The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-16
Tuu SOUTH'> FOLLY.

Tuu SOUTH'> POLLY.
Mr.. Charles Nordhon writes ro'H
Coronado. cal. to the New York Herald
a letter about the South, which those
Southern people who have gone as'rdS
ON the silver question may study to theif
profit.
His first observation is that sectional
combinations in our politics are eVll' DC
cause I'm general sterile OF results vel
tbev are tempting TO politicians who are
not also statesmen, and especially 10
those Of this class who see by experience
that they can probably swing a solid mass
Of State, in a Presidential contest. and
hone by sectional combinations 20 Sc
cure other States sufficient TO cradle them
20 carry an election.
lie then goes on TO show what DUN
der the South made when IL suffered IL
self TO be dragged into an alliance win
the so-celIed West against the So
called East"
The first mistake which the South has
made. he says. is in FILLING TO see that
the West" Of which she has dreamed
has been in all these years so far as
opinion. sentiment and political action
GO o constantly narrowing body, while
the East has as constantly and as in
evitably marched westward. That the
East" is i'm spirit. i'm temper, in opin-
ion on vital questions, has, in the course
m n
clude. for all important public purposes.
all States east of Kansas. Nebraska. and
the Dakotas and north of Missouri, while
the political West" consists of Kansas.
Nebraska. Colorado. the Dakotas, Wyom-
ing. Utah. and Washington.
This observation is solid truth and The
Times has pointed out more than once
since the election that the South i'm the
campaign of 1896 forsOok its powerful al
lies ut the North. who had always stood
by her to make common cause with the
pigmy States Of the West" The South
was invited TO join "the great West in
making war on the East and the battle
cry was 10 be free silver, and the South
was foolish enough TO decept the inyi-
tation. with the result that three of her
own States were lost to the Democratic
party. while "the great West turned out
20 be a handful of small silver States
Nth few votes and less influence. 1t wa
a poor deal for the South.
Continuing, the Heralds correspondent
refers TO Mr.. Watterson's late intervie"
90 10 I'll. Ton, nd aAI
Il wish he. who has deservedly so great
an influence i'm the South. would point out
as he can do. 10 his Southern friends that
they have made great political mis-
take: that an alliance between tie South
and the West is for them, TO the last
degree purbind and vain. that the East
has come TO cover the Middle West ane
the Northwest. so that IL counts in, as
have said. not merely Ohio, Indiana ana
Illinois. but Iowa. Minnesota. WISCONSIN,
and Michigan: that MIR. Altgeld. tryin.
TO sweep back the East with his broom
is a ridiculous spectacle. ana that il inc
South is wise If Southern men or abillty
want. as they naturally and properly do.
TO have their share of influence upon the
future of the Union. they must find com
mon policies with this great and grow
ing Fast. as they can easily and right
fully do"
More good sense: mo man liveth unto
himself" no section livoth unto itself; no
country Mveth unto itself The United
States must. in its affairs Of finance have
common policies with the civilized nations
of the earth and no section Of the United
States can afford TO be out Of line with
fhe policy of its own nation. when that
policy is the recognized policy OF the
world. Mr.. Bryan's contention that the
United States should attempt fnancia!
standard and system contrary to estab-
lished principles and in defiance OF the
whole civilized world could not be tole-
rated.
AS for Virginia. where do her interests
lie? What has she in common with Ne
braska and Kansas and Wyoming?