San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-03-09
THE CHANGE TO BE.

The political redemption Of the
Republican party in the southern
Estates draweth nigh. twill prob
ably take the beginning Of the
looming century to see that redemp-
tion accomplished, but the signs
of the times all favor a radical
change by the time that the ma
tional election of four years hence
is upon us. That change will come
by the wisdom and intelligence of
the great masses of the southern
people taking direction of political
affairs in the primaries and in the
conventions. The south, as such,
always did take a stronger person
al interest in politics than the
north, and until the close of the
late war the men who were first in
business and first in social stand
ing and first in real braininess
were also first in political
affairs. The north has been at
the mercy Of the demagogues
in the large cities, who have made
merchandise of the votes of the
ignorant millions from foreign
shores, to such an extent that the
better classes have largely retired
from politics, or at least had done
so until the dangers of the situa-
ton forced them into the contest
for better government. At the
south the difficulty has been in
forming such union of the in
terested as will overcome the mass
Of ignorance that lies upon the
republican party in it's sup
posed absorption of the colored
vote of the gulf states and the
Carolinas. That difficulty is be-
ing removed in two ways. First,
by a growing acceptance Of the
truth that the colored vote of the
south is not republican vote.
Second, by the growing belief in
protective policies as absolutely
necessary to the development Of
the manufacturing industries of
the southern states. This grow
ing conviction is forcing the
brains of the young democracy in
to the republican party, or at least
fronting them toward that party
and suggesting to its leaders the
wisdom of making overtures to
this intelligent wing Of the old
democracy to aid them in over
coming the incubus of its ignorant
direction, by demagogues and those
with political axes to grind.
There is no doubt that this move
ment has taken deeper hold on the
southern mind than has yet be-
come apparent to the ordinary OBJ
server, but it is the leaven in the
mass of southern politics that will
work i'll it until the whole is
leavened. In this work there will /
be no declarations inimical to the
interests Of any, and the old
declarations Of political equality |
will hold good, but it will be the
equality Of brains and wisdom and
intelligence and incorruptibility,
not the equality Of mere numbers.
In this change that is surely COM
ing over the face Of the republican
policy In the south, the transfer of
power from the north to the south
will be is great measure effected.
The south will be solid for protec-
ton, and in that solidity OF idea
and action it will act as a unit, and
there will be less division in the
councils of protectionists than now.
The country will gain by having
intelligence direct political action,
there will be no loss to the voters
OF any class, for better protection
of all just political rights will fol-
low the control OF the primaries
and the conventions by those who
only have the interests OF good
government at heart.
Judge Clark officially and person