Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-05
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 3. 1890
Sectionalism.

As We had occasion 10 say yesterday, we
have repeatedly expressed the hope that
the grand organization of Farmers Al
liances" might be the instrument destined
by Providence to cause the dissolution Of
the Republican party--a party which
ought TO have died long ago. there being
now no earthly reason for its existence.
slThe Republican party is not only sec
tional party, but is negro party. 1t Is well
known that Mr.. CLEVELAND received ma
jority Of at least million of the white
votes Of this country at the election of
1888. HARRISON owed his election, first, TO
the negro voters, and secondly 20 that
States'-rlght feature Of the Federal Consti-
tuition, which allows 70 the smallest State
az much power IN the United States Senate
as il allows 70 the largest State, and which
also allows all these senators TO be repre-
sented in the national electoral college.
Under the operation of the Federal Con-
stitution still more singular results have
followed from the facts we have stated.
We believe that we might say that from the
time of the surrender at Appomattox
Courthouse until now there has rarely
been time when the Democratic party did
not number among it's adherents moro Of
the white voters of our Union than the
Republican party could number. Even in
1865. if (there were no negro voters them
all the southern States had been permitted
TO be represented, as under the Constitution
they were entitled TO be represented in
the national House of Representatives,
their representatives, added to the Demo-
Gratis from the northern States would have
constituted majority in that body. But
the Clerk of the House Of Representatives
made up his roll 10 suit THAD. STEVENS and
his malignant supporters. and as soon rs
Congress assembled the two houses pro-
ceeded 10 pave the way to the long SUI
premacy which the sectional Republican
party has ever since that time enjoyed.
They did their work so well that the Demo-
Gratis have never since 1866 had possession
at one and the same time of both the legis-
lative and executive departments Of the
National Government. though they have
had possession of the presidency and Of
each house of Congress at different times.
1t is high time that sectionalism had
come to an end. SO think the farmers who
on Wednesday last at Ocala, Fla, speaking |
for all the farmers in tho Union, passed a |
resolution denouncIng the force bill and |
deprecating its passage. The adoption of |
such preamble and resolution by such q |
body of men is good sign. Having for
some time been looking to the farmers az
possessing an organization which might
be able to crush out sectionalism be-
fore the next presidential election, we
were not surprised by the action of |
the Ocala Convention. We shall not base |
too many hopes upon that action, for the |
farmers who spoke at Ocala may be ahead !
of their brethren generally in the northern |
States. We do not know how this is, but
we indulge the belief that the northern
people have settled down into the convic-
ton that the white people of the South
ought to be allowed to solve the negro
problem in their own way. As we have
said heretofore, tho northern people mani
tested such kindly spirit towards the peo-
pie of Mississippi when these latter were
trying to make q constitution to defend
themselves from negro domination that we
could not but hope that sectionalism was
doomed.
On Wednesday last Mr.. TURpR, of In
diana, in speech opposing the passage of
the force bill stated facts which show that
the northern people are in no way differ
ent from the southern people when it
comes to electing proper persons to fill the
State and Federal offices and govern the
country. In neither section are the ne
groes allowed the supremacy. There are
exceptions 70 this rule in the South, but
none in the North. where hundreds of
thousands of negroes are treated with su-
preme contempt.
All these facts being as we have just
stated them, We cannot but continue TO
cherish the hope that, what with the sound
teachings of the farmers and an improved
state of feeling among our northern breth-
rem, the death Of sectionalsm is at hand.
Said We not truly on yesterday that tho
yerv nature Of the Republican party pre-
vents it from adopting the creed of the
Farmers National Alliance Can that party
denounce tho force bill2 We need not
answer.
The Street Find.