Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-16
GRANT rs THEIR GOD.
The Southern Negroes Do Not Kn0so tn
Person Named Garfield.

The Southern Negroes Do Not Knoso the
Person Named Garfield.
Correspondence Chicago Times. :
VIoKsBuna, Miss, July 8.-The true poIit-
ical aspect of the South, particularly the Sec
tion of the Mississippi valley, as far as local
and district elections are concerned, is rather
doubtful. Five years ago there were ac-
Bnowledged Republican majorities where for
two or three years past tie Democrats have
had walk-over. The "shoe string" dis
trict of Mississippi, where the preponder-
ance of population is black land, of course,
Republican,, elected James Il. Chalmers,
Democrat, to Congress. This section is now
struggling to elect Republican against
Chalmers, renominated by the Democracy.
It would have been easy work had the NOM
ination of Grant been make at Chicago. 10
say that the Southern Republicans are luke
warm now, and will be, in their suppsrt of
Garfield, does not express it. AsRepublican
convention of the Sixth congressional dis
trict, about the strongest in Mississippi, has
been in session here to place congressional
ticket in the field. Your correspondent felt
the ground thoroughly, and is assured that
the deductions are true when he states that
the party has fallen into an apathy that is
ruinous to them, and its cause is directly
traced to Grants failure.
But the strongest point that can be pre-
sented to show the loss of confidence crops
out of the planting interest. The planters
are dependent totally on the negro for labor.
The colored brother knows too much of in
timidation and Democratic persuasion to
relish going to the polls. He does not like
to risk anything for political meetings. The
idea of their eagerness and enthusiasm is
very much colored. The truth is, that it is
only by hard work of leaders and constant
drilling that they ever were kept up to their
sticking point. But Grant is their god their
Messiah, and had he been nominated the
country would now be alive with ratification
and club meetings. This, of course, would
affect labor very materially in country like
this, where the demand is ever in excess of
the supply. About 50 per cent. of the ne
groes are dependant upon the merchants for
the years supplies of food and clothing, for
which the merchant has lien upon the
growing crop. Prior to the Chicago con-
vention, the supply merchants did not con-
slider it safe to advance much to the negroes.
They foresaw, in the event of Gen. Grants
of enthusiasm that could not be checked, and
consequently neglect of work which would
curtail the crops. Now the restriction is
withdrawn, for the comprimise fell like a
wet blanket upon Sambo. He had never
heard of Garfield; his fondest hopes were
crushed. and he doggedly turned to his pillow
and displayed no interest whatever. Fifty
per cent. of them will not leave their work
to vote in November, so the consequence
will be an almost solid Hancock vote for the
South.
The Democrats, on the other hand, are
sharing in the enthusiasm of the Hancock
booms in the North. Hancock clubs are
springing up everywhere, big blow-outs and
rallies are taking place, and organizing,
while not single Garfield meeting has
been held in Mississippi or the part OF
Louisiana which lies in the river district.
Planters, seeing all this, say with an air of
relief: "We will get our cotton picked this
fall; the negroes do not take any interest in
the election" This refers to the negroes;
but who else, pray, are the Southern Re-
publicans? In the cities, true, are good
many white Republicans, but they form an
insignificant percentage in the mass.
The most fatal mistake seems to have
been the continuation of the bitter factional
war waged in the Chicago convention. In
jackson, Miss, Judge Robert j. Alcorn, re-
ceiver Of moneys in the United States land
office, has had his head chopped off. He in
Cured the enmity of the secretary of the
treasury because he avowed his hope of
Grants success. A few days after Garfeld's
nomination he was removed from Office, and
Sherman man appointed. There was no
charge against him; he was showed out in the
cold without explanation. Still Judge AL
corn had the respect of the community, and
q Democratic paper, the Comet, published at
the State capital, denounced the deed. There
have been other evidences of political ire
which keep up the faotional feeling, 30 that,
to sum up, not only are the Southern Repub-
icans disheartened at Grants failure, but
are very lukewarm in their support of the
nominee, whom they look upon as a burden
rather than leader.
In the South, taking this section as an
index, there will be very quiet election; no
enthusiasm will be displayed save by the
Democracy, who are confident that they will
march to victory in November. Taking it
for granted that the nomination of Grant
would have brought out the full strength Of
the Repepublican vote of the lower Missis-
sippi valley, The vote registered for Garfield
will not amount to three-fourths of it.
Grant could have carried Louisiana and pos
sibly Mississippi; now there s no chance
whatever.
The foregoing cleaning from facts, from q
nonpartisan standpoint, indicates pretty
clearly that in local and district tickets the
Republican party will lose several Con-
gressmen, whose election Grants nomina-
ton would have assured by the enthusiasm
which it would have created in the Rauuhli-