Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-08
THURSDAY. ....NOVEMBEh o. lo'f'
What Next ?

Yv. nsxea this question yesterday. We
- q again this morning. TO the north
srn people a Republican victory sueh aS
that gained yesterday may Indicate ho-
ching more than new legislation on poll
,,co-economic questions. whilst TO the
southern people It may foreshadow sec
,,onaI legislation and renewed persecu-
ton
The solid South recognizes the Hepuph-
can party as n party when is Always
ready so 20 lcgislate as to keep this sec
ton under the control OF the Nor'n.
What ia called the "Solid South STANDS
to-day on the defensive as 1t has $1,000
ever since the close Of the war between
the States. And II IS a significant fact
that. despite the overwhelming defeat OK
the Democratic party in the Northern
States day before yesterday, the South
proper still stands solid. Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Flor-
da, Mississippi louisiana, Texas, ArKah-
sas, Kentucky. Tennessee. and Missouri
each is reported TO have elected ma
Iority Of Democrats to the next National
House Of Representatives. Maryland and
West Virginia never seeded nor pre-
tended to secede from the Union, and
they failcd to yote with the South last
Tuesday.
Thank Heaven. the Democrats will
have Democratic President until March
3. 1897. and In 1896 new House OF Repre-
scntatives will be elected. So no new
10 no.
fore that time. and surely the Democrats
may hope for better success in 1896 than
IN 1894 So that the situation is not as
deplorable as It was for years during
and Immediately following reconstruction
daya We may feel perfect confidence
that there will be nothing I'm the future
which we need fear half as much as we
had occasion to fear from Radical mis-
rule In the days when Zach. Chandler.
Charles Sumner, Oliver T.. Morton, Ben
Butler and the rest Of the gang OF the
chiefs OF the South-haters kept us in n
condition OF constant apprehension.
The Republicans In Congress VIII not
dare to undertake the restoration re
Mckinley bill. Governor Mckinley aim
self might like to see Congress undertake
the work Of restoration, but the business
men Of the country will not lend their
aid TO the scheme Besides Mr.. Reed
and MT. Harrison each desires to run for
President in 1896. "a / neither IF them
will DO willing to see anything done by
the Republican Congress which will In
crease Governor McKinley's chances for
the Republican nomination. We venture
to say. too. that Notwithstanding the
immense majority which the Republicans
will have In the next Congress. there will
be no attempt on their part to pay boun-
ties TO the sugar-planters Of Louisiana
or the sugar-makers OF any other State.
The German tariff law is tho law of the
land. and 1t will remain the law of the
land. 1t would be almost ludicrous TO
tee President Cleveland and Tom Reed
acting together on the tariff question.
But this is exactly what will never be
seen. and unless they work together, the
German tariff will be left unmolested.
We repeat. therefore. that the Demo-
Gratis need not fear hostile legislation
on any subject before 1897: and that be-
fore that time they may be in circum-
stances totally different from those which
cow surround them.
And then there viii be the silver ques-
ton TO give the Republicans no end OF
trouble. Nobody can tell what effect the
Republican victory Of last Tuesday Will
have upon the fate OF that question. The
probability would seem to be that no
objectionable silver legislation will be
resorted to so long as Mr.. Cleveland re-
mains President or the Republicans re-
tain control OF the House Of Representa-
tlves. Quay, Cameron, Reed, and all the
rest OF the Republicans who have pre-
tended TO be willing TO DO something for
the sllverites will now probably be found
chanting the merits OF monometallism.
Or they may compromise by taking steps
10 provide for another international BIZ
metallic conference.
But what Will the silverites of the
Democratic party now do? Well, as
we have argued, their hands are tied,
and they will find it difficult to get the
Republicans 10 unite them. Some OF them
viii feel now as IL they had gotten out
Of n dilemma: but others OF them VIII
consider themselves bound to agitate for
silver reform Sd long as the free coinage
of silver at the ratio OF l6 TO l shall
remain unprovided for, though they might
consistently under existing circumstances
turn the whole matter over to the Re
publican party.