The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-01-11
NATIONAL PoLITIUs.


f1cksburg Evening fosL
The proceedings Of Congress up to
the recess indicate that there will be
q serious contest between the two par
ties in respect TO the contested seats in
the House and the general question OF
Federal election law. The latter
may involve, and probably will bring
out, fall discussion of the whole ne
gro issue in all its phases. Several
Democratic papers of prominence have
said that the Democratic members are
not only prepared, but anxious for
such a discussion.
The South has certainly reached the
point where its best interests demand
that the truth and the whole truth
pertaining TO the subject should. come
out frankly and fearlessly.> Ii is infin-
itcly better than the continual tinker
ings and frictions that have attended
the subject for years. The South is
not lacking in either courage or sim
cerity, and these two qualities should
shine out conspicuously in the consid-
Grafton of this race question. Moth
ing but good can come of candid dis
cussion and fair understanding OF
the whole subject. There is more in
volyed than partisan politics, and this
view must ultimately prevail In its
treatment by the liberal and broad
minded men of both sections of the
country.
1t would be wise for Southern rep
resentatives not to attempt to impress
the Southern people with the idea that
the North is full of malicious inten-
tion of re-establishing negro govern
ments IN the South. This is both mis-
chievous and absurd.
Practically the real issue between
the South and the administration par
ty turns on the question of the repre-
sentative power Of the South in ma
tional affairs based on the negro pop
ulation, coupled with the alleged sup
preston of the negro vote. If the
statesmen of the South will discover
some method of taking off some Of
this strain the result will bc decided
modification ofthe Southern situation.
The issue is very clearly formed, and
without adjustment promises an indefi-
mite amount of controversy and con-
tention. And yet with all its clear
ness of definition 1t is embarrassed se-
riously by the consideration that any ma
terial decrease of Southern representa-
ton in Congress and the electoral COL
lege, will impair the strength, ifnot scri-
ously jeopardize the prospects of the
National Democratic party. Appreci-
ating this consequence, leading Demo-
cratic papers North urge Southern men
against the policy ofyielding any part
Of this power upon any consideration
whatever; while the real interests Of
the South would be promoted by any
adjustment which would secure q
solution Of the question Of negro suf-
frage in local government at the price
of decrease of Federal power. This
part of the representative power Of
the South has in reality been a source
ofweakness and danger rather than of
strength and benefit.
The question viii never be worked
out through the methods of ordinary
party tactics, and everything indicates
that it will grow in intensity. Our
representatives at Washington should
take careful account of the real practi-
cal interests of the South in defining a
policy to meet the new phase of this
"bete noir" of American politics.