San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-11-29

glish farllament. ne was ALSO tne
English commissioner who negotiated
the fisheries treaty last spring.
Earnest Words to Southern Men.
Now York Voice. Prohibition.
No good comes from refusing to
look facts squarely in the face. Afaot
is persistent, stubborn thing. We
may scold at it, deny its existence,
turn our heads or shut our eyes, but
[ it is still there, unchanging and un-
changeable. Here are several facts,
men Of the south, facts that you must
look at.
The democratic party is defeated,
badly defeated, having lost the presi-
dency and both houses of congress;
and this, Notwithstanding that it has
been in power but four years and has
given the country an administration
that was little complained Of After
a quarter Of century Of struggle it
got the reins of the government into
its hands, but it had not strength
enough to retain them after it got
them.
Another fact: The republican con.
gress will at once admit into the sis
terhood OF states North Dakota,
South Dakota, Montana and Wash
ington territories. This will add
eight members to the republican side
of the senate, and will help every way
the political supremacy of the solid
north. What political folly, suicidal
folly, it would be for the south from
this time on to go manage, politically,
as to array the solid south against
the larger solid north! That is just
what the Dorseys, the Elkins, the
Quays wish it gives them their op-
portunity. The south, by continuing
its solidity, is doing battle against
the multiplication table, and in the
end must surrender to the most dan
gerous elements now in control OF
American politics, Dudley, Quay &
Co. In fight of this kind the south
is helpless and must remain helpless.
It's influence upon the government
will be nil It is not to the advan-
tage of the south, it is not to the ad-
vantage of the country that any one
great section should be denied it's
legitimate influence with the govern
ment. This is government Of the
people by the people. But if solid
section continues to be arrayed
against solid section, it will be hence
forth a government Of the people by
it's larger and ever victorious north
ern section. It 10 great unwisdom
for the less numerous section to per-
nit such o division of voters day
longer than it can help it.
What should the south dot Will
it permit us to urge upon it's consid-
Grafton what seems to us a wise, pa
triotic coursei We look at the south
ern situation from distance. One
may be too near for full view. Dis
tance gives wider survey, broader
view. At any rate we wish the men
and women in the south who believe
in the purification Of politics, in tenn
perance reform, to listen to our words.
If you will interpret rightly the
signs of the hour, this your defeat, is
a grand opportunity. The over
whelming need of the country is o
division of voters along the lines OF
new living issues. 1t is q quarter Of
a century since the war, and yet be-
cause of the memories Of that war
the south is more solidly democratic
than it was in 1868, and the north
more solidly republican than then.
This condition OF politics is abnormal,
is terrible menace. We must get
the voters OF America to turn their
faces to the future. A normal divis-
ion of voters must be brought about;
the men of progress,n orth and south,
be brought into one party. and the
conservative men Of all sections into
the other. The body polite cannot
be healthful unless this result 10 ac-
complished. Aud conscience must be
gotten into politics.
Now, il the south will let 90 the
past, and place itself in the front
rank Of political progress on the side
Of the future, Of best ideas, Of the
impulses OF the nation, il will greatly
help in the formation Of the National
party OF the New America, andi will
have its legitimate influence in that
party.
For a work OF this kind the south
has great advantages. In the south
more than IN the north the church is
supreme. The foreignizing Of our
institutions has gone forward more
slowly there than here. The import
ed saloon has got q feebler grip the
American Sunday and the American
home have felt less its corrup-
ting power. In this respect,
at least, the south is more American
than the north. To-day q majority
Of the southern people are ready for
prohibition. and could be led by the
best Of its leaders into q national
party that has prohibition as its dom
mating Issue.
A successful movement Of this kind
will divide the negro vote and the
white vote IN the south and vii tins
eliminate The color line from politics
and free that land from one Of its
greatest dangers. II vii end the
solidity Of The sonth. and that ended,
the solidity of The north WI disap-
pear. In this vay The south vill end
two great dangers that besst u and