Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-03-23
THE END OF "sEcTIONALIsM." ;"
1Charleston News and Courier.


The return of the Democratic
party to the control of the govern
ment is the subject of much bitter
comment on the part of the extreme
Republican newspapers. One Of
them, the New York Press, notes,
for instance, that 153 of Mr. Cleve-
lands 277 electoral votes "came from
the South )" that 30 of the As Demo-
cratic United States Senators are
esfrom Southern States" )" that OF 2l3
Dem ocratic members of the House
l20 are Soutberners; that there was
net single Republican elector chosen
by a Southern State; that there is
not a single Republican Senator from
the South, and that there are only 6
Republicans in 126 Representatives
from Southern constituencies; and
adds:
"These figures show that the Dem
ocracy is still sectional party. Its
strength lies first of all in the South:
NOutside of the Southern States and
the great cities, whose most vicious
and most ignorant wards are Demo
cratic stronpholds, the Democracy is
contemptibly weak. Even in the
South Democratic control is only
maintained by wholesale and syste-
matte crime against the ballot. In
at least one-half the Southern States
majority of the legal voters are
Republicans, who are prevented from
exercising the rights of citizenship
by Democratic terrorism. This fact
is undenied ard andeniable. 1t effec-
tually illustrates the hypocrisy of
Mr.. Cleyeland's pon.pous pretense,
in his inaugural address, OF solicitude
for the rights of colored citizens. The
free trade, Bourbon South will con-
troll the action of the Senate, OF the
House and of the administration. So
long as the Democratic party remains
in power, the evils of sectional rule
will be perpetuated"
What the Press expects to gain by
indulging in this line of statement
and reflection we do not know, but
we venture to remind it that it has
gained nothing for its party by pur-'
suing it in recent years. 1t has
ceased to be effective, for political
purposes, We believe, and the coun-
try is to be congratulated on that
fact. Mr.. Harrison was elected by
appeal to sectional prejudice four
years ago, but his administration GER
tainly did not bring the sections any
nearer together. The country repu-
dated him, and, as a matter OF fact,
it may be truly sgd that the cause
of "sectionalism-on either side
was mortally hurt by his rejection
last November The Solid South is
less solid to-day than it has been at
anv time since the war.
The Democracy is less of a ''sec-
tional party than it has been at any
time since 1860 Its strength no
longer lies ''in the South 1t has
gained strength North of the Ohio
and Potomac, and its strength in the
future will be developed there 1t is
not true that ''the free trade, Bour-
bon South; viii control the action
of the administration. ." The PreSi-
dent is a Northern man; the Vice
President is Northwestern man;
and they were elected by Northern
and Northwestern votes. The admin
istration is strong because it vas not
elected by the Southern vote, and is,
therefore, free to carry out the poll
cies which it represents without the
fear or danger of exciting sectional
opposition.
The simple statement OF the situa-
ton is that the Republican party was
purely sectionalqarty, and held and
exercised power as such. The latest
administration which it gave to the
country was wholly sectional in char
acter. The South had no part or
representation in it, and it was
defeated and rejected because of its
sectional character, and because the
people of the country had wearied OF
sectional administrations, after. oft
repeated trials of them. The Demo
cratic party appealed to the whole
people for support in its last plat
form of principles, and was supported
in States that had been Republican
for generation.l When it is pointed
out that $50 of Mr.. Cleveland's 211
votes came from the South, the fact
is emphasized that he received l24
electoral votes outside of the South,
and that these votes came from
Republican States!
The people Of the Northern States
have themselves passed judgment on
the claims Of the two great national
parties, and have condemned the
Republican parry. That means the
end of sectionalism in the North, and
it means the end of sectionalism il
the South. The "Soli,l South" passed
out of existence on the day of The
last rational election, never, we may,
believe, to be revived as a political
factor. The Press should take heart.
Unless it cares more for its party
than it cares for. the welfare and
peace and prosperity of the whole
country, it has no cause toregret the
election of Mr.. Cleveland and the
triumph Of the principles hs repre-
sents.
If we would establish any real and
enduring power over others, we-must
cultivate their trust in us. We must
;.,ssa; honest that they rely on our
lux St.y-->co sipcare that thew never