The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-09-03

MORNING.
THE WHITE nEPUBLTCANa
The citronslle Times. published and Cd.
tied BY Mrs. Mildred q. Pierce. North
ern woman. is one Of the cieanest news
papers printed In Alabama. and 10 always
interesting II 10 an ardent advocate Of
respectable white Republican Party in
Alabama. and the editress thus defines
her right to speak for her Party:
The Times lie not a qualified voter--we
have no care or belief in the ballot for
women-but we insist that by birth and
education we are qualified talker when
II comes to the Grand Old Party. IL Is
our proud boast to have been born into
by Its precepts and to support the claim
Of belonging to q family. that since the
formation Of the party has. root and
branch. In all OF Its ramihcations, cast
only Republican votes. Our credentials
90 unchaflenged.
Party. and she thus alludes to the past
and to her hopes Of the future:
The arrested development Of this mar
veilously resourcefui state through the re-
suits Of CONFLICT and the expedient meas
then adSp,ea e past a,s condition
ready to make a fresh start. Let us
trust that the wisdom and statesman
ship may not be wanting among the Re-
publicans to take the current when 1t
serves.
From this II will be seen that the Times
Is impressed with the opinion that a
thoroughly decent and respectable white
Republican Party cen be built up in Ala
bama-a Party which shall be governed
by principle and not. as heretofore. be
founded entirely on the question Of spoiis.
We must confess that she has little en-
couragement 30 far to hope for such a
consummation. The same old factional
fights. which have always been the most
prominent feature OF Republican politics
in Alabama, are in fun action. and 20 far
as now appears. are likely TO remain Co.
Those who favor the organization Of a
really white party are largely opposed by
the holders Of the Federal offices. whose
jobs heretofore have depended on their
ability to control colored delegates. This
class would find their occupation gone II
a LILLY White Party" should obtain full
control of party affairs. This is why they
are opposed to It.
The Advertiser has contended and still
contends that the negro being out of the
way as factor In our elections. II would
be better for the State and for the DEM
ocratic Party to have . thoroughly de-
cent Republican Party In Alabama. We
have not had o decent opposition in more
than one-third of century. Nor do we
hide from ourselves the fact that such
an organization would have strong fol-
lowing. We know beyond doubt that
there are thousands of Republicans in
AIabama who always vote their party
ticket in National affairs. but have either
remained quiet or voted with the Demo-
Gratis in State and local elections. They
have fo!lowed the latter course solely be-
cause they abominated the idea of negro
domination. and saw that the only way
to avoid it was by keeping the Democrats
in power.
To these thousands we think 1t safe to
add some other thousands of Democrats
who are in thorough accord with the Re-
publicans on the financial and tariff Is
sues. They, also. have been kept true to
the Democratic organization by reason
Of the ever-present race question, and
they will abandon it now that there Is no
race question to threaten the peace and
welfare Of the State. We do not appre-
bend that a Republican Party composed
OF white men only can attain sufficient
strength in Alabama to endanger seri-
ously the rule OF the Democrats, but
such Party would have two good and
desirable effects. One of these would be
the elevation of politics in this State to
a higher plane and the other would be
to bring Democrats to take more interest
in politics.
Both OF these objects are Of sufficient
Importance to excite interest among all
the people Of Alabama. 1t is well known
reconstruction have not been of a char
acter to enlist the sympathy and active
cooperation Of the best citizens. The
composition and purposes of the Repub-
lican Party have been such as to force
Democrats, in defence of themselves and
of the state. to resort to practices not
altogether conducive to good morals ana
elevated citizenship.
A white Republican Party, honestly
managed, would remove all need of I'M
fair or unclean political methods on the
part of the Democrats. and that is
matter well worth rejoicing over. Then.
again. there has Of late years been a
feeling of apathy among Democrats which
was no Encouraging. They had become
imbued with the idea that the ticket
would be successful anyhow. whether
they went to the polls or not. and that is
a political condition always to be de-
plored. An active. aggressive and re-
spectacle white opposition party will have
a tendency to shake off that apathy and
to arouse members OF our own Party to
an active interest In politics.
AS we have said. the Lilly White" Re-
publicans have an uphill road before
them, and II they succeed. 1t will only be
over the bodies OF those whose interests
lie in logged insistence on the old order.
There is to be a meeting of the Republic
cans in Birmingham on the 10th inst, we
believe, and then we shall see what are
the prospects of success OF the hew-de-