The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-02-18
Sources Of Republican Strength.

The brilliant and fertile poetic mag
ination to which the world is indebted
for Little Brooches '"and "Jim Blud-
soc" has been devoting itself recently
to political inquiry. Its possessor has
made the wonderful discovery that the
success of the Republican party is due to
the fact that of the thousands of young
men who become voters from year to
year the vast majority vote the Repub-
lican ticket" Before announcing this
theory to the Young Mems Republican
League of Cleveland it would have been
well had Colonel John Hay endeavored
to learn whether it is in harmony with
the truth. Had he made an investiga-
ton he would have discovered that the
facts are just the oppositeof his theory.
He would have found that the generous,
enthusiastic and educated youth of the
country are manifesting less and less
sympathy for a,party that rests upon
monopoly and special privileges, and
that is animated by a narrow and fanat-
zeal spirit of sectionalism. Republican
leaders and politicians have repeatedly
complained that the schools and colleges
of the country are constantly teaching
doctrines of political economy which are
utterly at war with the protective theo-
ries in support of which the party car
ried the election in 1880. To the gener-
Gus youth of the country there is nothing
attractive or lovely in a party composed
of Stalwart and Half-Breed factions
fighting like Schwalbach pigs over the
spoil of government, now allying itself
with Malone Regulators in Virginia.
and now with Greenbackers in Missis-
sippi for the sake of temporary victory.
While falsely attributing to the youth
of the country the growth of the Re-
publican party, which is not in proper
ton with the increase of the voting
population, Colonel Hay ungratefully
refuses to recognize the element TO
which Republican success is really due.
In the great States of New York, Penn
sylvania, Ohio and Indiana, the colored
voters hold the balance of political
power In every one of these States
the Republicans would have been
routed in the Presidential election of
1880 but for the solid and faithful col
ored contingent. In Indiana sys-
tematic and well-organized colonization
of negroes, conducted by Republican
Office-holders, was necessary in order to
wrest the State from the white major
ity. The negro vote of Ohio consider
ably exceeded the majority for Garfield.
Let Colonel John Hay carefully exam
inc recent statistics of elections and
population, and if he do not modify his
theory in regard to the youth of the
country when next he addresses the
Young Mems Republican League of
Cleveland we are greatly mistaken.
In Pennsylvania the average Repub-
lican majority is less than it was in the
period Immediately preceding negro en-
reimbursement. The accretion of up
wards of $4,000 colored votes has saved
the Republican party in this State, max
ing up for the detection of the youth to
whose acquisition Colonel Hay has err
roneously attributed its success. Honor
should be given where honor is due.
But for the negroes the Republicans
would be in minority in the four
greatest States of the North and would
have no party at all in the South. The
shrewd and sagacious Republican lead
ers well understand where the substan-
tial voting strength of their party lies.
They recognize the fact that me negroes
must compensate for the steady loss of
intelligent white voters who have be-
come disguised by Republican alliance
with monopoly, and who can no longer
be held by moldy traditions or attracted
by sectional cries. For this reason
the Administration of Arthur so
eagerly embraced the unholy al
lance with Mahone's Readiusters
in Virginia, while Boosting that
the Republican party is the peculiar
champion of public credit. For the
same reason the Republicans are anxious
to make coalitions with Greenbackers in
Mississippi and Texas with the advo-
Gates of any other political heresy in the
South that may afford a promise OF sue
cess. In any and all these combinations
the basis is the colored vote. For some
time to come this vote must constitute
strong reliance of the Republican
party. Hence the anxiety of its leaders
to keep the colored vote solid. After
while when the negroes become more
intelligent and further separated from
the events connected with their eman-
cipation, they viii no longer cling to
ignorant prejudices but become divided
in political opinion like their white fell
low citizens, What then will become of
the Republican party? Colonel John
Hay will have to seek something more
substantial to maintain its hopes than
his fanciful theory about the youth of
the country. Harrisburg PA. Patriot.
The tariff is becoming the most
serious question in American politics.
In this part of the country it should take
precedence of all others, for the simple