The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-06
The Solid South-Is 1t Solid?

The Solid South--Is 1t Solid?
In the consideration Of Presidential prob
abilities II Ia customary TO regard the cleo
toral votes OF tho Southern States as neces
sary TO Democratic success. The cleo
tornl vote OF 1872 is a.. and 223 votes arr
necessary to q choice. The Democrat,
Southern States arc expected to contribut,
159 to this total: and "a additional votes arr
required OF which New York has SO. Indiant
Is. New Jersey 10. and Connecticut 6. or @
in oil. exclusive Of Michigan. where this
year electors will be chosen on tho Congress
district plan. Notwithstanding the ne v
electoral apportionment therefore. the cit
uation Is substantially the same as 1t was
In 1876. In 1880. in 1884. and In 1883. The ad
monitory words OF Senator VOORHEES, In
the aforementioned year are worthy OF re-
production: 81 say. Mr.. Chairman and
gentlemen of this magnificent Convention.
that the lines OF battle are the same this
year rs they wero In 1894. They will not
b. changed. The trenches In which we will
fight are the same. The States where VIC
tory Is to be obtained. II we succeed at oil.
are tho same. You cannot recast the lines
Of battle. and the attempt to do 80 will be
fraught with disaster"
The Hoosier State did not withstand
the Conventions error in 1883. What II
the Southern States are unable to with
stand nomination made in palpable dis
regard OF the wishes and preferences Of
their Democratic voters in 1892? What II
their political solldty. proof against the out
ward assault OF their Republican enemies.
should succumb to internal discomfort?
South Carolina has Governor elected as
an independent. In Louisiana. only few
days ago. the candidate Of the regular
Democracy was defeated for Governor by
another Democrat. who obtained a large
measure OF his support from voters favora-
BILE to the Farmers Alliance. In Georgia
and Alabama the ramiflcations of that Or
ganization among Democrats are extern
sive. Delaware now has q Republican
United States Senator. and In the Demo-
cratic tidal wave Of 1890 1t was carried by
the Democracy by the slender plurality of
64s votes. In West Virginia. which CLEvE-
LAND carried by COG votes In 1888. the Re-
publicans are active and hopeful. Even in
Virginia, which CLEVELAND carried by only
1859 votes. there appears to be a revival Of
Republican vigor and a lively contest for
the control Of the local machine. 1t is not
too much to say that in any OF these States.
not to mention North Carolina, Tennessee.
Florida. and Arkansas. third party move
ment would be made formidable by the
nomination at Chicago OF a candidate objec-
tionable to any considerable number Of
Democratic voters.
First. and above all else. these States are
Democratic. In support Of the principles
of the party their allegiance cannot be
shaken, but many Of them are permeated
with the idea that larger measure Of
financial freedom would be secured by
moro generous volume Of silver coinage.
and that it would aid greatly In the indus
trial development Of these States. The
nomination. therefore. OF a candidate OPP
posed not merely to this view Of monetary
question. but opposed also to the suprem-
acy Of Congress In legislation. and hold
ing himself superior to the pledges Of tho
party upon which he depends for support.
would mean a third party movement of
dimensions dangerous to the Democracy.
Under ordinary circumstances. and with
. sound and popular Democrat at the head
OF the national ticket. the Republicans OF
the South. pitiably weak In their claims to
support on ordinary State issues. could not |
expect to profit materially from Demo-
cratic divisions OF sentiment But. as was
shown to be the case in 1888. there is O |
strong aud growing protection sentiment |
In many Southern States. from which. In a |
national election. the Republicans would |
again derive benefit.
These considerations we'll deserve tho |
thoughtful examination OF Democrats |
everywhere. That they are boing examined |
to good purpose we have constantly multi
plying evidence in the choice OF delegates |
to represent Democratic States ut the
Convention.