The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-16
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE
S0IlIH


SOUTH.
There are indications that the National
Republican party has determined to adopt
different policy IN the South Ever
since the negro became voter, il has
depended upon him to get control of one
or more of the Southern states 1t is be-
ginning to understand, if it does not al
ready, that the negro can never be Of any
assistance to il. The white people viii
control the Southern states, and they are
solidiy Democratic, and will likely remain
so as long as there is any danger of negro
DONNA ton in local affairs
II is worthy of notice that the Republic
cans of the North appear to take little
or no interest i'm the efforts which are
being made in Southern states to dis
franchise the negro. Now and then some
thing is said in Congress about the dis
franchisement of negroes in Louisiana.
South Carolina and Mississippi, and the
proposition TO disfranchise them in North
Carolina and Virginia, but the Republican
party does not seem disposed to object
to the disfranchisement Of them. If such
suffrage laws as have been passed in
three of the Southern states had been
enacted twenty years ago, the Republican
party would have attempted all sorts of
retaliat tory Legislation. Its silence there
| fore must mean that it is not so much
concerned now about the negro vote. as il
once was. 1t may also mean that it has
come to the conclusion that it would
stand much better chance of getting a
firm foothold in the South without the
negro vote than with it.
One thing that bears out this view, is
the action of The Republican National
Committee on Thursday, in deciding in
favor of the Warmoth contesting delega-
ton TO the National Convention from
Louisiana. There are three delegations
from that state seeking seats in the Ma
tional Convention. Besides the Warmoth
delegation, there are the Wmberly ana
Herwig delega tons. The Warmoth dele
CATION represents the white Republican
element. The Wimberly delegation is COM
posed largely of oficehoders. and has
behind 1t the negro voters. The Herwis
delega ton does not represent anything
except a few dissatisfied place hunters
There is no doubt that the Wimberly
delega ton represents the great bulk of
the Republican voters of Louislana-that
is the negro voters But there is no pos
slbility of that faction being able to as
sist the National Republican party in any
way. 1t cannot elect congressman or
a presidential elector. on the other han1
the Warmoth faction has the support
OF big element of white sugar planters.
1t may be able to elect one or more Re-
publicans to Congress from the sugar par
ishes. 1t may, in fact, be able to build
up in the course of time, strong white
Republics party in Louisiana. 1t looks
therefore as if the Republican National
Committee had deliberately turned down
the delegation representing the negro
voters, and given encouragement to the
white Republicans of the state
because of a determination of the Nation
al Republican party to change the
policy 1t has heretofore pursued in the
South-that it has come to the conclusion
that the wisest course to pursue is to try
to build up a white Republican party in
the South.
Some of the negro leaders appear to have
the idea that they cannot depend any
longer upon the Republican party 20 fight
their battles for them. This is shown bv
the proposition made a week or so ago by
negro leaders at the North, to start
negro party.
This Interpretation of the course that
has been pursued by the Republican party
within the last year or two, with regard
to the negro, may not be correct, bu,
there are some very good reasons for
thinking it is. ID is certain that the Re-
publican party is not nearly so sollc-
ftious respecting welfare of the negro
voter as It once was