The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-09

IN an article on the pJllllcaI outlook Ior
1855 the New York Sun has the following
10 say with respect TO the South For
Southern Democrats the contest which will
be settled next November involves an issue
more tremendous than any mooted change
in the tariff, for there is grave reason to
fear that the restoration of the Republi-
cans to nscendancy at Washington would
be followed by the rigorous suppression Of
tho present white mans government in the
States Of Louisiana, Mississippi and South
Carolina. BY seizing the pretext which
the census offers them, and re-establishing
black rule in those unlucky commonwealth,
the Republicans would thcnceforth be re-
lieved from the necessity of
carrying New York. The immiuence of
such danger should never be lost sight of
by southern Democrats for they best know,
from their grievous experience as well as
from the history Of Hayti, whether the
families of white men could remain with
safety in communities, all whose judicial,
legislative and administrative powers were
lodged in the hands of the negroes. As the
Southern Democrats have most at stake
upon the fortunes of their party, and will
be able TO shape its declarations and its tao
tics, we have faith that the convention will
do nothing to leopard their fundamental
interests, which, in our Judgment, are in
separabe from those of civilization
The tariff is an issue that the South will
not lose sight of, not withstandng the fact
that the san and other protectionists will
spare no effort to make it do so. The South
has always favored a low tariff, and it still
favois such a tariff But while it takes care
its interests are not ieopardized so far as the
tariff is concerned, it will also see to it that
the schemes Of the Republican leaders to
put some of the Southern States under Re
publican control are not successful. There
is no doubt that Senator Chambers
bin relative 20 tho control of Congressional
elections in certain of the Southern States
will be vigorously pushed this winter, but
even if it should become a law, of which
there is no probability, it would not accom-
plsh what the Senator hopes 1t will. What
he seeks is not so much honest elections as
the election of n number of Republican
Congressman from the South. He assumes,
of course, that the negroes are oil Republi-
cans, and that they will vote the Republi-
can ticket every time they have an oppor-
tunity TODD 50.
The Republican leaders, however, are
making mistake. The negroes will never
again vote solidly the Republican ticket,
either in this or any other Southern State.
They begin to understand the Republican
party, and the more they understand it the
less inclined they are to act with it. BY the
liberal use of money and persistent urging
that party may secure a larger vote than it
has since the overthrow OF the carpet-bag
governments, but the vote will never again
he large enough to give the negroes control
either in county, city Or State affairs.
The negroes, to a very great extent, have
withdrawn from politics, and many of them
have become Democrats They have the
same rights, under the law, that white
people have, and they find they arc better
off when they keep out of politics. They
prefer to be in harmony with the people
among whom they i've and upon whom
they are largely dependent. If there were
hundred Chambers, and all of them should
devote their time TO building up a negro
party in the South that would render the
Republican party efficient help, they would
not succeed. 1t would be misfortune for
any Southern State to pass into the control
of negroes and their white allies. but it is
gratifying that there is no prospect that
any one of them will suffer such misfor-
tune.
Senator Chambers bill and threats are
not regarded with alarm in the South. The
Southern people understand much better
than Mr.. Chandler does what the feeling
among the negroes is, and they have no
fear that the negroes, as a race, however
much they may be urged, win ever again
play the part in politics in the South they
once did. As their condition improves they
will take an increasing interest in political
affairs, but they will do so with a better
understanding of the issues, and their in
terests in them, than they have ever yet had,
and they viii not all be on one side. The
time has past when the Republican party
can depend upon their solid support.