Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-08
THE SOLID SOUTH.
Mistake of White Voters-They Regard
Democratic Success Necessity.

Mistake OF White Voters-They Regard
Democratic Success a Necessity.
1t is probably true as leading Demo-
cratic organ asserts, that "the result of the
Louisiana election may he regarded as
guarantee that the solid South will not be
broken this year." The white voters of
that State, like those of most, if not all the
other Southern States, are willing to sacri-
fee everything else to the obstinate and
superstitious policy of regarding the sue
cess of the Democratic party rs an indis-
pensable thing to their political and social
safety. They have been induced to be-
lieye, says the St. Louis Giobe-DeBocrdt,
that the sole purpose of the Republican
party is to place the negroes in power over
them and introduce a reign ofgeneral con-
tempt for all differences of race and color.
The idea is false one, of course, and
intelligent citizens should be ashamed 10
entertain it; but the fact remains that
such is the view of majority of the
white voters in that section of the coun-
try. They are so welded to this hotgob-
lin of negro domination that no argu-
ment can convince them of the folly
of clinging to 4 party which in all prac-
teal respects is hiudrance and
detriment to their interests. All
considerations of business profit and
progress are put aside by common consent
in favor Of the one assumed necessity of
" keeping the nigger under" The Demo-
cratic party must lie sustained, they de-
clare, no matter what the consequences
may be in an industrial and commercial
way.
As rational a paper as the Atlanta Con-
StitHtton which favors protection and SYM
pathizeS with Northern methods of mate
rial development, cannot absolve itself
from this supreme folly. "When it comes
to a choice between the two parties in the
South" it says, "the tariff question and
the surplus don't amount to snap
of the finger. The great issue is
the necessity for Democratic success"
In other words, the people of
the South do not care for pros
perity if it has to be won by the defeat of
the Democratic party. If they could have
the wonderful progress of the North re-
peated in their territory by ceasing to vote
the Democratic ticket, they would prefer
to do without it rather than to secure it
upon such terms. That is the secret of
the solid South; and it is useless to dis
guise the fact that the work of overcoming
a sentiment so scornful Of reason and of
self-interest must necessarily be a long and
tedious one.
The task will be accomplished some day
but it will not be done suddenly, nor under
pressure of any special influence or induce
ment. There is reason to believe that the
situation is constantly improving notably
in Tennesse, North Carolina and the Nir-
ginias-but the day of actual deliverance
is still far in the distance and cannot be
counted upon for present purposes. The
Republican party must elect its candidate
for President this year with Northern
votes. Fortunately, it is able to do so. 1t
can get along without the South, as it has
done in other instances. The States that
suppressed the rebellion are strong enough
to carry National election, in spite of
Southern fraud and violence; and it is not
to be doubted that they will thus assert
their power next November