issues on which Bryan is making his fight
to be elected. campaign is on. and rea-
son is addressed to voters for and against
issues and candidates. But the evidence
and the arguments are of no concern to the
descendants of Washington and Marion,
Jefferson and Sumter. Patrick Henry and
Daniel Boone. McKiney's useful labors or
amiable weaknesses, Bryans impassioned
appeals or acrobatic gyrations, are all one
to them. man would be pretty poor
footracer who had to be given 156 feet In
2oi and then sweat like a cart horse to
scratch out.