Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-02
SOUTHERN PokIrICAL INrELLI-
GNNCE.

ZION Win the hepuOncAu party II -
an accession that hasgiven no strength,
however, for the Independents have
brought lew new voters to the Republic
cans. But they have brought many
new and fantastic ideas, such as repudi-
alton, anti-prohibition in some States
and prohibition in others, and these
fantastic ideas have made new factions
in the old party. On the Republican
side, therefore, there is less unanimity
than there was in 1880. Besides
the disgust of the 'straightout" faction,
the revolt of the negroes Is loss that Is
already felt or feared in some Congress
sional districts, and gives promise Of be-
ing felt in more. The negro's gradual
change of Political faith is perhaps the
most conspicuous change that is taking
place in Southern politics. Since Gen.
GRANTS defeat at Chicago the Repub-
lican party has lost one Of the strongest
holds it had on the negro mind. This
man gave you your freedom" was for
wears an irresistible plea to vote for
every nominee of his party. Indeed,
the personal power that Gen. GRANT
had over them was really greater than
any purely political power that the Re-
publican party ever had. He was
their great hero. They worshipped
him, and had an implicit faith in
any party or in any policy of which he
was thought to be leader or an advo-
cate. 1t was stronger influence than
any other great name has had over a
people in modern times. The freed
men felt that their freedom was his
personal gift, and many for long time
believed that but for him they would
again be enslaved. Gradually and nat
urally, therefore, since they have ceased
to hear his name as leader, they have
become more independent in politics.
At very recent election the number OF
them that have voted for Democrats
has doubtless been greatly exaggerated
by Democratic newspapers, but it has
been gradually increasing. 1t must be
remembered, too, that everywhere eX-
cent in the "black districts" one of the
most noteworthy and important chan
pes that has occurred in the South is
the advancement of the negroes in in
telligence and in independence. This
has been observed by all classes of men,
and all classes Of men have praised
them; but it is doubtful whether the
politicians of any party have under
stood the important bearing that this
improvement must soon have on the
strength Of the political parties.
Enough of them to hold the balance
of power will soon be subject to the
same influences that control the polit-
zeal actions of other men. They will
think for themselves, they will form
plans of their own, they will ask con-
cessions and offices for their votes, and
be strong enough to refuse their votes If
concessions are not granted and offices
given, and they will be as easily led by
Tho lo-.,~ ~.~s,..~- ~-.i. -f..-S.c'"~ "a 'shA
other. The necessity, as they conceiv-
ell it, of being Republicans has not been
felt by them since they began to recover
from their hero-worship.
All political calculations that may be
made in the future without reference to
this indeterminable quantity will be at
fault. This year negro candidates will
| probably cause directly the defeat Oftwo
| anti Democratic congressman - Mr..
| Wise, Readjuster candidate for Con-
gressman-at-IIarge in Virginia, and Mr..
| Hubs, Republican candidate for Con-
gress from the Second District of North
| Carolina. The Republicans of Virginia
| have nominated negro who will ut
least draw from the Republican Read
| juster candidates votes enough to cause
| the election of Mr.. Massey. 1t seems
more and more probable, by the way,
that Mr.. Massey will be elected. He
has many personal friends, he is an in
defatigable worker and very shrewd
politician.
The most conspicuous policy, new
! Mt least in its present prominence, of the
Democrats in the South is their unani
nous demand for the abolition of the
Internal revenue tax. No convention
of importance has met this year that
has not included this demand in its res.
olutions. The Democratic candidates
for Congress, who have already begun
to make stump speeches, insist upon it
with great emphasis. One strong rea-
son for the prominence of this wise pol
icy is the abuse that the Republican
collectors of revenue have made of their
offices for political trickery, an abuse
that in many districts is to-day hardly
less shameful than the abuse ofpower
by the carpet baggers. On this tissue"
the Southern Democrats are unanimous.
There is a confusing disagreement
about the abolition of the tariff, except
for purposes Of revenue. Many promi-
nent Democratic politicians, most of
the members of Congress and most of
the newspapers favor the abolition of
the tsritf, except for revenue, but there
is a fear of Democratic disagreement
that las kept this idea out of the resolu-
tiOns of most OF the conventions and
caused it to be a subordinate subject on
the stump. There is, however, no evil
dence offs party in the South that shall
| favor protection. Two Republican
| conventions have adopted protection
resolutions, but they were followed with
such bursts of rhetoric about the growth
J of manufactures that they look too
much like a flattering bid for the votes
of the unthinking. 1t is noteworthy
that the speeches, particularly of Sena-
tors Morgan, of Alabama, and Vance,
of North Carolina, in opposition to the
| tariff and in ridieule of the Tariff Com
! mission have been enthusiastically re-
eeived in nearly all the Southern States.
The gradual losing of the negro vote
by the Republican party, the emphatic
demand for the abolition of the internal
revenue tax and for the revision of the
tariff, and a general but not emphatic
| demand for an abolition of the tariff
except for revenue, by the Democrats,
are the most noteworthy facts that the
campaign has yet made known; and
the political speech-making, except
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