The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-30
THE SOUTHERN DEMOCRACY.

| THE SOUTHERN DEMOCRACY.
Some Of the more thoughtful South
ern papers are arguing that the South
should make itself telt in the coming
presidential convention; and why
should it not be heard. THE STATES
MAN has always held that the South
has lost by endorsing the acts of out
side political forces, instead of going
boldly to the front and helping to
shape political ends. The South COM
mitted one great crime; it warred for
just principle, but being defeated,
these Southern States are to-day as
much part of this great union Of
states aS though it never fought
it. 1t was patriotic love of
unadulterated republican gov
ernment that led the South
to take up arms against aSsump-
tions, dangerous to this form Of gov
ernnent, and the unbiased historian
of the future must admit that this is
true. The history of fraudulent gov
ernmentS in the South belong to the
carpet-bag period. When the true
people of the South-those who en-
gagged in the rebellion-once more
came into power in these states, honest
governments were re-established, and
under them the South has advanced
and proSpered us never before. Why
should not the people of the South
speak with all their might through
political conventions, demanding for
themselves nominees who would
establish honest government
at Washington, as they have made
honest governments here. Long
enough haye Southern Democrats
been dictated to by those of the East
and North, where Democracy has sig
naliZed itself by adding no material
strength to the electoral vote. Upon
this subject the Nashville American
says:
Devotion to party may be diluted
with SubmiSSivenesS until it becomes
servility. The time has come, in our
opinion, when the Democracy of the
South should not only appear in full
force at the national convention, but
appear prepared to press, with due re-
spect, the convictions OF Southern
Democrats, as to both men and meas
ures. If any portion of the Northern
people are, in fact, distruStful of us
and doubt our sincere de-
votion to the Gountry's best
interests, the sooner we come
to the front with our convictions the
better. But i'll truth, among intelli-
gent people in the North the cry
against the South is known to be a
preteXt to hold the offices. In gues-
tions affecting our national prosperi-
ty the South may have local interests,
but in all questions pertaining to the
Federal government, its foreign and
domestic policy. including the great
questions of taxation and interstate
commerce, as well as the banking sys-
temi, the Payment OF the NATIONAL
debt, and the opening of our great
water highways, and not omitting the
taking care of the government
itself. we have the same in
tereSts as the people of the
North have. TO intimate that the
people of the South are now friendly
to the government is pretentious by
hypocrisy, Therefore weinSist that the
Democracy Of the South shall freely
discuss both men and measures, and
go to the convention prepared to speak
out-not especially as Southern men,
nor in any sense in the way of insist
ing on Southern interest, as contra
distinguished from other sections, but
as part of the great national De
mOcracy-lOOking to the success of
the party, and more especially
to the goQd of the whole
country. In the presidential
contest the South has great power
and great interest at stake-intereSts
in common with all other sections Of
the country, and in proportion to the
power given us at the ballot box.
We cannot afford to cast our ballots
under the directions of even our own
party friends, but under The directions
of the organized Democracy, we tax
ing our full shares of the responsible
ity in the organization and in the
declaration OF principles by which
the country is to be governed. We
cannot afford to do less than this in
the coming contest in 1884,"
Similar doctrine to this was
preached by The STATESMAN in 1876
and again in 1880. 1t was insisted
then that we had our preferences and
that they should be made known and
adhered to. On the other hand there
was submissive cry of "Iet the
Northern States name the man and
the Southern States will vote for him."
In 1875 nominations were thus
decided, and again in 1880 it
was said, "let the North
name the candidates" Had the
Democracy Of the South other
than an honorable record; had it not
shown to the world that it is great
constitutional party, ever strug-
Cling to make and preserve
popular governments, then we would
not urge that it take a front seat at
the next presidential convention. It
has proud record, and to-day in the
senate of the United States it con-
tributes even more than its share of
patriotism and craftsmanship to
the deliberations of that august |
body. Not alone in the senate
does it win the admiration |
of all partisans, but in the house it
applies the safety spring to the
widest freaks OF government ma
chinery. 1t is full grown, earnest, |
patriotic power, and if it perform its
full part in formulating principles
and naming men, take our word for it |
the work will be better done than it |
has been for twenty-eight years.
PROTECTION AND OYER-PROTEC-
IMAM