The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-04-14
LAMAR, OF MISSISSIPPI
HE DIssECTs THE ''sOLID SOUTH"
BUGABOO OF REPUB-
LICANS.
On What Issues the South is Solid On What
Divided.

| leuReu 70 lno cODHQethuOn OI what inc bOutn u
really solid about, and on what II is divided by
passage in Senator Don Camerons little outburst
The elOquence Of Lamar 10 only surpassed by the
power Of his arguments and facts.
The Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cameron)
says; E .. ..
1--WE know, and my opponents know, that II
Virginia takes her stand upon that platform the
solid South is a thing OF the past"
Mr.. President why should the solid South be
broken, especially when 1t is to be done by the
great sacrifice OF principle which we think this
coalition involvebi Has not the Republican party
the possession Of all the Departments Of the Gov.
ernment and nearly all Of the great States Of the
Northi Whence, then, the danger from the solid
southP
What harm has "the solid South" done to the
prosperity and glory Of this Country2 It is but q
short time since 1t became solid" by the cessa-
| tion Of the reign OF force and bayonets Take
her history from that time as connected with this
Government, and show me where she has de.
Quoted anything from your National security or
abstracted single iota from your National pros.
perity. She came here through her representa-.
tiYes, first as part Of the minority and soon
afterward as a part Of the majority in both
branches of Congress, She came at q time when
your commerce was lsnguishiRg, your agriCul.
| ture PROSTATE, when mercantile insolvenCes and
bank ruptcies were rushing like simeon across
| this Nation when your currency was depreCiated
| when the balance OF trade was against you, and
when, according to the statistics OF your journals
| three millions of tramps were wandering aimless
| and homeless through the length and breadth Of
| your land The solid South has been here from
that time to this, and during the entire period Of
the presence Of her repre- sentAtivGs in this Cham.
Der and In the other House the world has held its
breath In silent astonishment at the progress you
| the country, has made In all that Rdorns and
| fortihes and ennObles nation. Your commerce
| has revived your agriculture is prosperous, your
manufactures are operating to the full extent Of
| their capacity, the demand for their products far
exceeding their abilities to supply them, YOUR
currency is the best In the world, the balance Of
trade is in your favor, and all along this line Of
progress we And according to the recent census
| that the South In every element Of prosperity is
not far behind the foremost States Of the North
and West.
Now, sir, do not pretend that the presence of
| "the solid South has caused this marvellous
| change in your prosperity would Rot presume
| TO say that In the pres nee OF the honorable SEN
| atOr from Ohio (Mr. SheTman,) the late Secretary
| Of the Treasury, who was present In another De.
psrtment Of the Government while 1.-The solid
South" Wss here, during all the progress OF this
marvellous National transformation; but what I
do claim is that the presence OF "the solid 5Outh"
In full force here In the councils OF the Nation
| with her own chosen Senators and Representa-
| tives has not retarded the progress Of our COM
mon country has not distracted from its pros.
perity. affirm the progress OF this Nation In all
that constitutes National glory, and prosperity,
| and honor, and The presence OF the solid South
In its councils are facts that are cOexisten even
II they do not sustain to each other the relation
OF cause and effect. l say that It's presence here
| has been at least no hindrance to the National
prosperity and therefore does not justify the
great Republican party OF this Senate IN stepping
| down from It's high pedestal Of National honor to
take within It's embrace the cast Off element Of
| the Southern Democracy
There is In the existence Of the solid South and
Its presence here no such menace TO any interest
In this country as can justify or excuse the COali
| ton which is here proposed.
There was time in the history OF this country
| when "tbe solid South" that is solid" as II is
now organized, was not present In the councils or
this nation; when the men who are here now
| were prescribed while reconstruction hOurished
| over them; when the President, the Senate, the
Supreme Court the Federal judiciary, and the
| State Governments were all In the hands Of the
party represented by the Senators on the other
side Of this Chamber, and the solid South"
| could impress none of It's influence upon the
| action Of this Government or any OF It's depart.
ments; when 1t was represented alone by the
| solid North and By the unscIupulous and ire
sponsible dependents Of the Republican party
| from the South.
