The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-18
M'LAURIN on REORGANIZATION.

M'LAURIN ON REORGANIZATION
Senator McLaurin of South Carolina has
an article in the current number of the
Independent (New York; in which he
gives his ideas with respect to the New
Southern Democracy" BY way Of intro
! duction he tells what he thinks is the
matter with the "old' Southern Demo-
cracy, if that characterization may be
| applied to the party of the two last pres
idential campaigns. The party, he says.
| has been "mongrelized" by the infusion
into it of 'popullsm, socialism, T1llman-
ism, sectionalism, and all the other isns
of the day" In this connection it is not
to be lost sight of that Senator McLau-
rim himself came into political existence
as one result of "Tillmanism" in the
South Carolina Democracy, an ism"
with which he now finds himself in oppo-
sition. Continuing the Senator says the
great cardinal doctrines Of the party have
been lost sight of in the scramble for
Democratic success, while the party itself
has degenerated into an oligarchy for the
election to the presidency of w. j. Bryan
The party leaders, he says have aimed to
commit the Democracy to no vital issue
IN national politics, but to keep it in
opposition and obstruction to any policies
favored by the Republican party.
The Senator next asserts that no great
national political party can hope for sue
cess by remaining always a negative
force. 1t must have positive policies,
definite aims and progressive ideas AS
conditions advance, the party must ad-
vance with them. The South, he points
out, has made and is making wonderful
progress in manufacturing and kindred
Industries. 1t is beginning to see that the
great American questions which have
grown out of the national events of the
last three years have exerted a potential
influence" and that in them are 9TH.
fruits of the upbuilding of our whole
country-of making us one of the great
powers of the earth-of opening remun-
crative foreign markets to us as the lead
Ing exporting nation, and Of extending the
influence and blessings of our Republican
institutions"
He does not, however. believe in the
destruction of the Southern Democracy.
He would, he says, preserve and revival
lie 1t. He would get rid of the '.isms."
and the hybrid character which is fruit
full of discussions. If, for the purpose of
revivifying the party it becomes necessary
to adopt policies that have the indorsa-
ment of the Republican party, what of
1t, If the policies are for the public good?
The people are becoming tired of the
vagaries of Bryan Democracy" he saws.
They see in them no promise of pArty
success, and much that is inmical to the
best interests of the South" The fear az
negro domination having been eliminated.
the Democratic party should 'evise its
platform, retaining it's cardinal doctrines.
and adapt itself to the new economic con-
ditions. The people of the South, says the
Senator, believe a revision of the DO
htical creed of the Democratic parry end
the advocacy by it of live issues in
progressive and aggressive way will re-
store it to public confidence and give it
victory"
Senator McLaurin is to make a speech
In Greenviile shortly, in which it is said
he will outline the plan he has in mind
for recognizing the party in the South,
and particularly in his state. With ref
erenoe to the latter he will, of course,
be under the necessity of advocating the
retirement from power of Senator TIL
man, since he is one of the disorganizing
influences named. To persuade the Caro-
linians to throw Tillman over will be a
difficult task, and it will be interesting 20
watch the effects of the advocacy Of that
policy.