The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-09-12

In the discussion of possible PreSi-
Dental candidates some are prone to
regard the sectional question as of over
shadowing importance. Those who live
In what are known as the doubtful
States are especially liable 10 this er-
rOr. because they are naturally willing
to furnish the candidates. 1t is not
only customary to look 10 few doubt
ful States to furnish the candidates,
but ii is not uncommon to have some
portions of the country excluded from
consideration entirely. For years it has
been assumed that Southern man was
unavailable, and Western man al
most as much So New York, Ohio. Illi-
lois and Indiana have furnished to the
two leading parties nearly all the can
| didates nominated since the Civil War.
New York furnished the Democratic
Presidential candidate in 1865, 1872,
1876, 1850. 1884, 1SSS, and 1892. and in
those campaigns the candidate for Vice
President came from Indiana three
times. from Ohio once, and from Hi;
nois once. From 1865 to 1900 the Re-
publican party took its Presidential
candidate from Ohio four times, from
Illinois twice, from Indiana twice. and
from Maine once. During that time
New York has furnished the Repub
lican candidate for Vice President in
five campaigns, Indiana once, and New
Jersey once. Thus it will be seen that
q comparatively small section of the
country has enjoyed a practical mo-
nopoly on candidates. This is an un-
fortunate condition, and one that can
not be defended by reason. Candidates
should be chosen because they repre-
sent principles and because they are
deemed fit to serve the people in the
executive Office. Each party should be
at liberty to select its best man, no
matter In what State or section he
lives. The race should be free for all.
and then public men everywhere would
be stimulated to offer themselves.
Neither the Atlantic coast nor the Pa
cific coast should be barred out; neither
the extreme North, nor the extreme
South should be forbidden to offer its
favOrite son. The local influence of a
nomination is generally overestimated.
State pride is nice thing to talk
about, but it does not count for much
in votes. If man has qualities which
make him popular at home, those same
qualities will make him popular else
where, but very few men will vote for
political opponent merely because he
lives in their State, and what little sup
port he wins in that way is offset by
the partisan fear that his success may
strengthen his party locally. A candi
dates strength comes from the princi-
pies and policies for which he stands
the only personal element being the
confidence that the people have that
he is honest and will faithfully carry
out his platform.
For quarter of a century the South
ern States have been ignored in the Sc
lection Of candidates. The Republicans
have had but few white Republicans
In the South to choose from, and the !
Democrats of the South have volunta- |
rily renOunced their claims out of fear !
that they might embarrass the ticket. |
we are far enough away from !
the Civil War-certainly the passions |
aroused by that conflict are sufficiently |
cooled, to permit a Southern man to |
aspire to either the Presidency or the
Vice Presidency. Even before the I
Spanish war called into the volunteer
army both Federal and Confederate,
the South had earned its right to be
part of the Union, but
surely the commingling Of the sons of
those who wore the blue, and the sons
Of those who wore the gray. and their
service side by side at Santiago and at
ought to silence those who have
thought it unwise to place Southern
man on the ticket. Slavery has gone
never to be restored, and the Democra-
y now dominant both North and South
comes nearer to the ideals of jefferson
md Lincoln than does the commercial
SIN of Hanna or the imperialism of
Roosevelt.
1t is not time vet to select candidates
or 1904, but when the time arrives. the
Democratic voters should see to it that
he platform represents their wishes
INC that the candidates fit the plat
orm.
If some one living south of the Ma
on Dixon line is chosen for either the
irst or second position on the ticket,
lis place Of residence will not weaken
lim-not though he be an ex-Confeder-
tie soldier. We are engaged in n
mighty struggle against plutocracy, and
ve need the whole nation to pick from
vhen we select our standard bearers. ,
ferit, not section, should determine the ,
ominatiOn; fidelity to principle not To- 1
ality, should control.-Bryan's Com :
noner. /;