Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-31
The Future of the Solid south,

Every day we read predictions of an early dis
solution OF the politically solid South, and there
are many able and intelligent republicans who
express the belief that at least two or three of
those states could be carried next year for
conservative" republican presidential ticket.
Those who are familiar with the political senti-
ment Of the south and who calmly and impair
TALLY study the tone and temper OF the
leading men and papers of that section
must agree that everything indicates that
the South will remain democratic until after
the Presidential election next year. at all events.
Predictions of a break before that time are in
spired by partisan ZEAL and are therefore not to
be credited, In the first place. the white people
of the South entertain a feeling Of bitter dislike
and distrllSt Ito use no harSher terms against
the republican party; they hold it responsible
for all the evils, real and imaginary, they en-
dured under "carpetbag" rule, and this deeply
rooted sentiment stands In the way of the organ
1zation of republican party in that section that
would embrace any considerable number of
the whites. There is, unquestionably, great
deal of dissatisfaction with democratic rule
both national and state, and could this senti-
ment be made effective without an alliance with
the republican party it would soon make itself
felt Any movement, local or general in oppo-
sition to democracy is met by that party with
the argument that 1t must inevitably help the
republican party. Then the acts and scenes OF
reconstruction and the days of 'scarpetbagu as
cendancy are reviewed. and thus the Old feeling
against the republican party is revived This sort
OF argument in the abstract could not be made
very effective so long after the evils complained
of had passed away were 1t not given force by
those Who are pleased to call themselves SOUTH
ern republicans par excellence. Whenever
set of men, dissatisfied with the ruling party in
the III brna frop + md
ganiZe to oppose it, one or more southern re-
publfcans" who made unsavory records for
themselves and their party in the days of recon-
Struction are certain to come forth from their
obscurity and condemn the movement by giving
their sanction and making themselves too
conspicuous in the way of leadership. In time
these men will pass away, and men of the ruling
element In the south will take hold of and build
up an anti-democratic party. But that time is
not now, nor next year. The great controlling
allpowerful influence OF self-nterest, or at least
supposed self-interest, which is no less powerful
than the genuine article, will keep the south
solid through the next presidential contest. Why
should the voters OF the south. who have MAIN
tanned their democracy through all the bitter
ness succeeding the war, and, at what many be-
heve to be, such great cost to that section, de-
Sert 1t In the very face OF a great presidential
contest? The republican politician and organ
answers: Because they see the drift OF public
opinion IS against them, and the contest
next year Is hopeless" But the demo-
Gratis do not take this view of the contest
next year, and will not, even If New York goes
against them. The leaders will attribute the
defeat in New York to party division, and call
upon the South to rally for one great struggle
for the presidency; and the South will respond.
The party whose motto is IS to the victor belongs
the spoils" will not yield without another
struggle. The thousands OF Individual voters
in the South who calculate upon Federal Office
in the event of a democratic administration
are surong enough to hold the party in that
section together through next year. Keep in
line for this fight" will be the ralying cry of the
northern democrats to their southern friends
ave have both houses of Congress and the
power to count the electoral votes" Every
southern state will vote for the democratic can
didate, whetherit be Tilden or somebody else. A
democratic defeat in the next presidential cleo
ton will be the signal for general breaking-up
politically in the south, but it will not occur be-
fore then.