Times-promoter. (Hernando, DeSoto County, Miss.) 1898-1970, 1898-12-24

not counted, and the Democrats
obtain an increased representa-
ton in Congress and the electoral
college by reason of it. All we
obtain in the South by the sup
port of the colored brother is a
social Ostracism which renders it
almost impossible for a respect
able white man in that section to
be known as a Republican. If
there were no negroes in the
North We would have everything
to gain and nothing to lose by
acting on Mr.. McKinley's sug-
gestions. But it seems to me
that the President ought to go a
little slow. We have. 10000 col
ored voters in the State of Ohio
alone. Eliminate the colored vote
from the Republican ranks and
Ohio would be practically q Dem
cratic State today. If we decide
to kick out the colored vote, can
we make corresponding gains to
offset it? It is an interesting
question. | am inclined to think
that we could not at the North.
The race question has never been
an issue at the North and it is
impossible to get our people ex-
cited over it. I do not believe
that if we should formally re-
nounce the colored brother polit-
ically that we would make any
material gains in any Northern
State in consequence Of it from
the ranks of The Democratic
party. You must remember also
that the very fact that the South
practically remains solid polit-
ically is Of help to the Republi-
cans at the North. 1t keeps
many people i'll line who might
otherwise be inclined to stay
away from the fold. The ulti-
mate result might be better to
have a reforming of party lines
and associations, but politics is a
practical business. Politicians
cannot afford to speculate too
much on the future; they have to
deal with the present There is
no likelihood of our carrying any
Southern State for President in
1900, and without the colored |
vote we may lose number of
Republican States at the North.
Senator Hanna agrees with me
that this is not Il time for stopping
over. You can say that Mr.. Nc
Kinley has been cautioned on
this point
Another Republican leader,
who enjoys the confidence of the
President, said: 81 do not be-
lieve that the Republican party
should give itself any particular
concern over the possible loss OF
the colored vote. I think we
would be better off without It.
But where would the colored
vote go anyhow if it should leave
the Republican party? 1t could
gain nothing by organizing a new
party, and it is out of the ques-
ton to assume that any consider
able number of colored voters
will ever join the Democratic
party. But in any case the Re
publican party would be stronger
today if it did not have the hand
teapot the colored support. There
are hundreds of men even at the
North who would come over to us
the moment we are relieved Of
the stigma of being a black Re-
publican party
William M. Hahn, of Ohio, who
is a member of the Republican
National Committee, and one of
Senator Hanna S able lieutenants,
was in town recently. II don't
he said, whether John
can be induced to be-
come q candidate for Governor Of
Ohio next year or not. There has
been some talk about it, bu. |
,hink that the health of Mrs.
Sherman will keep him from en- /
5ering the field of politics again
even if he were inclined to do so.
Do think that Mr.. Sherman's
recent interview in which he crit