The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-12-01
CHANGING TACTICS.

of the States during the first portion Of this
month, aside from the local Importance and
consequences flowing therefrom have been
creating in national sense since, some FIR
more interesting and weighty results.
Parties and politicians of course have had
time to study the lessons of the various re-
turns and they are just now beginning to
shape their policy and retail their views ac-
| cordingly. Unfortunately for us, how
ever much we may deprecate the inAu-
encc and methods of the professional
politician, he controls us and shapes
the scope of party tactics and general legis-
lation and the people will have politically
enough to do they will only watch the
passing events with sufficient closeness to
see that their real interests are not swal-
lowed up in personal and party movements.
| The two chieffact in these recent elections
have given strength and spirit to. certain
questions which will in all probability
change for better or for wofse" the politi-
cal complexion of the United States. These
have only so far been incidentally noticed
| by the press at large. But "a straw too often
shows which way the wind blows and
the success of Hahoneism Virginia and
the election of Democratic Legislature in
| New York, are matters of vastly more sig
| niticance in the light ofpresent and changing
party tactics than might at first be sup.
posed One of the first and most moment.
| GUS questions affecting us as a people, and
that will come up for consideration in the
next Congress- will unquestionably be the
matter of apportionment. We all remcm.
Der what muss was raised over this mat
ter last winter at Washington, and it was
| impossible to reach definite conclusion
relative thereto. Party majoritics are
| ton Of the House, and as the
South had grown more rapidly than any
other section Of the Union, the proposal Of
the Democrats to increase the House to 3lG
members would have given . them the
coveted majority. This was opposed
strenuously by the Republicans, but ther
they had New York, the pivot upon which
our national elections turn, and districted
most advantageously for the Republican
party, and they, of course, desired ne
change. The Democrats were willing tC
adopt a basis of $40 members, under which
New York would retain exactly its present
representation for the sake of gains else
where. Now the conclusion of the whole
matter" Since the Democrats have
secured the Legislature of the Empire
State and have it in their power to redis.
| trict the great battle-ground in q manner to
suit themselves and the eXigencies of then
party their opponents are perfectly willing
to adopt the former proposal, in fact insist
that it is the only just and proper appor.
tionment, In the language, indeed, of an
exchange, this party of progress and
great moral ideas has, it seems, entirely
"revscd its views" on the subject, and
"Republican opinion is rapidly crystaizing
in favor of that number" 1t may be
seen from this that local election with
purely local questions may have
national influence and change the entire
complexion of party purposes and the Ma.
tional Legislation. 1t is n subject, indeed,
that is of paramount importance to Texas
and the South, and it is source of gratif-
cation that the Republican party is begin
ing TO adopt the views and drop opposition
to the purposes, of the Democratic
party in this particular, But there is an.
other phase Of the late elections and grow
ing directly out of the success of the Read.
justers of Virginia that is not so well calcu-
lated to subserve either the future success OF
the Democratic party or comport
with tho better Judgment OF the
hor est men Of the South, We refer to the
evident intention of disalected and ambi-
tious men in several of the Southern States
to inauguratea similar movement. They
have been disappointed in the past and
lately cmboldened by the victories of Ma.
hone, and have suffered themselves to be.
come possessed ofthe idea ola possibility
| w lpllllNdl uNSolsius inc NuuTlCStOn
News and Courier of recent date SAYS that
Judge Mackcy is eyincing his determine.
ton and re ,diness to play the role of Ma.
hone in South Carolina, and the same dis.
position is manIcsing itsclfin Alabama
and Mississippi and perhaps other
States. The cry in each east
is the same, illegal debts, bur.
dcnsome taxation and intolerance of free.
dom of opinion. 1t is not the independence
orthe movement we object to, but the ial.
sity of the protested principles, the dcma.
goguery of the proiessed leaders and the
tendency to corrupt the public faith. BY
combining the ignorant negro vote, the
minority white vote and the disaiIected and
croakcrs of the controlling party, such ode.
parturesn are rendered successful and the
fair fame Of the South, filed with as good
and honest people az ever lived under the
sun, Is traduced and the impression created
that her people do not know the sacred.
ness of an obligation. These are the com.
mon views Of the North and Europe regard
ing us and spring directly from the mongrel
condition Of politics in Tennessee and Wiz.
ginia. Ifthe old parties are to be broken
up let II be upon principle; II division
must come let II arise from On honest d.