The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-10-03
Dividing the SOnth.

AZ LAS De6n c0nuuenby preulCtou InfaU oh0
great and beneficial result of the overthrow
OF Republican State governments in the
South would be new and more nearly equal
division of the Southern white vote; that the
solid South would disappear from politics;
that the Democracy would be divided, and
that an independent party would be organ
lied which would soon become merged in the
Republican party. This was q pleasing pre-
diction, but, unfortunately for its trustworthi-
ness, the prophets omitted to take into con-
sderation the men who lead and the feelings
which control Southern politics. The South
was intolerant long before the negro had
vote, and "the arrogant old plantation strain"
is heard to-day, though the old plantation life
has disappeared, as distinctly as it was
score of years ago. The Southern leaders are
bent upon regaiHing their ancient control of
the federal government in all its branches.
Their best instrument to the accomplish
ment of this end is the Democratic party, and
they will permit no action which will weaken
that party. The South must be kept solid,
and so with the help of a few Northern States
which the Democracy hold, Southerners be
put in possession of the government again.
All attempts to divide the Democracy on ma
tional issues will be as promptly and sternly
suppressed as any Republican, movement was
in Georgia or Mississippi last year. The
Southerners will say kindly or 1attering
things to Republicans, but to a man they will
vote the Democratic ticket. They will accept
favors most gracefully, but they Till give
none.
A very striking illustration of the deter
mination to keep the South solid and to sup
press all attempts at independent voting has
just been furnished in Mississippi. Mr.. r.
Fl. Truly announced himself as an ''indepen-
dent Democratic candidate" for the state leg
islature in Jefferson county, and appointed
day on which he would address the vot-
ers of the county. The day came and
large audience with it. Just before the
speaking began, Democratic rife club,
armed with double-barrelled shot guns,
marched into the hall and stationed itself be-
fore the platform. One Objectionable man
who was announced to speak with Truly,wss
ordered by the rife club to keep silent on
pain of being shot. Mr.. Truly was permitted
to speak, but men with shot guns took their
stand behind him and warned him he would
be killed if anything unpleasant was said by
him. After a few minutes the armed men
got tired Of standing guard, and so broke up
the meeting. Mr.. Truly now concludes that
he won't run, and he has published the fol-
lowing card:
A few weeks ago Pnnounce1 myself as an sin
dependent Democratic candidate tor the State
Legislature, because thought had legal and con-
sttutional right to run for office, but subsequent
events in this county have ince1 me tn at possi
bly, have no such legal constitutional rights,
therefore withdraw from the cauvass.i
Il. II. TRULY.
The logic of the shotgun was too much
Tor Mr.. Truly and he was easily convinced
that he had no constitutional right to offer
himself as a lndidate unless it was as reg
nler Democratic candidate. The same inter
probation of constitutional law will prevail in
the South wherever serious attempt is
made to oppose the Democratic party. The
methods once in use to intimidate the black
man can be-renewed with effect for the bene-
fit Of the independent white. The division
of the Southern Democracy is still far in the
f1turo