Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-28

DISBAND TIE COLORED BRIGADE
The Chicago Inter-Ocean thinks it sees
in Southern discussion of Southern differ
ences of opinion wedge to split the
solid South 1t saws:
The condition that confronts the Southern
people provokes debate and debate always
strengthens difference of opinion. And this
is the hopeful sign in the Southern
sky. When you set people to talking
you set them to thinking, and when you set a
great many people to thinking you divide them
into various schools of thought. 1t is a
matter of quite secondary consideration as to
whether the states in the lowertier shall establish
educational or tax-paying qualifcations-it is a
consideration that affects only themselves;
that which affects the nation is, whatever local
action may be taken, there is diruption of tine
old-time solidity, and from this disruption cleo
toral reform is sure to come.
Herein is the mistake of the Inter-
Ocean, and of all of its class, that they
cannot perceive the difference between
the issues that divide the North and the
issues that unity the South. Those are
largely sentimental these involve con-
siderations vital to the peace and we'll
being of the community. Men may differ
about questions of state and natural poll
icy; it is natural that they should do SO.
In the South there is no less
diversity of opinion upon these
subjects than in the North. But
these things, of minor Importance,
will never lead the Southern people to
divide upon the subject of preponderating
Importance, the question of Caucasian
or African rule. Until the condition is
removed which produces that issue they
cannot, they dare not dissolve the ties
which secure safety and peace.
The Republican party was the author
of Southern solidity, and it alone has the
power to alter the conditions which bind
the South together. The Republican
party organized the negro; it can disor-
ganize him; it made of him menace; it
can disarm and disband him as a political
army. Whenever it chooses to do
this it can gain permanent
fsthold in the South. So long
as its white recruits must attach them
selves to the fag end of the colored brig
ade, Will such recruits be confined in the
main to those. who are very hungry and
thirsty for federal office.
There are hundreds of Republicans in
this city and thousands of Republicans IN
Texas who have not voted a local Repub-
lican ticket during their residence
in the state. 1t is perhaps a
low estimate to say that the Democratic
majority in Texas is swelled by the votes
of % 200 Republicans, and perhaps as
many more contribute indirectly to that
majority by refusing to vote at all.
In the last Republican state convention,
which met in this city, one of the most
prominent leaders of the party declared
on the floor of the convention that as be-
tween the opposition ticket tacitly en-
dorsed by the convention and the Demo-
cratic ticket he would vote for the latter.
Not more than THEE years since gem
tleman who has figured prominently in
the Republican partysof Illinois, and who
stood at the head of its executive
committee for several years, de-
clared, while in Texas, that were
he to become a resident of this state he
would reneunce his allegiance to his party
and act with the Democratic party of |
Texas. The reason he gave was that he |
preferred to cooperate with the more
intelligent elements wherever he might |
happen to be.
If the leaders of the Republican |
party in the North could be made !