Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-03
UPTOWN OFFICE. 4ss EAST BROAD
WEDNESDAY.....OCTOBER 3. 1894.
The Solid South.

The South Is solid because the Eepubh-
can party makes war upon her. and thus
coupels her in sclf-dcfcnce TO show Il
solid front 10 the North. 1t Is not be
cause all the southern people hold exactly
the same opinions on the question OF pro-
lection 10 American Industries, or the sH-
yer problem. or the income-tax. or any
other question that divides the people OF
the North but because. as wa have said.
they are forced 10 stand together In de-
fence Of their rights
Naturally the southern people are more
generally States-rights men than the
northern. The war between the States
was. so TO speak. a war involving the
rights OF the several States. We say.
therefore. that naturally the southern peo-
pie are more disposed to stand by the
rights OF the States than the northern
people. who feel themselves identified with
The National Government. and disposed 10
look at all questions through sectional
spectacles. Governor Stone, OF Missouri.
I'm his campaign speeches. says the States
rights fight is still "on.'
AS oliver y. Morton once said OF the
Democrats. II may now be said OF the
Republicans, that they are like men
riding backwards in carriage and seeing
nothing until they have passed it, This
remark describes accurately the position
OF the Republican party. II sees too much
OF what is behind II. 1t seldom or never
forgets 10 keep its eyes upon the past.
Its platforms. State and national, never
fail to be charged with the sectionallsm
which has characterized that party from
the first day Of its existence until now
Ii was born Of sectionalism. 1t has lived
upon sectionalism. 1t is afraid to go be-
fore the people upon the issues when
ought 10 divide the people OF THIS couh-
try into two parties. No matter no"
many appropriate issues may be incorpo-
rated into a national Republican platform
they must have a sectional plank or two
worked into that platform TO strengthen
them with the sectionalists or the Noi'h:
The Wilmington q. c. star says oil
IN, Republicans that II they had the
power they would even now deprive the
South OF her strength and negative her
as a political factor. But 1t Is the
bounden duty Of the southern people 10
stand by their allies in the North anu
continue TO present an unbroken front
20 the enemy. IF there be doubt Of this
or Of the animus that inspires the leaders
Of the Republican party to-day. read
their hardngues. their platforms, their
appeals TO the old soldiers, their threats
and their promises. 1t would be strange
II the South were not substantially SOLID
under the circumstances. and 1t must be
an intolerable burthen for the southern
Republicans who are attached to their
southern homes and friends 10 have to
stand upon such platforms as are those
constructed by the Republican leaders out
OF rotten sectional timber.
Yes, the Republican party is a sectional
party and ought TO be buried out OF
sight. We quote from the Star:
However 1t may be afterwards. until
the Republican party is so crippled as
10 be no longer a national power, the
South must Of necessity be and remain
politically solid. for weakening or dis
Tuption means eventual subjueation bond
age, and ruin. Democratic supremacy Is
necessary To the preservation OF white
supremacy in the South. and that means
the liberty OF the southern white man
and his right TO say who shall make the
laws under which he and his children
are TO live and what those laws shall be.
Solldity is not matter Of choice; 1t IS
matter OF imperative necessity that adj
rnits Of no debate To abandon IL is to
eventually lose or surrender all that we
have won by such heroic effort"
"Solidity Is not a matter of choice. 1t
IS matter Of imperative necessity"
Ponder these words. we Democrats Of
Virginia, and act upon them. I'VE must
hang together or hang separately"