Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1884 — A SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN. [ARTICLE]

A SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN.

It is for the' Republican National Committee to say what shall fcp done with the Southern States in the approaching campaign, whether the Republicans of the South shall be left to their own futile resources, or an organized canvass shall be made in the States that are fairly Republican in sentiment or could easily be made so. In view of political possibilities, of consistency, arid of the not very remote future, it would seem imperative that an active canvass of that portion of the Union be made in bshalf of the interests and principles of the Republican party. It camriot be logically nor Irnthfully denied that with the lapse of time the South iu all ita interests is growing more in consonance with the spirit and policy of the Republican party. Northern capital, literally by the millions, is going into that region to develop natural resources and to encourage manufacturers. Under the stimulating influence of enterprise, eastern Louisiana and northern Alabama have become important in the' manufacture of iron, and the industry u yet new to that region. All over Georgia cotton mills are springing up, already fairly rivaling those of Massachusetts. The South is beginning to bid for the trade of the world. With the deadwall of slavery thrown down, there are no longer any barriers of prejudice of pride to impede them. The South has grown wise enough to invite it. The Atlanta Cotton Exposition was the first formal invitation for outsiders to come in and view the land, to see what it could prodube and what it had to sell. Closely following came tlje industrial show at Louisville, where the products of North and South and the men and manufacturers of North and South met in competition, to their mutual advantage. Next comes the World’s Exposition at New Orleans, for which almost unprecedented preparations are being made and at which the world’s progress will be fully set forth, The South is rising in its renaissance. From the petty pageantry of Mardi Gras mummeries it is advancing to the splendid panorama of commerce. The industries that have for years been typified in tableau cars and crystallizing into realities, and the not-nnderstood prophecies of former years are being realized. All this is in direct line toward the Republican party, as the patron of industry and the conservator of commerce. This metamorphosis of the South is traceable wholly to the wise legislation of the party in power during the past twentythree years. The South is prosperous because Democratic ideas' have been abandoned and Republican ideas have been adopted. The like was never known, never possible under former administrations, and is as much the outcome of Republican legislation as the freeing of slaves was the result of the emancipation proclamation and llie war. The thousands of Southern men—operators and operatives—now finding occupation in these new industries must naturally turn to the party that made them possible and fostered them into vigorous existence. The Democratic dogma of free trade, ever hostile to American progress, dares not bd put to the test before the growing industries of the South, and, if it ever shall be, the issue will not be doubtful. An active Republican canvass iu the South especially in the States of Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia is imperative. Let the people of those portions of the country be fully instructed in the principles of the party. The years are few until the ideas of Republicanism must prevail there in politics as well as iri business. If the Democratic party should dare to push its free trade theories to the test of trial, the new industrial South must naturally and unavoidably turn to the Republican party in selfdefense. There is now absolutely nothing to prevent the better elements of Southern society from uniting their fortunes with the Republican party, in the full assurance that every vital interest will be as faithfully conserved as are those of any other section of the country-. The principles of Republicanism, under which the North has made such wonderful progress in trade and manufactures, and which have put the leaven of industrial enterprise into the South, are universally applicable, and with like happy effects wherever put into practice. There need be no “bloody shirt” in this issue. The men delegated to the work of expounding the doctrine of political regeneration can confidently appeal to the culture and intelligence of the South—to the men who have so far forgotten their ante-bellum prejudices as to see in labor A dignity and independence strangers to all peoples who live by means of unrequited and involuntary servitude. The sinews and muscles of the new South are growing stronger on pabulum furnished by the Republican party. The brain of the South will come to the realization of whence this new strength originates. While brain and body are growing stronger prejudice will weaken. Southern industries and fortunes were wrecked when the Democratic foundation of slavery crumbled. They are now resting on foundations built by a party of newer and better ideas. It will not be long until the Democratic party will not 4are promulgate its ancient free-trade ideas there. A new order of things has come into operation, and the Southern men who work in them will not be long in disfcovering that tkg theories of Democracy will npr-riiofifr meet" the demands of the present generation than would the Blue Laws of Connecticut. All the jfeople of this wonderful republic of onrs are growing into perfect homogeneity. The interests of the East, West, North, and South are the same. As one section prospers under wise legislation, so will all the others. The South has caught step in the ranks of progress. The smoke from her new manufactories is a pillar of cloud by day and the glare Of her furnaces a pillar of fire by night to guide her to the promised land of universal prosperity. An honorable, active campaign should be prosecuted in the South as an earnest of the Republican party’s sympathy »•’ *h ■ .T; ** ''' 1 * "

and desire to co-operate for mutual good. With that prescience which has ever characterized the party, it should now lav the foundation upon which to lmild Republican States in the solid South. Relying oh increasing intelligence and fading prejudice, the party can approach the Southern people, confident that the party’s principles will commend themselves to the men whose fortunes are the result of and dependent upon their maintenance as a fundamental part of the country’s polity. As for the spirit guilty of outrages like that of the mutder of Matthews, at Hazlehurst, its influence must wane, and these bloody deeds "will come to be condemned by representative Southern men as hurtful and dangerous to the vital interests of that region. If Southern Republicans are to have voice in selecting national candidates, they should be encouraged to make an honest entleavor to get before the people of the South the merits of Republican men and measures. —Indianapolis Journal.