The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-14

into their hands, the negroes have drawn
the color line. and have invariably voted
together as against the Democratic
party the party OF the white man In inc
South. That solid vote has always to be
rcckoncd with. for II is always solid. and
always a temptation to political adven-
turors TO utilize Il TO their own promo
ton. and IS. therefore. a constant menace
to the peace and good government OIL
every Southern State
II is true that in some Of the Southern
states. in Mississippi. in Louisiana and IN
South Carolina. the negro vote has large
~ been eliminated. and our correspondent
may naturally ask why It is chat strong
minority party does not spring up IN
these States, where there IS no dan
ger. under restricted suffrage. OF negro
rule. In The Times article from which our
correspondent quotes, we mentioned
South Carolina as ono Of the states in
which there was such indifference TO tho
Congressional election In 1895, ana yet
as we nave said. in that state, the negro
vote Is no longer a factor I'm state poll
tics. Why then the indifference In South
Carolina? We reply that the Southern
whites have gotten so in the habit Of
standing together SO in the habit rf be
longing to the Democratic party that
Democracy. as they understand II, is
ruling passion. and # is hard 70 break
away from the old associations and the
old fears. In the South. the word RE
publican" Is regarded as another
term for nogroism. As consequence
the whites i'm South Carolina ana IN
other Southern States continue TO stand
together largely. we say, from force OF
habit and association, and they will con-
tinue TO do so for years TO come even
I'm States where the negro question has
been eliminated.
In all such States. the fght is in the
urinary elections. and as a nomination
in Democratic primary is equivalent
10 an election, when the general elec-
ton comes of, there is rarely amy oppo-
sition 10 be rcckoncd with, rarely an OPP
position so spirited as to awaken interest
and bring out hhe voters. Democrats
know that their candidate is going TO oe
elected. whether or not and many Of
them do not trouble themselves 10 80 TO
the polls.
Our correspondent desires 10 know IT,
in our opinion. the scheme of proper
tional representation" as set forth IN a
phamphet which he incloses, would
help the South out Of her present diff
Guilty" We have not space TO 80 into
this subject but we may say in a word
mat neither scheme of proportional
representation" nor any other such
scheme would help the South out Of the
difficulty TO which we refer. Existing
conditions will be changed in time per-
haps. but until they are changed. until
the danger of negro rule is completely
removed, until the Southern people shall
I'm a measure, have forgotten their past
experiences. until the whites feel that
they may safely divide on economic
questions, they will continue TO vote
with the Democratic party. Their con-
tests will DE in primary elections for
the nominations, and there will be little
interest in the regular elections. 1t Is
an unfortunate condition, for under our
system Of government it is necessary TO
the best government, that there shall be
two strong parties, Inc one aTayed
against the other each holding the other
in check, and requiring the party i'm
power to answer TO the party out
Of power for its acts. We repeat, that
in our opinion. the great sneed Of 'the
South to-day is a strong respectable,
minority party. but We confess that we
can see no immediate promise Of the sup
ply.