The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-29
A Southern Confession.

Tne manufacturers Record, pub
lished in Baltimore, some weeks ago
suggested the following as a plank for
political platform OF the South:
Resolved. That the South favors the
politics that will encourage and protect
investments within its borders, will raise
more chimney stacks of mills and fur
naces, will strengthen and extend rail-
road systems. will open more mines. will
widen the markets for agricultural and
manufactured products, and will increase
the means and opportunities for placing
these products In the markets"
This was all There was no sugges-
ton as to which political party would
be more likely to carry this programme
into effect; and apparently none was
needed. The Southern Democratic
newspapers promptly recognized that
this was a covert attempt to persuade
the people of the South into voting the
Republican ticket, and are properly In
dgnant at the attempt to seduce them
away from Organism. The Jackson
vile Times Union. one OF the ablest of
these Southern papers. reads In "hor-
ror' from our best friends such coun-
sci to the South as that proposed for
lis by the Manufacturers Record" and
says:
"As maxim TO govern our thoughts In
every department of industry the counsel
Is excellent addressed to the business
man Ii carries assurance of n better day
but I'm the realm of politics II is a deadly
poison, and strikes at the root OF our ma
tional existence"
Here is a confession which every
man not politically hide-bound should
read and analyze. The sole reason why
the Democratic newspapers OF the
South should recoil with horror from
the carrying into politics of a pro-
gramme which appeals TO them az
business men. which is conceded as n
proper maxim to govern their thoughts
Tin every department OF business"
which carries certain assurance OF
better days" Is because TO carry into
effect that programme requires the
voting Of the Republican ticket and the
crushing Of Organism.
The programme is that OF the RE
publican party and the Bryan pro
gramme Is directly the opposite. These
Southern men feel II. know IT. and ad-
NIT II. They see that their interests
would be served by the continuance OF
Republican success; they recognize
tina; their existing prosperity is due 10
Republican legislation; and that to
continuance Of such legislation they
must look IL their prosperity Is TO re-
main. But so deeply ingrained are their
political prejudices that. knowing this
as they do. they are ready 10 sacriace
the welfare and prosperity OF their
country on the altar % party success.
II Is useless 10 waste argument upon
men whose preiu3lces are 80 deeply
seated. But the admissions and con-
fessions Of such Democratic papers as
this are valuable elsewhere. where
common sense. no; political prejudice.
Is the guide to political action. The
southern papers admit that the fore
going programme wlu De the result az
Republican success. Every man who
desires more the welfare and psrman-
ent prosperity % the country than ne
does the mere glory of party success.
should, according 70 the confessions "
the Democratic newspapers OF the
South. vote the Republican ticket