The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-14
THE SOUTH'S Discomfort.
IT MAKES HARD WORK ron DEMO-
Gratis IN SOME CONGRESS DISTRICTS
Ths Popuiists, Their Reppsr,esr Au,ss, s-d
the Negroes May Carry so-e Districts
Now Represented By De-oer.ts-Cs-ses
OF the Democratic Dissatisfaction, that
Has Strengtheres the PSpuItsts

OF the Democratic Di-sstisrsctio, that
H.- Strengthened the Pepuiist-.
ArLANrN, Ga, oct 13.-The Congressional
campaign in all the Southern States is at white
heat The Democratic slump or the Populist
gains IN Georgia have encouraged the Populists
and Republicans throughout the entire South.
White the populists and the Democrats are
fusing in the West and the Northwest to defeat
the Republicans, the Populsts and Republicans
are COMBINING In the South to defeat the Demo-
Gratis. IL Is n queer mixture, hut the average
Populist leader simply wants Office, and doesn't
care how he gets IL. His followers want money
without working for 1t. They have an
idea that the $50 per capita which the
Populist orators talk about means that sums will
be banded over to every citizen. Their idea Of
silver and state bank currency Is that they
eau borrow money without security at per
cent. interest and keep the loan as long as they
can pay the interest. This may sound like an
eXaggrratiOn. but Us n matter OF fact nearly so
pee cent. of the white Populists of North Caro-
lima Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi
neither read nor write. The mortgages they give
20 the country merchant upon their mules and
crop for the supplies they purchase are signed,
"his y mari" Look ut the census reports. see
the percentage ofwhite illiteracy in these States
then remember that % per cent of the illiterate
are Populists, and you will readily understand
the situation.
The negro except in the cities where his vote
IL u commodity, has gone bodily into the Popu-
list party. Ninety per cent. Of the negro voters
Of these States are absolutely iliteratc. They
have been carried into the Populist party by the
forty acre and mule promise In slightly
modified form. In Georgia they will tell you,
with the utmost good faith, that when Tom
Watson gets back to Congress every negro in
Fatl,. .t,,I.
lars. and that the Government will see to IL that
each one Of hem owns his own farm. They are
absolutely 50 worked up in sections of Georgia
and Alabama over the prosperity which they, In
their cuntdng ignorance. think Is coming to
them that the farmers cannot hire the labor
needed to pick out their cotton crops. The
fields are white and the cotton is being beaten
ont of the bos by the rains because the ne
Grocs prefer not to work except just barely
enough 10 buy meat and meal. And yet the
very farmers for whom the negroes refuse to
work are followers Of the Third party and neg
lcct their ripcne,l crops and drive miles To hear
a Populist speaker tell them Of the depression
under. Democratic rule and OF the good times
coming when the Populists run the Government
1t Is an amazing condition Of affairs and one
that must excite the sympathy of any honest. |
intelligent man. The Democratic argument
does not touch the Populists. They will not |
listen to a Democratic speaker and there seems
no way to remove the delusion under which they |
arr laborng.
Men OF this class compose the mass of the Pop
ulst party. Yet there are shrewd. smart. and |
able men among them. There are many dissat-
isfeti and disappointed Democrats who are with |
them. In Democratic division and discomfort |
lies the strength Of such men.
In the South there thousan ds OF discon- |
tented Democrats: thousands of men who have
been disappointed in the policies of the Admins
tration. They want cheaper money down here.
They want more money. Banks In the smaller
towns nre lending money on absolutely safe and
sound security at from twelve to eighteen per
cent. they can LENT. all they have at such rates
without risk. and consequently they will lend no
cheaper, " there was more money in the coun-
try the people believe they could borrow at eight
per cent. The loan companies do lend money at
that rate. but they dedus ten per cent. in max
ing the loan. and lend NJ one-thrd of the sal
able value Of the land.
Out of this discomfort has grown a divided
South. In time the trouble will be rcmedici.
and tho south will resume its Democratic solid
=. Tho renewal OF good times and prosperity
seriu,is division In the South. and the fusion OF
Pgpulists and Republicans makes many doubt
heretofore been Overwhelmingly Democratic are
Ln-day In the balance, While the Democrats
klnd II work TO do il. Already the people are
- ln''lly divided and the feeling is SO Intense
,hHt personal dificSl.ss hghtlns cutting:
be"ncra, killed PopuIist do S@S' in age 2arlS
and hsTe = D general "i fen on din
hat county between the friends OF the two men
more Filling before election s day The d9isi"Ss
: not In few Congressional districts, but all
N every State there is an opposition candidate
q the Democrat and in many districts the re-
In the entire south there are only three nat
lrally Republican districts. Two are in East
rsnnsssee and one In southeastern Kentucky.
n these that the Democrats are making no con-
ests. There are two Congressional dis
republicans that win be redeemed The Fifth
North Carolina district. now represented by
Democrats, rs both the Republicans and the
popultsts have cand dates. The Seventh South
dss now ed by George
aim by only +5 votes two years ago, Is certain 20
% redeemed. The Democrats have nominated
congress eight years ago, and who. in the Fifty
t9l. Elliott Is very strong In the district and his
lentlon is sure thing.
4 Which the Populsts carried In the State cleo
iHn last week there are dozen extremely close
oli1 Democratic deiegstion viii probably be
broken INTO BY 9ne Republican. owing 70 the
emoyal nf the sugar bounty by the new Tariff
Aw- More than half the sugar planters OF
touisisna say they have severed their connec-
ION with the Democratic party; They are par
ienlary strong in the Second Congressional
district. which comprises a portion OF the city
4 New Orleans and four sugar parishes. In this
ltatrict the Republicans have nominated Dudley |
,olemsn and the sugar people have endorsed
nm, While the Democrats will fight for the
district they have little hope OF success The |
ther five Louisiana districts are safely Demo-
ratio. There Is absolutely no danger OF the Re
'nbicans carrying any but this one district.
In Tennessee the Republicans will OF course
ct the First and Second districts. In the |
eCond there are two Republican candidate
Judge Gibson aud John Houk-but no Demo
ratio candidate. The Democrats are largely |
Importing HOuk. The story OF this fight was
Did IN The Sun several weeks ago
In the Third and Eighth districts the Demo- |
rats are In danger. In the Third, or Chatta-
oOga district, H. G.. SnOdgrass, the present |
Congressman, was renOminated. but his oppo-
enis allege It was by trickery. and many OF
hem have kicked over the party traces. On the |
ther hand, the Republicans have nominated
oster v. Brown, strong and wealthy citizen |
I Chattanooga, OF recognized popularity, and |
he pOpulists and dissatisfied Democrats are |
tInRr. IL |