The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-07-12
The Bourbon Programme.

In the Presidential campaigns Of 1876
and 1880 the Democratic hope of sue
cess was based mainly on the unity or
soidity of the Southern States. The
first care of Democratic leaders and
platferm-makers was to make sure of
the Sold South. and then to bid for the
support okdeubtful States in the North
The tendency of this policy was, of
course, to make the Democratic party
subservient to the dominant sentiment
in the South, which was notoriously
hostile to all the war and reconstruc-
ton legislation of the Union party.
In spite of all the dust-throwing, the
issue every time presented itself in clear
and sharp outline to the people. On
one side was the Solid South and such
Northern allies as it could secure; on
the other were the States that fought
the battles of the Union. There was no
escape from the logic of such division.
Putting aside all the pretensions and
subterfuges, the people went to the bot
tom, where, met by the simple question:
''Shall the section once in rebellion or the
section always true to the Union ruler"
they werequick to answer; and, with that
issue before them, they always will be.
After the campaign of 1880 many
leading Democrats did not hesitate to
say that the policy which kept the
South solid as a factor in Democratic
success was mistake, and it was an
nounced that another campaign would
not be made on that theory. This an
nouncement was made when it was nee
essary to placate constituencies in the
North clamoring for return to ma
tional policy; but now different spirit
seems to prevail.
Some weeks ago the Democratic
National Committee adopted resolutions
warning Southern Democrats against
all schemes looking to breakup of the
Solid South, and against all ti-Bourbon
movements, even when led by so
good a Democrat as Alexander II.
Stephens. Every Democratic State
Convention in the South will be asked
steps to discipline all those inclined to
break away from Bourbon rule.
Among the papers urging this course
is the Augusta (Ga-) Chronicle and Con-
stitationdhst, which, in an article on
Southern unity, says:
South Is the weaker division of the Union,
and, worse than that, through the preponder-
Is now controlled by individuals who honestly
believe the States lately in rebellion" have
Having all the machinery of Government in
their hands, they are enabled TO do as their in
fortunate el eG persons % who are potsntates in
power. viii probably manage the affairs Of the
great Republic very much as they please TN
the next Presidentelect assumes the Execu-
tive chair. Then, In the event of Democratic
success, there win come q chanee, and TO that
end all the energies Of tn: South should h S be
can she best act to throw on the fettersS Unity
guarantees strength and endurance, and the
has more force than body Of the same
And the most feasible plan Of organisation is
susgested In the resolutions presented BY
ecutive Committee, by whom they were
adopted and transmitted to the several States
| for ratification by their respective conven-
meetings called to select delegates 10 the
| Gubernatorial Convention to instruct their
spss RSd n
| vention assembled, the Empire State would
hsr snS Knit Il
| er, as one, the entire South, against the en-
croachments Of the stronger half Of the Union
:. This shows that the work of unifying
the South for the Democratic campaign
of 1884 has already been inaugurated.
The conception of the plan is the work
of the National Democratic Committee,
and the order of the execution comes
| from the Chairman of that Committee.
There could not be a clearer indication
of Democratic purpose, ora more author
| itative declaration ss to policy. The
campaign of 1888 is to be made with
Democratic success based on the uniica-
ton of the South. As to how this unity
Is to be secured the paper quoted above
says: 1.-The adoption of the Barnes res
olutions by the Georgia Convention
would not only effect an organization
so perfect that the South might make
herself felt in the Union, but which is
of equal Importance, she would soon
teach those independently inclined
prominent Democrats a lesson that they
would not soon forget" ra
This is significant. Independents as
well as Republicans are to be pro-
scribed. ALI who cannot be whipped
into the traces are to be taught lesson.
| The Democratic National Committee, in
advising this course, commits the party
to the Bourbon programme. The lines
are already drawn Liberal Democrats,
Greenbackers, Readjusters, and all who
are not in favor of the Solid South idea,
are not Democrats in the eyes of the
law laid down by the committee and the
/ Southern leaders, The next Democrat
ic campaign is to be fought on the old
idea that the only hope Of that party is
in the South, and that .' the only hope
of the South is in continued solidarity
and biding her time" This is the issue
as made up by the Democratic leaders,
and the people will be asked to meet it
CHICAGO Inter Ocean.