The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-11-14
The Solid SOutH-The Lesson of
the Recent Elections.


tended by some features that throw an
unpleasant shadow over the future. One
thing they have demonstrated with GER
tainty and that is, that the solid South /
cannot yet dissolve with safety to the Sc
curity of her people in the enjoyment Of
the constitutional rights in which other
portions of the Union are assured. Du- /
ring late years New York has been con-
fidently relied upon by the Democracy I
and her 80 votes added to the 13S solid /
Southern votes would leave but 2 to be |
obtained from all the other Northern /
States to constitute 185 necessary to a |
choice for President in the electoral col |
lege; but IN the recent election, the De |
mocracy carried the State by the re-
duced majority of Is, 900 OF 10000, |
Notwithstanding the division in the Re
publican ranks resulting from the I'M
popularity of the Republican Admins
tration and the quarrel between it and |
Senator ConkliDg. In the Presidential
election, the financial question will be
the absorbing issue, and it need not be
told that the difference between New
York and the Western Democracy on
that subject is so wide as to require the
utmost skill to secure their cooperation
in a national contest. New Y ork is
largely interested in United States Sc
curities, and her money power will de-
mand the continuance of the partial leg
islaton in favor of that interest which
has been extended by Republican Ad-
ministrations. The nomination of one
of her own favorite sons in the last Pres
idential contest, prevented this differ
ence from developing into fatal breach.
1t is not probable that in the next cleo
ton, the West will forego her claims to
the nomination; and in the event they
are recognized, and Republican like
Senator Conk!ing for example, should
be placed at the head of the Opposition
ticket, the result of the New York vote
to say the least, would be problematical
Put her 80 votes in the Republican col
umn, in estimating the election, and
the difference will be considerable.
Pennsylvania mas given the Democra-
cy 10, 900 majority in the late election /;
but he is not wise calculator who from
this circumstance, reckons that State as
reliable for that party in future elections. |
The Republican loss is attributable to the
disappointment and disgust of the Re
pubicans at what they regard the treach- |
cry and failure of Mr.. Hayes Admins
tration. The same influence that would |
operate in New York in a national con- !
test, would control largely in Pennsylva- |
MIA, and superadded to this influence is !
the predominating feeling in favor of
what is known in political parlance as
'Protection to Home Industry" rs
against the favorite Democratic theory Of !
Free Trade, and no discrimination for |
the benefit of favored interests. Behind |
all these influences is that powerful re-
serve of sectional hate and bitterness to
wards the South which can be brought to |
their aid by the Republican leaders in an
emergency.
To the surprise Of every one, Con
necticut has given a Republican major
ity, though she ad voted steadily with
the Democracy in the past two or three
elections and had been relied upon as
an almost certain Democratic State.
On the other hand California, which
voted the Republican ticket in the electo-
raj college last year, has recently given
a rousing Democratic majority; and Ohio
has rolled up $4,000 majority for the
same party, but it is to be remembered
that the same causes which operated so
powerfully in Pennsylvania in reference
to the Administration were not without
effect in Mr.. Hayes own State. The
financial question was an Important fac
tor in the election, and its influence
upon the Democratic party in that State
and in other Western States, will be the
reverse of what it will be in New York
and the Eastern States. Nevertheless
Ohio is welded to her idols of section
alism, and 1t would not be safe to count
upon her for the Democracy in the Pres
idential election when the passions that
have produced the quarrels Of the past
will be fully aroused by party leaders
struggling with desperation to prolong
their supremacy in the government. In
diana is the only Western State that can
be estimated with entire confidence for
the Democracy in a national contest,
and she with the solid South and Pacific
States will not be sufficient for tire pur-
poses of the Democratic party in the
next Presidential election.
The moral of this review of the pres
ent outlook is that the Southern States
cannot afford to break ranks until the
success of the Democratic party as
against the Republican party with its
doctrines of a strong military govern
ment to dominate States and reduce
them to the condition of territorial de-
Tendencies shorn of every attribute of
sovereignty, is assured in the next Pres
identiai election.
There is said to be a disposition among
Senators TO make Harlan's confirm alton de-
pend upon the action of the Senate on the
Louisiana Senatorial contest The idea is
that Spofford owes his election to the work | j..