The New York herald., 1879-08-26


country next year, or that if they can carry
Ohio in October this will be great help
next year, they are doubtless right; but we
desire to warn the democratic party OF
danger which it seems to be entirely over
looking.
The real obstacle to democratic success
next year is the so-called ''solid South"
We say .sso-called" because the South is
not in fact solidy democratic at all The
democratic party in almost all the Southern
States is honeycombed with dissensions.
There is no organized republican party IN
most of the States, to be sure but there
are Independents of various names and.
stripes in every Southern State, and these
are so numerous that if the Mississippi
fashion of shooting independent candidates
should become general in the Southern
States they would need to import fresh sup
plies of powder and shot.
The South is not solidly democratic, as
is pretended. The democratic leaders
are trying to make it SO, and in
doing this they are foolishly digging
the grave of their party for next year. In
Alabama last year large Independent vote
was cast in five out of the eight Congress
sional districts, and in one an independent
candidate was elected. In Arkansas the
independents polled heavy votes in three
out of the four districts. Florida is very
evenly balanced between the democrat and
republicans. In Georgia five out of the
nine districts gave heavy independent
votes, and the movement in opposition to
the democratic party is spreading One in
dependent. FELTON,, has held his seat during
two terms. In Kentucky, while the repub-
licans may not gain much, there
was an Independent vote cast in
eight of the ten districts last year,
and in four the democrats would have
been beaten if the opposition had joined
forces. In Louisiana the opposition to the
democratic party was SO strong that five
of the six democratic Congressman pru-
dently declined to furnish the vote to the
official Congressional directory. In Mis-
sissippi the independents last year cast
large votes in two districts, and are SO
strong this year that shotguns are needed
to keep them from sweeping the State. In
North Carolina, if the independents and
republicans should unite next year, they
would sweep the State and carry at least
half the districts and probably more. In
Tennessee eight of the ten districts cast
heavy independent vote. In South Caro-
lima the best informed men say that not
negro will vote the democratic ticket next
year. and as the State has also white re-
publicans, a free election will give that State
to the republican party. In Texas there is
rapidly increasing independent vote, which
showed formidable strength last year in
four of the eight districts. In Virginia the
democratic party is splitting to pieces this
year. In West Virginia, whenever the re-
publicans and independents unite they will
carry the State.
In several Of the States we have mem
toned the old republican organization,
composed of carpet -baggers and men Of
evil repute, has been demoralized and
substantially disbanded--a matter for no
regret at all, because it was corrupt and
inefficient. But surely the democrats are
silly to imagine that therefore they can, by
''making it hot for the independents, COM
pei all the white voters to remain ip one
party. They are very foolish to attempt
such wild enterprise, and more foolish
still not to know that the mere attempt must
react very dangerously against their party
in the Northern States What is hap
pening in Mississippi this summer during
State canvass in which no federal
<>f,o IN hn oh pnt
authorize federal interference; but the
Southern democrats may as we'll make up
their minds that next year, when Presi-
dent and congressman are to be chosen,
an election, "iull, fair, free and peace
able" will be insisted on by all decent and
honorable men in the North. no matter to
what party they belong and If the North
ern public should get into it's head the idea
that shotguns and coercion of other kinds
are going to be used in the South to keep
voters from breaking out of the democratic
corral the North will be swept as by hur-
ricane.
President Hayes sound and constitu-
tional Southern policy, although it is opposed
by the republicans, will never be revoked
by them, simply because there is no warrant
in the constitution for any other policy.
The States are guaranteed seIf-govern-
ment. But it is o mistake in South
ern democrats. to believe that this
leaves the North without recourse. In
1876 it had become generally known in
the North-largely by the persistent ex-
posures of the HERALD that the republican
carpet-bag rule in the Southern States was
corrupt, demoralizing and the cause oi
constant turmoil. Under this conviction
Northern voters very readily and generally
condoned the democratic misconduct in
Southern States. They sensibly said that