The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-02
washington POST


1t seems to US that the time has
come for the south to assert and to
assume its proper place in the demo-
cratic councils-that place being by
right one of domination. For more than
thirty years the south has modestIy
and c~ontentedly sat below the salt. 1t
has played the part of the poor rela-
tive at the banquet. Furnishing three
fourths of the strength, the zone and
sinew, the courage and intelligence of
h party. the south has meekly ac-
cepted the position of a mere Subordi-
nate, debating nothing, suggesting
nothing, satisfied to obey the orders
of a minority and to do almost all the
fighting in a campaign which brings IL
no rewards. We say to our southern
friends that this arrangement has
lasted much too long.
The south, today, eQuips the demo-
cratic party with most of its brains
n it's conservatism. There are ex-
ceptions, of course, but u PROPOSE
ton holds good as a rule, and the fact
remains that the south does not take
it's proper place in the conduct n
management of the democratic party.
1t still submits without protest TO the
disqualification imposed upon it by the
civil war. 1t still consents, after thir-
L y l. &C val VI N4lilS ain oANOA tilN
splendid demonstration Of patriotism
made last summer, to be held in an in
ferior position, to be kept out Of sight
as a thing to be ashamed CT, and to be
used only as the rank and file of an
army which it really dominates by
virtue of numbers, intellect, and valor.
No greater anomaly can be imagined
than that which is presented by the
sOuth's acQuiescence in the arrogant
and ridiculous hypothesis set up within
the democratic councils by the north
and east. 1t has reached a point at
which even northern and eastern DEM
OcratS regard it with wonder and con-
tempt.
If the democratic party is to sue
ceed in any future national contest,
it must do SO through the expedient of
the south assuming leadership. The
elections this year have shown that
the democracy can win more easily by
adhering strictly to it's principles and
by a sedulous avoidance Of time saw
ing and speciOuS alliances with pOpu-
lism. This abominabie policy was
adopted in 1888, when the eastern dem
ocrats, acting for Mr.. Cleveland, in
duced the party to abandon it's ryan
ization in states where populiStS held
the balance of pOwer-Such states as
Nebraska, for eXample-and deliver its
votes to a ticket and a platform which
honest democrats could not view save
with discomfort and shame. Mr.. Cleve-
land was the eastern and northern
fetch and dishonor could be advocated
in his name. But the policy of coward
ice and infamy has brought no strength
to the democracy, and this year the
proposition has been proved in every
state wherein hat policy was at one
time tolerated. We all know, now, that
the democrats are stronger when they
stand fast by their traditions and their
record, and there goes with this the
conviction that democratic leaders
must, for the future, be left to those
who furnish the party's strength and
common sense and self-respect.
In the south we find the fighting
material. the conservatism, and the
craftsmanship of the democracy. To
the south we should look for it's die
tators and it's leaders. The unnatural
arrangement has outlived it's time. Let
us have the dispensation of reason and
prOpriety!