The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-12-02
me ra,ur. Of ~. south.

Conjecture and rumor are yerv
busy just now with the prospective
course of the Southern States. and
Republican organs are iaboriously
discussing what thes are pleased TO
term 1.-The break in the solid South"
IL follows - q natural result of
the late election that the South will
look 10 that quarter whence its
aids TO material progress and pros
perity are likely 20 he derived.
From every direction. we hear
sounded the keynote that the South
will hcnceforth he progressive. and
We say frankly that this resolve i Il
wholesome and courageous sign.
We have little fear that in its march
of progress the South will depart
from TIE traditions and principles OF
the Democracy of Jefferson. which
are as pregnant with vitality and as
pertinent to the Issues OF to-day as
when they were first promulgated.
What the South needs to do, first
of all, is to perform its part in bury
ing at once and forever sthe bloody
shirt That is the initial step to-
ward removing impedlments TO real
progress; and until that is done,
every effort to go forward will be
retarded by solid opposing bar
rier.
1t is natural that in looking to the
future the South should give due
weight TO the fact that the party In
power has within its grasp the means
to push forward such material inn
proyements as the South is IN most
urgent need of to-day. Her rivers,
harbors and canals. her docks and
levees, her post offices and public
buildings--in fine. all those interests
that come within the province of
the Federal government in that
section, sorely need attention. With
favorable legislation these matters
will be so adjusted and regulated as
to best promote the interior trade
and agriculture and the seaboard
commerce of the South.
In order to achieve these reforms,
however, there is no occasion to
sacrifice principle or enter into any
discreditable alliances. The Demo-
cratic party has always been con-
servative, strictly adhering to the
law and constitution. honest and i'm
partial in it's administration of the
government, and never Welding TO
sectional hate or prejudice for any
partisan advantage. Possibly many
Southern people will now take n
selfish view of the situation; but in
the end they will discover that their
true interest consists in adhering to
principle. This is the inspiration
that has upheld Democracy through
every reverse and made il coeval
with our form of government
1t is only question of time, when
the Democratic party will return TO
power. Its recent defeat is largely
due to the business condition of the
country. Timid capital feared "a
change" when there was no cause for
fear. IL the Democratic party had
gone into power on a tidal wave of
popularity, business would have
been increased and bettered, con-
fidcnce improved, and labor more
equitably rewarded than under Re-
publican rule, of which the South
has had ample experience.
Looking to the future. we can
toresee the immense growth of
our common country. Only few
years hence our population, swelled
by reproduction and immigration,
will number from twenty TO thirty
millions more than now. The
greater danger that confronts us at
the present time is the alarming in
f1ucnce of corporations upon our
governmental machinery. In the
South, as elsewhere, the DesEr4Ia,
tions ought to exist between capital
u,r,l I,.i,1i UuU aggressive capital is
able to protect itself and by insidi-
Gus processes menace our liberty
and welfare besides.
We repeat, we have little fear for
the future of the South and do not
share the gloomy apprehensions
which some Democrats indulge in.-
". y. Star.