The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-17
SOUTHERN MAN
FOR PRESIDENT,
Leps. ID. McCord OF Tennessee Tells
Why One should he Selected.
(Copyrighted)

Why One should he Selected.
(Copyrighted)
Washington, June 14.-Why should a
Southern man be the Democratic nomi-
nee for the presidency at the next cleo
ton? -.
The time has arrived. in the opinion
of many thoughtful men, when it is vital
to put up a Southern man, because the
continued Withholding of office, with its
honors, dignities and emoluments, from
Southern Democrats is operating to TO
ment dissatisfaction and unrest and a
breaking away from party ties. Up to
now 1t has been held expedient to put
up a Southern man, and that idea is still
prevalent with those who have not anal
yzed present conditions. The question of
expediency has been the determining fac
tor all this time, but desire now to re-
quest the reader to hold it in allegiance
for a time until We can consider some
other facts bearing upon the right of
Southern men to a more equal participa-
ton in governmental affairs and bene-
fits. The expediency of it cannot now be
determined until those facts appear. This
Is to be series of papers and it is es-
sential that they be considered as a whole
before the policy of it Is determined.
A Southern man has not been elected
to the presidency in fifty-fve years.
Southern man has not even been
nominated in forty-one years.
The South has furnished only seven
teen cabinet officers out of 126 since the
war.
The South has not named Vice Presi-
dent since the war.
The South was almost totally excluded
fro he to Z ho Grn nfek
The South has more than one-third the
population and less than one-fiifth the
offices.
The South pays one-fourth the Internal
revenues and gets less than one-sixth the
salaries.
The South has only about one-sixth
OF the departmental offices at Washing
ton-1about one-half her just quota.
The South draws only about one-tenth
the salaries attached to these-about one
third her just quota
The South is almost totally excluded
from the benefits of legislation and the
special favors and opportunities emanat-
ing from government.
The continued selection of a President
from the North and East, together with
the cabinet and heads Of departments,
and all those who control and dispense
benefits, patronage and favors, has OPP
Grated to turn the tide of wealth contin-
ually against the South and towards the
East.
The Industrial advancement OF the South
demands her restoration TO these equal
opportunities for wealth making.
The above is merely a preliminary of
what will follow covering the entire range
Of the public service, and IL will require
several issues of this paper to give a de-
tailed synopsis of the figures and show
how far short the South falls of her just
proportion of the Offices, and the digni-
ties, emoiuments and benefits that are
the legitimate fruits of government ser
vice. She pays her full, just quota cf
taxes and bears her full part of all the
burdens without murnur. and in return
she is almost totally excluded from all
the higher honors and benehts-the Of
fees of high distnction--and she is de-
MED even one-half her share In the
lower grades Ali this -!,! be shown in
careful detail.
Her share is withheld very largely be-
cause we have not demanded it, We have
virtually acknowledged that we are not
entitled to it by continually sbstauing
from all effort 10 secure 1t through a
President chosen of our own people. We
not only deny ourselves the honors and
dignities of high office, but we voluntarily
turn over to other sections the manage
ment of affairs, and they are managed
in the interest of those sections, and IL
costs US hundreds of millions to chip in
for their benefit. Our own interest has
not been considered a factor heretofore.
Isn't 1t wonderful that the South thrives
when IL is drain, drain, drain, upon her
resources--a river of wealth, continually
flowing out and only minimum trickliug
back?
This enormous disparity is laid as a
penalty for secession. The South expected
that. and she bore 1t manfully and I'M
murmuringIy But she doesn't expect 1t
to last always. She doesn't think II just
that it should be visited upon the chill
dren of after generations. There are now
in the South tens of thousands OF men.
gray-headed sires with grandchildren, who
were too young to participate in the
1876 affair. and yet they and their chill
dren are prescribed and an accusation of
ineligibility or unworthiness Is sustained
against them.
Only about per cent. OF the present
popula ton could have fought under the
Confederate flag, and yet the other sS per
cent. are paying the penalty. The census
OF 1900 has not yet disclosed the exact
figures, and they must be computed by
that OF 1890 In 1890 there were $50 375
males over 50 years of age in the South.
81 10 per cent. OF whom were white, or
about 6o2,139. Assuming that this number
increased in proportion with the total
population. 1t will now be 722.5S7. II is
assumed that about 30 per cent. Of those
are over SO. that being about the young
est age OF men now living, who would
have been soldiers, and that reduces the
number to 575.65. About IS per cent.
must now be deducted for non-combat-
ants and immigrants, and that reduces
the actual number who possibly bore
arms against the government to 49i ,346-
say, a round half million. This may APP
proximate Il, I have not sought TO verb
~ it further What erifne has this great
multitude OF % per cent. of the people
committed that they should be prescribed
and denied equal citizenship?
In the Southern delegation in Congress
more than three-fourths OF them were too
young 70 have borne arms. Out OF i22
members 90 are under 50. Many OF these