New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-23
SOUTHERN REPRESENTATION

Tn n recent reference TO the sentiments of an
article from Tie Neu-O Orleans States, 1t was
quoted without correction of the statement 10y
that paper that the South" had 138 electo-
raj votes. IL il not easy to say what states
the New Orleans journal meant TO include IN
the Southr but if it meant TO exclude Del
aware. MARYLAND and West Virginia, with sew
enteen electoral votos, from the list of States
formerly slaveholding and usually termed
Southern, its computation in that case was
correct The number of electoral votes of the
sixteen States usually called " the South is
l53 and a. that section formerly had lbs IN
stead of 1856, it may perhaps he assumed that
there WAS not nero forgetfulness OF the new
apportionment. but that it was intended TO ex-
Glade Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia
from the list of Southern States, as not being
absolutely safe for Democratic purposes. Why
these should be omitted and Virginia included,
one finds it hard to understand.
But the ideas of single Southern journal as
to the extent Of the political "Sou:h" do not
| change the fact that all the former slave states
| form, in essential respects. one political di-
vision. 1t has been made solid by force and
| fraud it is true by a series of conspracics
| and crimes that are without a parallel In any
| other country called civilized. Bnt the result
| cannot be denied. Freedom of political choice
and action has been as completely denied, to
| great part of the people III that section, as II
they had no rights under the Government what
| eyer. and no share in it. A desperate OIL
earchy. rules still, "a it did before the war, and
| its disposition and character have not been
| essentially changed by four years OF war. or by
nineteen years Of peace with free labor and
growing prosperity. This 10 Il most lament
| able fact, but still it Is q fact. There Is still n
probability that every Southern State will be
made to return Democratic ELECTORS, by any
crime OF fraud that may be requiitse to that
end. whenever their 1853 electoral votes can
enable the Solid South to seize the Presidency.
| In 1880, this section had only 1873 electoral
| votes. and has gained 10 by the lew apportioD
ment. With a population of 1S,5OO,OOc, of
whom only small part are truly represented
| in its political action, it can control the
| United States whenever it can add its solid
votes to those OF Northern States having only
| 4S electoral votes. 1t was hoped that Mr.. Tilden
| could carry New-York and Indiana, then hav-
| ing so; now the Same States have 81. 1t was
| hoped that General Hancock could carry New
| York. New-Jersey, California and Nevada,
then having So electoral votes, six more than
enough with the Solid South. He did carry
the Solid South and New-Jersey, California
and vada, but failed in NewYork. But
| now California has gained votes, and
New-York l, so that the same States would
cast So electoral votes or z more than enough
with the Solid South. New-York, New-Jersey
and Nevada would not quite answer; nor
New-York, California and Nevada; nor Ohio,
Indiana California and Nevada, if that were
possible nor Pennsylvania, Indiana and New
Jersey. In fact, the situation has been changed
scarcely at all by the new apportio ment, and
the Solid South-if it can be kept sod-still
| needs the aid of about the same Northern
States to make its capture of the Government
| possible.
1t was to many a disappointment that the
latest appOrtonment did not result in greater
changes OF political power. Dividing the
country into three great sections, the East en-
bracing New England, New York, ew-Jersey
and Pennsylvania, the South embracing all the
formerly slavehOlding States, and the West all
the rest of the country, the change of electo-
raj votes was rs follows;s