The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-24
SOME THINGS THAT WILL FOL
LOW.

We take from ule 1odiliiiioie S'ti ,A "
lowing editorial article, which we COM
mend to the most serious consideration OF
all our brethren of the South:
cantan John S. Wise. of New York. for
,ne-lv a congressman from Virginia ana
a defeated candidate for Governor OF that
state, warns the people of the South that
they cannot continue to suppress toe negro
vote with impunity. The North ana aie
West he states in the course of an ar
ticle in Leslie's Weekly. "wiil not submit
to disproportionate representation III ma
tional affairs. # the South does not give
it up gracefully the North VIII take IL
from her. and it has the power to do So
The North is waking up to the in
Justice done it by the present condition OF
southern representation. 1t will not much
longer remain generously or indlfterentiy
silent. The nation at large begins to real
ize that it is suffering incalculapie INJURY
in prestige" Captain Wise Is doubtless
familiar with The views of the Republican
leaders on this point, and While he mas no
love for the Southern Democracy, ms opln-
ion is worthy of thoughtful consideration
If the Democratic party Is beaten IN the
national election this year the Republicans
will probably attempt to perpetuate their
victory by cutting down the representa-
ton Of the South in Congress ana IN me
electoral college. Southern Democrats VINO
are indifferent to the threatened reduction
will not, Of course, recognize the neces-
sty Of harmoniZing their party through
out the country and presenting united
front to the Republican party. Southern
leaders who are not blind to the real stu
alton, and who know that Captain Wise
declares openly what is in the minds OF
most Republicans, will make an effort at
the Kansas City Convention to save tlelr
party from destruction. so that 1t may pre-
vent the threatened reduction in the
Souths representation in Congress. The
South can make the platform and noml-
nees of the Kansas City Convention what
it pleases It's salvation rests in its own
hands. If it uses its power wisely at that
convention it will De many years before it
is less a factor than il is now in Congress
and in the electoral college. If it pins its
faith to radical declaration on dead is
sues it may in the early future be shorn
of much OF its political power.
The people of the South are not dis
posed to give much attention to any opin-
ions or advice which Mr.. john S. Wise
may vouchsafe to them, but Mr.. Wise is
in the secret council Of the leaders of the
Republican party, and he knows what they
are thinking and talking about. We can
accept his statement, therefore. with conf
dence that the Republican programme is
to cut down our representation in Con-
gress and in the electoral college if they
carry the election this coming fall. The
South could very we'll afford to give up
half of her representation in Congress and
in the electoral college in exchange for
relief from negro suffrage, but to cut her
representation down in both of these
bodies, as the Republicans propose to cut
it down, would be a national calamity. It
would put the nation at the mercy Of
Hannaism and Mckinleyism, and that
surely would be a terrible scourge to In
fct upon the country.
But serious as this calamity would be,
1t is almost certain to befall the country
if the leaders of the Democratic party in
sist upon holding on to Bryan and free
silver. They are certain. to lose the cleo
ton if they hold on to both Bryan and
free silver, and they viii most probably
lose it if they hold. on to Bryan. even if
the gold standard is adopted. Mr.. Bryan
may exhaust his lungs shouting for the
gold standard, but he can never regain the
confidence of the men who control the
business affairs of the country. and via
out the support of these men no party
will ever rule this land. For the Demo-
cratic party to come into control of this
government it must cut itself absolutely
loose from the horrid nightmare of 1895.
Allowing itself then to fall under Popuiist
leadership. it SO alarmed the conservatism
of the country that it must utterly sever
its connection with all its unfortunate as
sociations of 1896 before it can regain the
confidence that 1t then forfeited.
So clear is this becoming to the discern
ing men of the party that it is hard to
find any of them who win not admit it.
Even the Cincinnati Enquirer, which gave
Mr.. Bryan and his platform a most en-
,husiastic support in 1886, takes now the
following position:
Let no opinion be injected into the
tables OF faith which Mr.. Jefferson did not
approve. Cease looking for extraneous
matter. That people which is governed