The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-11
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER IL, 1890
nroAY OF sECTIoNALIsM.

No cain observer Of national politics dur
ing the past twenty-five years has doubted
for a moment that the Republican party
was one OF sectionalism. IL was born oil
conflict in which the rest Of the country
was arrayed against one section, and wheh
that section and the lest OF the country &C
cepted peace, the Republican party
strengthened itself by appealing to the
prejudices engendered by the struggle
Playing upon this prejudice the Repubh-
can party partially succeeded for many
years In persuading one section OF tne
country that the Democratic party repre-
scented particularly that section against
which Radicalism was exercising It's maig
nifty and venom. Nobody considered that this
was the real sentiment ofthe North If free
from unreasonable preiudices, and nobody
believed that Republicanism could keep IL
self alive on such an issue.
Since the war another generation ofyoters
has been born which know naught OF the
war by experience. According TO Porters
census this generation has been largest IN
States which have formerly been Republic
can. and the results Of this Noyembers
election are an indication hat this new
generation cannot be corraled. by the dead
war issues. They are the basis OF the new
North. Around them are gathered thousands
of elders of the old allegiance, the laboring
men, farmers, and business men Of the
North. who have discovered that legislation
OF Radicalism was for the bencht
Of Radicalsm and its owners alone. They,
who have borne the burden and heat OF the
day, who have not received even penny
and who have been robbed of even that
which they had, have at last had their eyes
opened. They have discovered by stern ana
bitter experiences that protective tariffs OF
the Mckinley stripe protect nobody but
trusts and monopoles. their creatures, and
that a policy Of force aimed at one section
reacts upon other sections inasmuch as
capital has learned that it cannot be sec
tional with any better results than when 1t
is confined by unnatural barriers within the
limits of one country.
Slowly the country has been returning to
its allegiance to Democracy, which has
always been the truly national party. The
shifting of the votes of California, Indiana
and Connecticut in the past have been
tokens of the change. This year, 1890,
marks the great reyulsi0n. Ofthe 234 DEM
ocrats elected TO the House Of Representa-
tiyes there are but ZIG Democrats from
Southern States. In other words, Democ-
racy has majority in the House without
counting single man from the South.
Such situation should silence all talk of
the Democratic party being one of section
alism, and will undoubtedly do so with the
excep ton of few candidates for the lu-
matte asylum. Sectionalism having thus
disa ppeared from national politics, 1t be-
hooves the national party to continue IFS
course of policy for the good OF the whole
country. Acting upon this line, Democracy
In organizing the House in the Fifty-second
Congress will avoid all sectioualism
in the choice OF Speaker and the
chairman OF the Committee Of Ways and
Means and other important committees.
They will know no North, no South, no
West in selecting these important officers.
Ii will be question rather OF pub
ic policy than geography. If the
strongest man for Speaker-the man
best fitted to represent the party of the peo-
pIe-is Northerner, Southerner, or a
Westerner, that fact will not interfere with
his election. Democracy knows no section.
1t is equally wrong and impolltic TO depre-
cate the choice Of man because he is
Northerner as il is 10 adopt a similar
course because he il S0utherner or
Westerner. The only questions TO be
answered are, Is he competent. is he a
Democrat; will his election best subserye
the interests Of the whole country by
STRENGTHENING the party Of the whole cOun-
tryy The vote Of last Tuesday demon
strated that the nerve Of patriotism as well
as that of the pocket had been Jared by
contact with decaying sectionalism, and
the country, inyigorated by the reinmsion
OF sound Democratic principles, was here
after in the discussion Of great national
problems, the foundation of parties really
great, 10 slough of the canker which was
steadily eating its way into the yitals of in.
dustry and peace. Triumphant Democracy
in all parts of the country has its able lead
ers. No part OF Democracy will object to
the choice Of able leaders froll any other
part, but united for the good of the masses
Il will continue its warfare upon any party
which lives only by looting the people for
the beneft of the classes.