Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-24
Criticism on the Recently Held Re
publican Convention.
IT WILL MIKE TROUBLE NEXT YEAR
The Old impeachment Of the
Southern Vote Revived
BY ITS OWN PARTY LEADERS


can circles at the nature of the charges
growing out of the recent meeting of the
republican state committee of Louisiana.
The object of the meeting was merely to
fix a day for holding the state convention
for nominating state ticket. but presi-
Dental preferences cropped out, and much
bitterness was aroused. 1t is alleged that
money was freely used. and each side Is
piling up affidavits in support OF It's ale
cations against the other.
Whatever the truth may be. the effect of
the strife, it is feared, will be serious
throughout the state, and In two ways.
Renews the Old Charge.
In the first place, 1t renews the old i'm
parchment of the southern republican vote
When in the past that impeachment came
from the democracy, or even from disap-
pointed republican candidates living In the
east, 1t was resented with some warmth.
1t was characterized as very unjust.
Southern republicans insisted that they
carried themselves quite as creditaoly IN
national conventions as did their eastern
brethren; that their politics were no more
Influenced by money than the politics OF
any other section. But now, in the present
Ease, the Louisiana leaders openly acc use
one another and throw discredit on their
own performances. That this matter VIII
go further-certainly into next spring s
STATE campaign, and then into me repppll-
can national convention seems 10 De lneV-
liable. If it costs the party unity of &C
ton in the state campaign, and gives lhe
state to the democracy by a large ma
jorit-. republicanism throughout al the
surrounding states must suffer, and Whel
it reaches the national convention 1t Will
be used as a peg on which to hang criti-
cism of the whole southern representation
in that body.
Impair Claims Put Forth.
In the second place. it is calculated 10
impair the claims recently put forward in
behalf of the south as regards new condi-
lions there. Some notable strides in re-
publicanism have recently been made IN
that section. In half dozen states men
long accustomed to act with the democracy
have left that party and taken their stand
under the banner of protection. The south
has become the hope, in manner, OF the
high protectionists, who see great Things
for her in the application of their policy
to her enormous possessions of raw ma
teriais as. developed by northern capital.
Republicanism in the south, 1t has been
said, meant a new life new leadership,
new organization, The old order had
departed and new order had been brought
about. The south must henceforth be
reckoncd with, not as section having
only delegates to be secured, but votes in
the electoral college as well.
Mny Chill Expectation.
The fear now expressed is that this start
in Louisiana will chill somewhat expecta
ton on that score. II southern leaders
come out and ascribe boodling methods to
one another ana employ accusations that
for years they resented when employed by
the democracy they cannot hope to escape
paying a very heavy penalty. The old cry
will be heard again, and this time they
themselves will have raised it-that the
republican field in the south Is open TO
serious criticism and that 1t can only be
successfully cultivated by certain very OBJ
jectionaEle methods
Could Not Name the Candidate.
1t has never been believed that, in any
circumstances, the southern vote would be
permitted to name the candidate next year.
In the most promising analysis of the
changes down there, holding out the hope
of success in several of the states for the
presidential ticket. the south, in the main.
has always been counted for the democ-
racy. But 1T Is held that If the contest for
delegates there is not raised above the
plane of that recorded in Louisiana, any
candidates southern support may cost him
prestige in the west and east, and initiate
against him In the national convention.