The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-01-23
The Solid South.


While some courageous Democratic
papers deny that the election of Carlisle
was the result of the work of Southern
Congressman, it is yet very generally
recognized and proven by many occur
rences of minor importance but similar
tendency, that the Southern States will
try their best TO continue as solid
political factor, and that their success
in the election of Speaker from among
their own people was manifestation OF
this policy. And the more this factor is
recognized, the moro grows also the
feeling in the North that the time has
not yet come to place the Government
in the hands of anybody who would be
advanced by the old Confederacy di-
rectly, or whose actions would be Sc
cretly controlled by it. The very fact
that the South is "solid in all great
political contests proves that it con-
siders its own interests as paramount
and will use its strength in the first line
for their advancement. That in case of
q Democratic victory the South would
rule is matter of the greatest GER
tainty. The great Democratic flood
tide of last year brought 1874 Democrats
into the House of Representatives, of
which one hundred came from the old
Confederate States, and ninety-four
from the North. But of the ninety-four
latter many came from strong Republi-
can districts, and were elected because
their Republican opponents were either
personally weak. or were defeated be-
cause the general clamor for moment
ary change did not meet their earnest
attention, and they succumbed in many
instances merely because they had too
much reliance on their own and their
party's strength. OF these ninety-four
Democrats it may then be safely as
sumed that not more than sixty or six
tv-fve can ever be reelected, while the
chances are that the number of Southern
Democrats will be increased to one hun
dred and five. The probable proportion
of Southern Representatives to Northern
will therefore be nearly two to one.
In the Senate the South is even
stronger yet. The Democrats have not
got the majority of this body, but they
lack only two votes. Should they gain
these, then the Democratic representa-
ton will consist of four-fifths Southern
and about one-fifth Northern men, il
Maryland, West Virginia and Missouri
are counted Southern States, as they
might as well be, considering the spirit
shown on all occasions by their repre-
sentatives in Congress. What power
would Democratic President from the
North have under such circumstances
should the Southern majority decide on
legislation favorable to its own inter.
estsP And would not such President
by the very nature of things be under
certain obligations to the South which
would have furnished three-fourths oi
the Electoral Votes necessary to his cleo
tion.
The reign of the Democratic party
under the present circumstances means
nothing hut the reign of the South
Even should the President, the Vice
President and the Speaker of the House
be Northern Democrats, still the South
ern Democrats. possessing the large ma
iority of their party in the law-making
bodies, would make the politics of Their
party and decide the course it shall fol.
low. Burlington HdtCkeye.