The sun., 1901-04-17

lave cut loose from the old Republi-
AN leadership of the South.
This is the announcement of the po-
itical revolution as it appears to date.
Of what it is significant is really mat
Ter of conjecture. What it will lead to
no man can tell. What the Republican
Judgment of it is likely to be is more
easily decided. 1t will be generally re-
garled as desertion of the Republic
can position on the question of negro
suffrage. 1t is not necessarily that. 1t
is, however, indicative of the fact that ,
many Republicans are thinking that |
the political questions connected with |
the race problem can be better, and
more speedily settled in subordinating
them to the questions which more inti
mately affect the whole people and
which appear to have fortunately come
TO the fore: and in which there is no
faint of sectonalism. Indeed, this ap-
pears to have included the most inn
portant of the old questions. The tariff
is no longer sectional question. The
new conditions of the South are EN-
phatically those out of which tariff de-
mands grow. The infant industries Of
the country, il there is any such. are in
the South and as a consequence protec-
tive ideas are developing there. Again
the South is raising larger crops of
sugar, rice and cotton than ever before;
She needs bigger and better markets.
come the new political sentiment of the
South and which is appealing to the
Republicans for recognition. These bus
| mess necessities OF the South are met
and encouraged by the Republican ec-
onomic policy; by its policy on the ship
ping question. and also III its policy of
expansion, carrying with the fact of ter
itorial acquisition the possibility of an
expansion of commerce such rs could
not be attained in any other way.
Territorial expansion is southern politi-
cal idea. 1t was adopted under the pro
slavery regime to give scope to the then
rapidly augmenting southern influence
in national politics. and to enable it to
maintain its ascendency. II is not diff
ticllt, therefore. for the progressive and
to assent to these policies, denuded, a.
, we have suggested. Of the sectional pre-
jjlRliccS that are. and must continue. re-
ative in the South to the political phase
II the race problem.
What then does the proposed revolu
tion mean relative 10 the race question
II does certainly not mean 4 rcverson o
, the Republican policy on that question
II does appear to mean that the pro
.irSsive element of the Democrats
. party IN the South is about to ally il
self with the Republican element Of tn
i South rs Il means Of liberating itSel
! from the hindcring influences which i'm
, pede their progress, and which bar tn
South from participation in the glory 0
our national progress. II is noticeabl
that one of the announced motives 0
es pSsS ayealsnt 9lGp i Il tfPe me 8f II
party South That means that the par
tcularly ambitious parties TO this mov,
, mcnt will want to avail themselves .
| whatever means for political advance
ment the Republican party can al
. | ford them 1t Is not their purpose I
r destroy the Republican organization 0
i The South, hut To diSplacr the So-calle
"rarpet-bag leadership and by re,
i southern leadership Of the party max
il effective III fnrthering the natioal
I pnlicirs which those younger and mol
i ambitions Democrats have come
llopt through their association with ii
i Republican National Administration.
/, doing this they will. if they succeed, d
d nude ihe race problem Of its section
Is md politically nhiectional qualities. al
y thus. IN forwarding theil, own interest
~ ind Il political solution Of the profile
favorable Ia thc cuured voters Of II
IL South.