Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-19

manufactured products of the south in the
worlds money; and that this means higher
prices Tor our labor, more comfort in civil
HZauon ana prosperity for the south.
Suicide for the south.
1T seems to me to be suicidal for the
south to continue to use the weie ht of its
influence against these governmental poll
cies which manifestly tend toward our bet
terment- The people and business interests
of the south have higher and broader in
terest in the problems of the hour. than
that OF who shall hold office. The time is
past when any but honest. competent men
should aspire to office, and the office seek
er Will De permitted no longer to obtain or
retain position by keeping alive the fires
OF destructive prejudice or encouraging
useless and impracticable sentiments The
south is no longer an agricultural region
alone we are so much of a manufacture
ing country that we are closer to the north
even to New England, than ever before >
Pubnc questions should no longer be
decided by the war maps of 1861 The
un1fication of the republic is one of the
impressive facts of contemporaneous his
tory. l believe that the signs of the times
indicate that a large portion of the more
intelligent and conservative and less pref-
uoiceo OF the southern people will abandon
the 1dea of lighting every policy suggeste ed
merely because it is proposed by the re-
publican party. and that thy will come to
consider calmly the questions of the hour
and accept the policies which meet with
their approval as tending to the progress
and development of the country, though
they be the policies of the republican
party"
Presidents Attitude Toward the South
Mr.. Skinner suggested that the second
inaugural address of President Mckinley
might be read with great satisfaction by
the people of the south as holding out to
them promise to the future, showing the
disposition of the President to help the
southern people break away from condi-
tions which might be to their injury.
Il believe" he said, that the best in
terest of the south will be served by those
men OF the south who are In sympathy
with the policies represented by the repub-
mean party, allying themselves politically
with the administration and aiding the
PRESIDENT in the fulfillment of his good in
tentlons toward the south. Under condt-
tions at present existing the federal office
holding class is not all We desire or would
suggest but the fault is not so much that
of Mckinley as that of the better element.
OF the south, who think and know better,
but who persistently refuse to lend him
a helping word or hand, and who are alert
to crlticise, condemn and denounce any
good man who may desire to accept a posi-
tion under Mckinley.
"A very considerable proportion Of the
men of affairs in the south men of the
very best social position, highest business
integrity and the largest material inter-
ests, believe in sound money, moderate
protection. national Improvement a rea-
sonable ship subsidy, and in expansion
Their convictions on these subjects make
them republicans, whether they acknowl-
edge it or not. / believe that they can
serve the best interests of their section and
of the country by openly acknowledging
themselves what they are and by cooper
ating effectively with the republican party
Best Men for the Offices,
''The President can make it easier for
them to associate themselves with the
party to which they properly belong by
exercising the utmost care to give the
federal service in the south high standing
Nothing is to be gained through the dis
tribution of patronage, but much is to be ac-
complished by putting none but men of high
character in federal positions. A great
many of our people realize that the repub-
lican party is constructive, not destructive,
and is a safe guardian of those principles
which encourage industry, development and
progress.
"The difficult thing to accomplish, but
which now believe is on the verge of ac-
complishment, the time surely being pro-
pitious, is to bring into closer association
with the republican party those men of the
south who really believe in its principles
The fact is that today the southern men
who believe substantially as Mckinley
does are the representative men of that
section, both socially and commercially.
They need the courage to associate them
selves with the party of their principles
and to be encouraged in doing SO by the
Improvement in the recognized personnel
or that party in the south. OF course, the
President cannot do everything himself
but must have the assistance and co-opera-
t1on OF those southern people whose honest
convictions draw them toward him."