Evening star., 1897-02-08
SOUTHERN REPUBLICANS
Attitude of Their Northern Brethren the
Subject of Strong Criticism.
All They Want In n Fair FfelL-Pro-
sress of Republican Policies
In the South.

The attitude of some of the northern re-
prblicans toward their southern brethren,
emphasized of late in contested election
cases in the House, is the subject of strong
criticism by the latter. The northern men
are accused OF both a lack of knowledge
respecting the situation In the south, and
OF lack OF sympathy with thei- party
Trends there upon the facts that are
known and that are undisputed. This crit
icism has been heard in the House debates
but it Is much stronger in the converse
items Of the cloak rooms and the hotel lob.
h!es.
a prominent southern republican, in dis
cissinS this matter today with a repre-
sentative of The Star, said:
Want n Fair Field.
1T seems to me tha, We have heard
rearly enough of this talk about .coddling'
sc uthern republicans: about their helpless
ness; about leaving them to shift for them
Selves and that they should try and stand
aione, and all that. The southern repub-
nc ans are asking no favors, but only a fair
held and what they consider to be their
rlentS Thcy are ready and willing to nut
their record for loyalty to the country and
10 the party against that Of the men of the
north 1t has never been at all difficult Ia
be republican in any northern state
Sentiment there has been largely that way.
During the war II was overwhelmingly So
mat Is, overwhelmingly in favor of the
Union, for which the republican party
stood But in the south, and particularly
IN the border states of the south, thing,
nave been altogether different. The sharp
ess OF divisions have existed there and IL
has required both resolution and character
TO champion republican!sm and suppor;
policies growing leg:timately out of the re-
scits OF the war The southern republicans
nave mad next to no assistance in this
Abused at home, and frequently neglected.
elsewhere, they have kept the field until
al last four of those border states, 10y their
uhaided efforts, are under republican con-
etci' ara their electoral votes will be cast
Tor Mckinley next Wednesday. Tennessee
and Virginia would have been added to this
list If democratic frauds. easily proved and
almost admitted, had not triumphed.
Election Laws i'm the south,
1T is a matter of common knowledge
that the election laws in the southern
states were devised. and are executed. for
the express purpose of giving the advan.
tage to the democrats. There is no secre,
about that And yet, in the face of that
TACT, the republicans have been making as
tonishing progress. With anything like a
fair field and no favor, they would sweer
tne SOUTH But when these contests are
brought up, and the nature of those laws
Is exposed, tnere are northern republica ms
VINO taik as If the contests were of fiimsy
Character and represented only the selfish
scheming of few local politicians. AS a
matter of fact if public sentiment is ever
10 De made powerful enough to force a
change in the election laws of the south
and there are a good many democrats as
well as republicans who desire a change
IN the interests of inteerity-these contests
winch so plainly reveal the frauds and I'm
lawful force springing from those statutes
Will have contributed the most yaIua bile
agency to that end. They show the work
ings and the evils of those laws as no other
means can.
All They Ask.
The southern republicans are not beg
gars, and will not become begggars Over
much proclamation is never in good taste
but they are all right. They have given
some excellent men to the party, and they
have more of the same kind General No
BILE and Mr.. Elkins, both border state south H.
ern republicans, were among the efficien;
cabinet officers of the Harrison admins
tration: Judge Goff a border state south
ern republican, would il is generally
agreed, make an admirable Attorney Cen
eraf under Mr.. Mckinley. and there are
others who stand very high in the estima-
ton Of the country. The southern repubii-
cans are easily able to stand alone Ali
they ask Is that their mort thern brethren do
not help the democrats in the effort TO
knock them down and keep them down.