The Portland daily press., 1888-11-17
& MR. REED FOR SPEAKER.
TKennebee Journal Interview with. Hon. s. L.
Milliken.1
The Republican Party in the south,

H lbOStOu JUurudi.J
Editor Grady of the Atlanta Constitution
few weeks before election day remarked
that If the South were solid for the Democ-
racy this year 1t would be solid for the last
time. The indications are that the sagacious
editor was right. West Virginia has already
In all probability broken from the Demo-
cratic column. Virginia and North Caro-
INA would QUIZ nave done So nad tneT Glzens
an honest count. Before another four years
roll around Republican party can be organ
lied In several Of the Southern States which
no Eustises or Hamptons would dare to bull
doze or count out. A Republican. party can
be organized with Southern white men of
education and substance among its leaders,
and with intelligent and progressive white
colored men Ia Its rank and file.
Ihe potent influence which holds the
South together Is the spectre Of negro domi-
nation. This spectre Is refurbished and
dragged out and displayed atevery State and
general election. Mr.. Grady himself has not
disdained to conjure 1t up in recent politi-
cal address. rallying shaky Democratic
voters. 1t does not appear to lose any Of its
makes i absolutely impossible to organize
really strong Republican party in the South
on tue basis of the relics of the carpet bag
regime with solid c0lored vote behind
them. The hope Of Republican success in
in many Of the States from the beginning. a
new Republican organization. This IS not
the formidable or hopeless task which 1t
might at first thought seem. A Southern
Democratic Congressman said the other day:
II the Republicans should invite the co-opera-
tion OF the young, ambitious, progressive men Of
our section. the Democratic party might be seri-
ously affected. There Is a class of young men
growing ~ II The South who are tired Of playing
been In control Of the parties and have gathered
in all the fruits of victory They are waiting for a
Independence and cast their lot with the party
which is disposed to recognize and reward them.
Moreover, on the tariff issue there are
thousands of Southern merchants, manufac-
tuners aud workingmen-and their number
is constantly Interchangeable stand ready to
cast their lot with the party OF protection.
In some Of the Southern States many of the
more intelligent, enterprising and progress
sive citizens are already in revolt against
Bourbon domination, and are either neutral
and inactive In politics or are only voting
for the Republican party in their neighbour
hood repels them. There is notable in
stance Of this in South Carolina, where there
Is q regular Independent organization OF
white men, which has conducted one or two
1t IS TO these South Carolina Independents,
and to their brethren and sympathizers in
other Southern States, that the Republican
party can look most hopefully for
assistance 10 its task Of breaking
naming "carpet baggers." who are often
chiefly interested in keeping their party
small enough for the Federal offices to go
around, there is little or nothing for US to
expect. But if the Republican policy for the
four years to come is so shaped as to encour-
age the growth of new Republican organiza-
tions in the South in which native white
men of character and standing shall be rec
ognized, tn at spectre Of NEGRO domination
will be effectually buried, and the Bourbon
Democracy robbed of its sole excuse for ex-
istence. A policy of kindness and concili-
aa ,nT SP ~; IN ans ~ a;cv
as Harrison is known to fayor-will do
much toward effacing race and sectional dis
tinctions, and while preparing the way for
the formation Of new Southern Republican
party win at the same time benefit all our
citizens alike by removing the Solid South as
factor from our politics.