Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-07-05
"THE TICKET" BECAUSE IT IS 1.-THE
TICKET"

We publish in another column an edlto-
rial from the Richmond News, which con-
tains admissions and truths that are very
startling. coming as they do from South
ern Democratic newspaper. From the
undeniable statements of the News, it is
plain that the Democracy Of Virginia and
Of the South are going to stultify them
selves in the coming Presidential election,
Just as they lave done in most of the cleo
tions since the late Civil War. 1t is con-
fession that lays bare the complete inca
pacity and insincerity of Southern political
leadership, and establishes the fact that
prejudice and not principle has been the
controlling power in the politics of this
section for the past quarter Of a century.
The masses of the people have been forced
to Weld their honest convictions to the
will and wishes of narrow and selfish poll
ticians, whose highest purpose has been to
dominate the politics of the South and en-
JOY the emoluments of office.
The misdirection of political thought at
the South began with the preaching of the
doctrine of secession; and the great folly
of attempting to break up the Union,
when no necessity existed for such a
course, has been followed by a series OF mis-
takes that have retarded the advancement
of our section to a tremendous extent. 1t
was by the fault of impractical and selfish
politicians at the South that Reconstruc.
ton came and the extension of suffrage by
the Fifteenth Amendment resulted.
If the Fourteenth Amendment to the
Constitution had been promptly accepted
we would not have been compelled to pass
through the period of Reconstruction, nor
wouIi the Fifteenth Amendment ever
have been adopted.
On the tariff question the South has
been as much mlsled US on other questions.
1t must be evident to any man who gives
the subject careful thought that the South
stood and now stands in peculiar need of
the protective policy that has made the
North and East great in industrial enter
prise. Yet, we have found the political
leaders of our section clinging to the anti
Quated doctrine of free trade, and the
masses of the people allowing themselves
to be led to the support of policy direct
ly adverse to their interests.
On the financial question thorght and
action at the South haye been equally at
fault. We have seen the Democratic lead
ers first advocating the unlimited issue of
irredeemable paper money, and then rush.
ing to the support of the insane Populistic
idea of the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio of 16 to l.
Will the people Of the South never be-
come aroused to the fact that the men
who lead them in politics are both selfish |
and incapable 1t seems not. In the
Presidential election which is now upon us
the same course will be pursued. Bryan
ism and Populism, as represented by the
Chicago platform, are to be pushed upon
our people by Democratic leaders, and
new folly committed by antagonizing the
policy of expansion, which policy will do
more for the industrial development of the
South than for any section Of the Union.
The people of the South are in condi-
ton of political enslavement, and will 20
on voting the ticket because it is the tick
ct, "while feeling that we are voting direct
ly against om own interest"