The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-09-04
DESPERATE BOURBONS.
THE VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS IN A
TERRIBLE FIX.

They Are Sorely Worried Over the Poiit-
ical situation-By Raising the Race
Question They Think They Can Pail
Through.
Washington special 90 the Chicago Inter Ocean.l
1t is evident that the most serious
political conflict of the present year is
to be held in Virginia, and it is also
evident that the only means by which
the Democrats hope to carry the State
is TO raise the race issue and the bloody
shirt. This they have done in part in
their platform. They are doing it
daily in greater part in their news
papers and in the interviews of their
leaders. 1t was predicted in the last
Presidential campaign that protection,
If President Harrison should be elected,
would destroy the Solid South and
that it might be doubted whether the
South could be kept solid under such
circumstances during another Presi-
Dental election. 1t seems probable
thst that prediction will be verified.
The fears of the Democrats, at all
events, are well illustrated by the ex-
treme measures to which they are re-
sorting to prevent the disintegration of
,their own party on the line of protec-
ton. They have as yet discovered no
other way of hoping to do this than by
raising the race issue again. In the
platform which the Virginia Democ-
racy has just adopted at Rich
mond, which is called properly
"a crazy-quilt platform" every
concession has been made TO the disaf-
fected Democrats in the hope OF keep
ing them together. The Blair bill was
indorsed, protection was indirectly adj
vocated, the Mills bill was overthrow,
Cleveland, Carlisle, and his followers
were ignored, the internal revenue
plank of the Democratic platform was
disregarded, and every effort made TO
keep the disaffected Democrats within
the Bourbon ranks. Not certain that
these efforts will be successful, the
Democratic leaders have evidently
adopted the policy of endeavoring to
raise the race issue in the coming cam
paign as the final resort to avoid inn
pending defeat. At no time since the
war of the rebellion have the Demo
Gratis in Virginia exhibited more un-
compromising spirit In respect to ne
gro suffrage and greater determine
ton to keep the color line drawn.
This purpose was the boast OF the
speakers at the recent Democratic
State convention in Richmond and this
purpose is manifested thro ghout the
South. 1t is shown In the manifested
excitement in Atlanta over the APP
pointment of a colored man TO n posi-
tion in the postoflice under the civil
service rules. 1t is exhibited in the
Third Louisiana Congressional Dis
trict. 1t is shown in the evident in
tention of the Democrats to endeavor to
disfranchise the colored voters in Ten
neSseee, and it is most clearly demon
strated In the purpose of the Demo
Gratis to keep the South solid by raising
the race issue in Virginia. There is
no clearer refutation of the statement
which Democrats so frequently makes,
that the negro vote is divided and that
there are many colored Democrats, and
of the present attitude of Democrats in
the Old Dominion. The Bourbons
have failed TO draw over the colored
voters to their party, and they are now
seeking to infiame the passions and
prejudices of the whites by declaring
as Chairman Barbour did in the Demo
cratic convention at Richmond that
the Republicans have raised the race
issue and that the Democratic party
must meet it. The Republicans have
done nothing of the sort. 1t is the
! Democrats who have taken refuge un-
der this issue, and this is shown not by
! Republican authority alone but by the
most unprecedented Bourbon authority.
The Charleston n elcS and G ourier,
ever since the death of Mr.. Dawson, is
| frank and outspoken. 1t Is the most
J impartial Democratic observer of the
events in Virginia which are going on
near its own border. In the issue
which has just been received here, IN
an editorial on the Virginia situation,
! the following sentences occur: THE
/ outlook for the Democratic party In
/ Virginia is not encouraging. If it can
win a victory under the conditions
which it has made for itself, then in
/ deed may the Virginia Democracy be
considered invincible." OF Captain
Mckinney, the nominee of the Rich
mond convention for Governor, it says
ave hope sincerely that he will be
elected, because he has been chosen
as the leader of the party in one of the
most momentous struggles in existence,
and because, in spite of his leaning
toward the protection heresy, he is a
more honorable and trustworthy man
than any opposing candidate who can
be found in the camp of the renegades.
1t is conflict between civilization and
barbarism, between white supremacy
and negro domination. The only hope
of the Virginia Democrats is on the
color line; certainly they can expect
to win no strength by the platform OF
principles which they have adopted.
The campaign will be conducted out
side of party lines and upon the dis.
tinct issue of Mahoneism or white SUI
premacy."
This is the view of the situation
which is taken by an impartial Demo
cratic witness, and the Bourbons oil
the South are of the opinion that the
only way to prevent the disruption oil
the solid South through the influence
of protection is to raise the race issue
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN LEAGUE.
The National Committee Mecting-Plani