South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-01-11
acknowledgements
F RlDAY, JANUARY IL, 1889.
MR.. GRADY's SPEECH.

We but repeat the words Of another when
We say the accompany ing speech Of Mr.. a.
W. Grady delivered at the Augusta, Geor-
gia, Exposition on Thanksgiving Day.
I'VE commend 10 the careful reading OF
every man and woman into whose hands
this paper falls. II deals With the greatest
problem ever put on any people,.
TWO DANGERS CONFRONT Us.
The south is now confronted by
two dangers.
First. that by remaining sold it
will force a permanent sectional a.
lignment, under which being in mi.
nority. it has nothing to gain, and
everything to lose.
Second, that by dividing, it will
debauch its political system destroy
the defenses Of it's social integrity.
and put the balance Of power in the
hands OF an ignorant and dangerous
class.
Let us discuss these dangers for q
moment.
As TO the trst. I do not doubt
that every day the south remains SOL
id, the drift toward q solid north is
deepening. The south is solid now in
a sense not dreamed OF In anti-bel.
lum days. Then we divided on every
question save one. that Of preserving
equal representation in the senate.
Clay championed the protective tariff.
| Hau Of r.l
when Carolina threatened to nullify.
Folk OF Tennessee was made pres ident
over Clay Of Kentucky. In 1852,
Pierce received the vote of twenty
seven states out of thirty lone, though
this period marked the heighth OF
slavery disturbance. The sou b was
solid then on one thing alone. On
all other questions pational suffrage
knew no sectional lines. To-day
the south is mass OF states merged
into one. Every issue fused in the
srdor OF one grea, question, and our
l53 electoral votes hurled as rifle
ball into the electoral college. The
tendency of this must be 10 solidify
tie north. Indeed, this is already
being done. Seymour and Blair, IN
1868. on platform declaring the a /.
mendments nulland void, were beaten
In tie Eorth by Grant, the hero OF
the war, by less than l00, 900 votes.
Mr. Harrison, twenty years later, be It
Cleveland with fawless record and
careful platform, over 100000
votes in the northern states. The
solid south invites the solid north.
From this status the south has little
to hope. The north is already in the
majority. More than FIVE million
immigrants have poured in her states
in the past ten years, aud will be de
clared in the next census. Four new
states will give ler eight new sena-
tors and twelve cleo oral votes. In
the south but one state Las kept pace
with the west-and that one, Texss.
has largely gained at the expense of
the Atlantic states. The south had
thirty eight per cent OF tue electoral
vote In 1880. 1t is doubtful if sic
will have over twenty-five per cent
in 1890. To remain solid therefore
is to incur the danger of be-
ing placed in perpc tual minority,
and practically shut out from psttici-
patton in the government, into which
Georgia and Massachusetts came as
equals-that was fashioned in their
Common wisdom defended in their
common hood, and bought of the ir
common treasure. TApplanse.l
But v hat CT the other dsngerP Can
we risk that 10 avoid the frstp |
am sure we cannot. The very worst
thing that could happen to the south
IS to have her white vote divided
into factions, and each faction bid.
ding TOT the negro who holds the bal,
ance OF power. What is this negro
vote Z In every southern state it 10
considerable, and | fear It is increAs
ing. IL is alien, being separated by
racial differences that are deep snd
permanent. IL is ignorant easily
deluded or betrayed. 1t is impulsive
dashed by a word into violence. II
- purchasaOle, having the incentive of
poverty and cupidity, and he restraint
OF neither pride or con viCtion. 1t can
never be merged through logical or
orderly currents into either OF two
parties, II Two should present them.
selves. We cannot be rid of IT,.
There it is, vast mass Of impulsive,
ignorant and purchssabls votes. With
no factions between which TO swing
IL has no play CT dis ocstion. But
thrown from one faction TO another
It is tho loosed cannon on the storm
tossed ship. There is 90 community
that would deliberately tempt this
danger. No social or political fabric
That could stand its strain. The
Tweed ring, backed by smaller and
lees irresponsible following than .
shrewd clique could reilly and control
IN every southern state, and daring
lees Of plumber and insolence than that
following would sanction OF support,
dotted cut party lines IN New York,
aad made its intelligence and integ.
/ Iity as solid as the south ever was.
Party lines we're promptly recast be.
cause Ne" York had to desl with
the vicious who once punished may
be trusted 10 sull in quiet white their
wounds heal. We deal with the ies
norant, that scourgsd from power TO.
day, uay be deluded Tomorrow in
assaulting the very position from