Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1891-11-13
From the Pioneer Press.

From the Pioneer Press. |3s.,s 4 81 5ss5s
REPUBLICANISM IN THE SOUTH.
An address Of suggestive interest
has been prepared by Albert Griffin
and is sent out from Washington. It's
subject is "The Upper South; Its Re-
publican Probabilities and Possibili-
ties 1t deals with political indica-
tions in certain of the Southern states
as deducted from the statistics of the
last decade. Mr.. Griffin divides what
we call the Southern states into two
sections: The Upper South, includ-
ing those which are nearest to the
Northern and Middle states, and
whose inhabitants are more nearly
akin in temperament and habits to
the people Of the North; the Lower
South, including the Gulf states and
South Carolina and Arkansas, making
the thirty-fifth parallel about the line
of division. 1t is stated at the
outset that in the latter division no
advance has been made by the Re-
publican party for years; nor IS there
present hope for making any. In the
Upper South, however, the Republic
cans are organized and have made
constant gains over the Democrats
for the last twelve years. This is
satisfactorily demonstrated by tables
showing the votes by counties in the
eight states for the four presidential
years, 1876, 1880, 1884 and 1888.
The point which is made by careful
examination of each of these tables
is that tho Republican gain has,, in
every case. been largest in the states
having the least proportion Of negro
population, and in those states it has
been largest in the counties where
negros are fewest.
In Maryland, gains have been made
in every county. The total Republic
can gain for the twelve years has
been almost twice that Of the Demo-
Gratis. "Maryland." Mr.. Griffin says,
"was never black state, and is con-
stantly growing winter" The Re:
publicans began in 1875 with one
sixth of the counties, and now control
one-half of them. In Delaware alone,
of all the states in the Union, the
Republicans made decided gains last
year. Here also the blacks are
in small proportion. In West
Virginia still more rapid progress is
found; in 1876 the Republicans had,
in II counties, an average majority
of 304, which was increased in 1883
to 476 in "a counties. The net Re-
publican gain has been 1853 per
year. As to press support, the Re-
publicans are more favored here than
in any other Southern state, for it
contains almost as many Repub-
lican as Democratic papers. The
whites are increasing eighteen times
as rapidly as are the blacks, yet here,
as elsewhere, the race cry is vigorous
ly raised by the Democrats. In
Virginia SIS out Of the 100 counties
returned majority for Harrison.
Cleveland's majority was only 1859
out of total vote of 3O2,415, while
in 1875 majority of 44,112 out Of
1928 was won by the Democrats.
The same story is told by a glance at
the statistics of North Cardinal
Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas,
and in every case the increase in the
Republican vote tallies with the
decrease in colored population.
From these facts Mr.. Griffin con.
cludes that the outlook in the South
is encouraging for several reasons,
He believes that of these eight states
six may be gained for the Republicans
next year, provided the members Of
that party do their duty. The re.
sponsibi)ity lies most heavily Of course
upon local workers, but the North
can do much in the way Of encourage.
ment. Mr.. Griffin points out the
fact that while party losses were
heavy last year, they were heaviest
in the North. The election laws in
the Lower South are an obstacle to
Republican gains, but in the othe,
states they are favorable except in
the lack Of precautions against fraud,
He finds a remedy for the defects in
election legislation in the entire
separation of state from federal cleo.
tons.
Among the reasons suggested why
the Republican gains have been SO
much greater in the sUpper than in
the Lower South, is the fact that the
people Of the Upper Southern states
are more nearly allied to the North
in temperament, mentally, morally
and physically. They are more
thoughtful, industrious and thrifty,
than the inhabitants of the far South.
Slavery was less prevalent among
them than in the lower states, and
the proportion Of negroes to the total
population is smaller. The relation
Of this latter fact to the, greater Re-
publican strength is not obvious to
any one who has not made study Of
the conditions. It lies in the fact
that wherever there is a large proper
ton of negroes, tie race question is
made campaign topic by the Demo-
Gratis, who set up negro domination