Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-15
Republican Fighting Chances in the
south.


south.
In the event that Indiana goes democratic In
october, # IS said the republican CAM afgn
managers VIII endeavor to capture two or three
southern states TO make up for the fifteen
electoral votes OF the HoO5lef state. should
the canvass take this turn, the republicans
would probably select Florida. South Carolina
and North Carolina as the states OF the south
In which to make night. These three states
have twenty electoral votes, and the demo-
cratic majoritins in them are smaller than IN
any OF the others In the south. Therefore tt IS
probable that the republicans would elect
TO make their contest in them. In Florida IN
1876 the returning board gave Hayes majority
OF 92G. but the state supreme court, by It's de-
cision that al the returns should be counted,
gave Tilden 81 majority. In the election for
Congressman In ISIS the first district gave
democratic majority Of 2,16i, and the second
district OF Y. 1t was claimed that the result In
the second district was obtained by unfair
counting, and a contest IS pending In the
House OF Representatives over 1t. However, to
take the returns they show democratic ma
jOrfty of only 2,IIo In the state, which has
voting population OF about 51.6tJ. During the
last four years numbers Of northern people have
settled In Florida, and IL IS claimed that a ma
Jority OF them are republicans.
North Carolina gave a democratic majority
In 1876 of Il 0IO out OF q total vote OF 233 SIT.
The democratic vote fell OF In ISIS. but il vas
owing to a considerable extent. to Over conf
dence. The republicans OF the state are making
a spirited canvass this year. and have good
ticket In the Held. but even With all the aid the
national committee may give them 1t is not
likely that the democratic majority caa be
overcome. South Carolina polled total vote
of Isl, 40 in 1916, and gave Hayes majority or
964 On the face OF the returns. The democratic
state ticket ran ahead OF the electoral ticket
and was elected. In the Congressional
election of ISIS the dem Gratis polled
a total OF 1lT,O2i votes, to 1901 for
the republicans. but the latter were CON-
pletely disorganized and, as is wen known,
made but poor Tight The loss of the control
Of the state had diSheartened them. and many
OF their able5t leaders left the state for good
and removed to the north This year the repub-
licans have organized for the national contest
only, They put no state ticket in the field, be-
Ieylng they could bring out the party strength
better by ignoring state issues. Should the
national republican committee determine to
enter upon the canvass In South Carolina and
aid the state organization with speakers and
money, they might be able to bring to the polls
the entire vote Of the party. Such a course OF
action would, naturally, put the democrats on
their mettle, and they would do their
very btst. 1t would heal the dissensions
that have grown up in the democracy
In the face OF a disorganized and weak opposi-
ton, but considering the vote OF 1876 there Is
no room TO say the republicans could not carry
South Carolina 1t must be remembered, how
ever, that In the last presidential canvass the
republicans had al the power and patronage of
state, county and municipal Offices, and all the
e.eetion machinery On their side, while now
the democrats occupy that vantage ground.
The chances are that the democrats will get the
seven electoral votes OF South Carolina In
spite OF all the efforts the republicans may
put forth. IN Georgia and Tennessee the dem
ocratS are divided into two factions, but both
wings, in each state, support the same cleo
toral Ticket and therefore, In the face of 70, 642
democratic majority In Georgia In 1876 and
$500 majority for that party In Tennessee,
the same year there Is nothing for republicans
to build hope upon as far as those states are
concerned. There Is one more southern state
In which the republicans might make good
nght-Nlrginia- The democratic majority In
1876 was 4f,112, but since then the party has
been rtven in twain, and now, within six weeks
OF the election. the two factions are confronting
each other in the field. AS matter Of course
the republican policy with regard to Virginia
viii depend entirely upon the action OF the
democratic factions II the latter unite upon
OHc f4tCtOfdi tlchet, IL WOuiQ De waste
OF time TO attempt to defeat 1t; If the
fight OF factions continues, then the repub-
Hcans may step Ia and win. poll tax
OF one dollar per head Is now exacted In VIZ
ginia as voting qualification. and 1t can be
paid up TO the very day OF election. Ii all
EFFORTS TO unite the democrats fail IL Is reason
able to suppose the republican national CON-
mlttee will see to 1t that the voters OF It's party
pay this capitation tax and deposit their
votes. In 1SI6 the total democratic vote was
1850. and the total republican vote 9j SIS.
The readjusters are claiming the support OF a
large number Of the colored voters. but should
the republicans engage liz an active canvass
they Will so conduct it as 10 arouse the party
enthusiasm Of this class, and bring them In line
for Garfield and Arthur