Sir, you will have the picture Of what this Gov
eminent was when "the solid South" was not
herei l will give 1t to you, although 1t was pre-
Bented TO the Senate on yesterday by the So latOr
| from South Carolina, Mr. Butler. distinguish
ed Republican Senator, distinguished for his
learning, his judicial ability, his eloquence, his
high scholastic Rttainments, his devotion 10 the
Republican party, and his intense, iTTeCoROilable
hostility to "the solid South" has painted the
picture OF the period when this Government was
not buTdened with the hated presence Of this ao'
cursed South,
my own public life has been very brief and
| insignificant one, extending little beyond the
duration OF q single term OF Senatorial Office, bus
| in that brief period have seen hVe judges Of q
high court Of the United States driven from OtiOe
by threats o. impeachment for corruption or mall
administration"
Siuce 'the solid South" has been here, can you
point me Ave judges Of the Federal courts that
| have been driven from their high places upon
| charges Of corruption and INSTRUMENTATION
| ~ have her rd the taunt, from frendlest lips,
that when the 6nited States presented herself In
| the East to take part In the civilized world In
generous competition In the arts OF life, the only
product OF her institutions In which she surpassed
| all others beyond question ...
No question about that, the single thing in
/ which our Government
Surpassed all Others beyond QuestiOn--
At that time when "the solid South" was not
/ here, was In
| Twill read further
| ''Wnen the grehIebL IhllIOhu OIbu6 WOElut Oluu-
| ing together the continent and uniting the two
/ great seas which wash the shores, was finished.
| have seen our Nation triumph and exaultation
/ turned 10 bitterness and shame by the unanimous
reports Of the three committees Of Congress-tWo
| Of the House and one here-that every step OF
that mighty enterprise had been taken In fraud"
"The solid South" was not here when the
| shame fell upon the Nation; and II seems to me,
SIR that when men with this record fresh In their
| memories olamor about the dangers and the vices
| OE a pnlHd 9Oufhn THAR nhnnka WOul0 mantle
] with shame.
II have heard In highest places the shameless
doctrine Rvowed by men grown old In public
0ffice that the true way by which power should be
gained in the Republic ID to bribe the people with
the Offices created for their service, and the true
end for which 1t should be used when gained Is
the promotion or selfish ambition and the gratih'
cation Of personal revenge"
Sir, that taunt touches no man on this side OF
the Chamber,
Il have heard that suspicion hauns the foot.
steps OF the trusted companions OF the Presi'
dent"
One thing is certain sir and that since the solid
South has been here no such corruption has re-
vealed In the high places OF this Government.
do not say that IL was her influence which has
eliminated It, but do say that contempOraneoue.
ly and simultaneously with her presence here "
took It's flight; and claim that she has been no
obstacle TO the restoration Of purity In the ad'
ministration Of your public ahaire.
| A noted lobbyist is reported TO have remarked
| that "Bince these Internal Democrats nhu BOlten
here to Washington the lobbying business had
dried up.t said he, I'm the name OF God, do
you expect gentlemen OF the lobby to live on
0xyRenT ,H.u..., ,H.U,..FH. ...-,--..
MT. President so much has been said about
"the solid South" and no much against II as q
justification of these extraordinary combinations
aud affiliations that | propose TO go little
further into the subject II Is charged that BY
1.-THE solid South" Rllying itself with the party
that constitutes the minority at the North, tseeks
to get possession and control Of the Government,
and to WELD its power for its own selfish pur'
poses. Sir, II the Northern people cannot see for
themselves the fallsey 'of this view and the an
realty Of the danger alleged no argument that o
Southern man can advance will avail anything.
II ia easy 70 Lee that II the North chooses to WELD
this Government through the fundamentally OK
either political party It can do 70 and hold "the
solid South" In On impotent minorisy-a minority
as impotent In the Democratic party ~ II Is IN
the Government at this time, ..... .rr
The idea that tho South under any combination
Of parties will ever again obtain control o. thiS
Government and directits powers independently
OF the will OF the North is Of all ideas the most
absurd and Chimerical, The North iFthe majority
and the dormant section OF this country, The
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