The Columbus journal., 1879-01-15
The Solid Democratic Party.

We entertain the opinion that the
following article should be read by
Republi' ans as well as Democrats,
and that one party has no right to
monopolise all the good political
literature:
Let no Democrat be troubled by
the Radical outcry over the solid
South. II is a legitimate political
product. 1t represents one hundred
and thirty-eight votes in the elec-
toral college, ninety-six votes in the
Federal House, and thirty in the
Senate. With this compact. reliable
power at its command the Demo-
cratic party needs only the exercise
of common sagacity and honesty in
the adm inistration of public and
party affairs TO triumphantly rule
this country for the next two gen.
erations.
The great problem with the Radi-
cal party was 10 prevent the forma-
tion of q solid Democratic South.
In this they have most signally fall
ed. Hence they naturally think "the
fruits of the war" have been lost TO
them. That they howl, gnash their
teeth and threaten dreadful conse-
quences is an exhibition Of impotent
rage. They did their worst years
ago, when the South was PROSTATE
aud out of all political relations
with the Democracy of the North.
Now the tables are reversed. The
solid South is i'm full communion
with the Union and the Democratic
party. This party is once again a
Gibraltar of strength, both for de-
fence and assault. Strong as il was
in the first eighty years of the
Union, and in its sixty years of
political domination in Federal af-
fairs, it is physically and potentially
stronger to-day. Ii is the greatest
political force in the world. Taken
for all purposes, its equal in politi-
cal power has never existed.
1t owes its reinvigoration and re-
newed powerfulness TO the seuti
ment and causes which have solidi-
fed the Southern states. But, turn
ing from this point of observation,
from its compact one hundred and
thirty-eight electoral votes, look at
it's strength in the north. 1t divides
nearly equally the governments of
the Northern states, and, with the
exception of four or five, every
Northern state is battle ground,
where a change of one per cent. of
the popular vote decides which of
the two master parties shall control
it.
Ii is to this all potential party that
all men with popular ideas and in-
stincts will eventually rally. Those
who have gone into Independent or
third party movements have met
only disappointments. Their move
ments have not only come 10 the
grief Of defeat, but TO that of utter
dissolution. Repeated effort has
ended only in repeating warning
against the folly OF such blunders.
The popular leaning and instincts of
the Democratic party are too strong
and earnest for any third party sue
cess that looks TO socialistic or
democratic sentiment. All that is
practical in that direction can be,
and will be, accomplished in and
through the organized Democracy.
Recognition OF this existing force |
and fact will hasten the day Of
Democratic control in the Federal
affairs. But that is not all. The |
cooperation of the socialistic forces !
will Ieaven the Democratic party |
and carry it boldly along in the i'm /
mense work of undoing the results |
summed up in the term "new ma
tion."-LOuiSUGUe Democrat.