The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1901-08-24
TWO WHITE 2RZ/ES.
The Meridian miss. \ Star saws:

1.-THE Star would welcome in Mississippi
. strong Republican party, embracing the
best and highest principles to be found in
that organization. We would like to see an
organization led by the most representative
of the business men. those who have the
confidence of the public, and who would
align themselves with the organization, not
Tor political pelf, but because of profound
belief in the economic principles held to BY
the national Republican party. Such an or
ganization in Mississippi or throughout the
South would bring out the very best men
and the highest intelligence in the Demo-
cratic party. stir the South to activity along
industrial lines. strengthen the confidence
of Northern capitalists in our section. and
otherwise vast benefit our State.''
Commenting upon these remarks
of the Star the Biloxi Herald says:
s'What the Star nov suggests and advo-
Gates was suggested and advocated long
since by the Biloxi Herald and was re-
commended and urged by this paper upon
the same lines. But there were some few
papers in the State that appeared to think,
and even contended that the Herald had
sinister designs upon the future integrity
and success of the Democracy of Mississippi,
which was of course an erroneous thought
and contention upon its part. While the
reorganization of the Republican party
along the lines urged would give it greater
decency, a stronger hold upon the popular
respect and probably strengthen it to some
extent in the State, it would never become
formidable enough to menace in any man
ner Democratic supremacy in our common
wealth, but it would have the effect Of
placing the Democratic party upon its
mettle, bring its best, most intelligent, re-
preventative and able men to the front, and
the result would be great gain along both
political and economic lines.''
The negroes being eliminated
from politics, The Gazette would
two white parties in this
State. We believe that in politics,
as in religion, opposition is health
ful. Opposition promotes indie
pendence. 1t is conducive to
free and fair discussion of public
questions. 1t is to politics what
competition is to trade. Opposi
lion prevents the monopoly of
power in politics and competition
prevents the monopoly of business
n trade.
But while we would be pleased to
Zee the organization of two strong
white political parties, we can not
understand how a renascence of
would produce the
tesired result. No considerable !
lumber of the white people of
louisiana will ever go over to the
Republican party because of a desire !
o create an opposition to the
Democracy. Republicanism in the
south can not be trusted with
'ower. A Republican organization
nay at first sincerely claim to be a
'hite party, but it is only ques-
ion of short time when it will en-
orse negro suffrage. Its acceptance
f SamDo in full political fellowship
oay be delayed a while but it is an
Inevitable result. We have yet to
ee the first Republican platform,
Iational or State, which does not
a denunciation of the South
ecause it has rid itself of negro :
1le. Every Republican State con- !
ention held this year has joined in
crusade of gratuitous abuse of the =
outh because it has employed legal +
eans to protect itself against ,
egro majorities. i
1t is the shalloweSt nonsense to T
Tx about organizing white Re-
lblican party in the South to op-
ose the Democracy. Those who "
ould give new lite to Southern Re- il
lblicanism because of the alleged o
,cessity of opposition to the g
emocracy are prescribing rem +
ly which is immeasurably worse =,
an the malady. They are nursing i,
lck to life an old serpent with e
w skin perhaps, but with the 81
me poisonous fangs. They tell
that the negro has ceased to be -
political factor, but they fail to
II US how long he will remain in
s present inoccuous state if the ii
epublican party should have the
'wer to restore to him his tsconsti- P