National Republican., 1883-03-07
The South In Presidential Elections.

The south In Presidential Elections.
Let us see about this assumed nvincbiiity
of the democracy in the southern states, by
which is meant all of the cx.slavo states.
In 1860 the slave states were of course and
very naturally, solid against party which
held their institution to be wrong and de-
clared against allowing it to exist anywhere
except in the then existing slave states. And
so while Lincoln received every northern
ELECTORAL voto except three of New Jerseys
seven, which went to Douglas he had not
one in the SOUTH But the southern states
gave but 70 Of their 100 electoral votes to
Breckenridge, the secession candidate, the
other is going for the union candidates--3O to
Bell and to Douglas. Virginia, Kentucky,
Tennessee and Missouri cast these AZ union
votes in protest against the South Carolina
rebellion. Where then was the solidity of
democratic power at tho south2
o In 1864 eleven southern states were in re-
bcllion. Lincoln received every northern
electoral vote except tho of New Jersey. OF
the five slave states not in rebellion. includ-
ing the new state of West Virginia, Lincoln
received tho 23 electoral votes Of Maryland
Missouri, and West Virginia, while Mcclellan
received the IL votes Of Delaware and Ken.
lucky.
In 1868, with Virginia, Mississippi, and
Texas not voting, Grant carried all the north
except Now York, New Jersey, and Oregon,
and all the south except Delaware, Maryland,
Kentucky, and Louisiana. Tho south glvo
him 81 electoral votes, and only 2S to his
democratic competitor, Horatio Seymour.
In 1872 Grant carried every electoral vote
in tho north, and in the south he received So
to Greoleys GO. No solid south then.
Personal politics in 1S72 led some eminent
and ambitious republican politicians to at
tempt the formation Of great political
power of which they should be tho center.
The disastrous result of that experiment set
its leaders TO work endeavoring to vindicate
their action by showing the depravity of the
republican party, while within the party
were found many anxious to dispute the
existing leadership, and willing to swell the
chorus of the malcontonts in order to secure
their support. The total innocence ol
the democratic party in tho south
Of any Of tho oltrages which
it had notoriously encouraged and permitted
was one of the chief articles Of faith of the
new faction thus formed. The vindication ol
the democracy was accompanied by series o.
indictments against the republican party fol
tho acts Of individuals, in which it had
neither part nor lot, AS the result the people
in 1874 elected democratic house of repre-
scntatiyes This reaction encouraged the
enemy and correspondingly disheartcned the
republicans These causes, aud these alone
led to tho reformation Of tho old bourbon
solidity at tho south. For this reason only
are they mentioned, The mon who were con
comod in them are ior the most part forgotten
In 1876 the now solid south made Its ap
poaraucc, and carried all before it except tn,
10 electoral votes Of Florida, South Carolina
and Louisiana. AS thesouth united the NORTH
divided, aud tho 90 electoral votes Of New
York, Now Jersey, Connecticut and Indiani
came within n single one OF rcuding tho 20
iit.cal work Of the preceding sixteen years.
lu lss1 tho south was solid for the frs
l time iu twenty years. South Carolina anC
louisiana were mado easy captures for th,
I boughous through agencies which cannot nov
/ be proGtably discussed.
Thee year 1884 is on its way, We hav
passed the halfway house between i and III
last presidential struggle, We shall il
less than a year SEQ tho national con
ycntion called for the purpose Of nominating
candidates. Already we have seen the groa
conteuding forces maneuyering for position
Next December commences what used to b
called the president making congress-"
year from the approaching summer will b
fought thegreat quadrennal battle. The eout
is no longer solid, The close vote Of West Vii
ginia last fall and thesplendid republican gain
in Maryland give largo ground Tor hope tho