Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-19
Dt5solxng- TIE "Sohd South
By BISHOP WARREN A. GAMBLER.


will crumble The security of the Union
is in the sovereignty of the States.
This is certainly no time for the
South to cease contending for the strict
observance of the constitutional limita-
tions imposed upon the Federal Govern
ment. A surreptitious revolution is pro-
posed, and it must be resisted as Wig
orously as if it were an armed force
attempting to subvert the Government.
Let US stand solidly against II, and II
any other section wishes to stand with
us we shall not object. But If any other
sections of the country invite US to alb -
jure our devotion to the fundamental
principles of the government in order to
obtain political spells in the form of
office and appropriations let us give
them to understand that neither we nor
our fathers have been accustomed to
accept brides. l.
1t should also be said that our long
established view of the tariff is not TO
be surrendered. with possibly one ex-
ception the professors Of political econo-
my in every respectable college and
university in America, (the experts on
this subJecD unite with us in our UNI
wavering opposition to protection. 1
am not sure that there is one exception,
but I understand that in the University
Of Pennsylvania the heresy of protec-
tion is entrenched. The location of such
instruction discloses its inspiration.
demonstrably correct? Certain Protec-
tionists are fond of calling themselves
the "Stand-patters"; very we'll, If they
can stand pat for an erroneous economic
dogma we may well stand pat for a
g und economic principle. The truth is,
the system of protection is not founded
in reason nor based on righteousness;
it is maintained by trading and mutual
concessions among the representatives
In Congress Of CLAIMANT and domineer-
ing interests. To employ the taxing
power Of the Government to enrich GER
tain interests at the expense of all the
people comes dangerously near robbery
under the guise of legislation. 1t is
utterly puerile to say such a system
is necessary in order to maintain the
wages of the laboring man. Who shall
make the protected manufacturer, who
has not scruplcd to rob all the people,
| divide his spoils with his employees?
Wages are not thus determined. And
even If it were true that protection
raises wages, it is also true that Il
raises the expenses of the laborer more.
and thereby 1t reduces the amount Of
his net income.
We have nothing to take back as to
the tariff. If other sections wish to
unite with us in embodying in law the
sound and honest views which we have
held on this subject, we will welcome
their association and assistance. But
If they unite with us in our contentious,
what then will become Of their own
solidarity, concerning the dissolving Of
| which we hear nothing?
Other subjects might be brought for
ward, but / forbear for the present.
Let me inquire with reference to the
| matters herein presented and other
issues which naturally suggest them
selves, what principle, or set of princi-
| Piles. which have operated as cohesive
forces to make the South solid in her
place, as New England is solid in her
place, is IL now proposed that we shall
renounce? If we all go together into
| some new movement, Will we not be as
solid as ever2 If we divide, will We
be happier and more harmonious among
ourselves and more innuential with
| other sections by reason or the strife
which. division will engender? Were
any people ever made mere powerful
or prosperous by discord7 Willy enemies
have been known to pursue the policy
of dividing a people in order to con-
queF them, but those who have most
faithfully resisted the foes or peoples
| thus threatened have always insisted
1 take 1t no Trojan horse will be adj
mitted within our gates. Our people
may gaze on such devices with a GER
| tain sort of interest, but they will not
| be so simple as not to see that the con-
| tents of. the animal are something more
war-like than grass.
I beg to commend to careful consider
alton of all concerned the following para
graph which have extracted from one
of the most ably conducted papers in
the South:
THAT the South is dissimilar from
other parts of the Republic In import
ant social, political. and religious
matters is proposition too plain to
be disputed for a moment. That these
differences are radical. historic. and
persistent it would be easy TO show.
That they are to the advantage of
cur section is a belief that we hold
without asking leave or license of any.
The South is the social. political, and
religious residuary legatee of Amer
! lean civilization. Its day is coming;
indeed, is now. 1t has no need to fret,
or to be impatient of fortune; for It
holds the Illuminating lamp of the
future of our national life. Only we
must preserve our vantage and push
our way toward a complete realiza-
ton of our historic ideals. Nor must
we be in haste to give up either our
solidarity or our isolation. This may
seem a reactionary or non-progress-
i've sentiment, but 1t is neither. Both
the solidarity and the isolation OF pc
culiar peoples have been employed of
history and Providence in Fastening
the worlds better destinies. This iso-
lation and solidarity is no barrier to
intercourse and cooperation in all
common enterprises, but IL is that
eclecticism of people (which puts their
exceptional ideals above the thought
of compromise or accommodation. The
South can agree to no coalescences,
ecclesiastical or otherwise. that will
for a moment jeopardize it's IDEALS
That is what might be called interest
In readin'' 1t is also quite suggestive.
Southern courtesy and hospitality must
not be mistaken for the remuneration of
Southern convictions.
1t may be added that the task of break
ing up the SOLID South" will not be
found an easy one. The unifying process
es of more than a century are not arrest
ed and turned backward in a day. Blood
and tradition, ancestry and history, the
! compacting power Of war and the solid
flying struggles of peace, common inter
ests and common dangers, common mem
cries and common hopes, count for some
thing; and all these things must be reck-
oned with when men undertake to break
! 1,a xvfI1 fboV