The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-10-03
"soLID SOUTH" ENDANGERED

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"soLID SOUTH" ENDANGERED
1t is beginning to look as though the
democrats of the south had brought
about the very opposite Of what thew
strove for when they adopted consti-
tutional amendments in their states
DISTINGUISHING the negro. BY making
it impossible for the great majority of
the blacks to vote it was believed
that the republican strength Of those
states would be absolutely eliminated
and thenceforth the democratic party
would remain in absolute and undis-
puted possession of the field. It was
considered a quick and effective way
of killing the party, or what little
pretense of it's existence might be
kept up in some Of the states. But.
as usual, democratic plans failed and
every appearance now warrants the
belief that in a remarkably short time
the republican party will be strong
enough in the south to have something
tc say in both, state and national pol.
itics.
Since the suppression of the black
vote many whitemen, men Of promi-
hence and influence, have come out as
advocates of republican principles and
have arrayed themselves on the side.
OF the party of protection and sound
currency. They are no longer pos
sessed of the fear Of negro dominancy
and now intend to vote as they think
their best interests demand. Ever
since the first election Of Mckinley
they have known that to have a repub-
lican administration at washington
was an assurance of good times and,
a continuance of prosperity. Ex-
empliication of this has been given in
the renewed life and the development
of the south since the retirement of
Cleveland. Industries which former
ly had only a dormant existence and
others that had no. existence what
ever have sprung into healthful life
and the south is prospecting today as
1T never prospered before. The intel
ligent whites have not been slow to
realize and understand the cause, and
now that they are no longer requir-
ed to associate with the g politi-
cally and know that his power has
been removed they are openly speak.
ing their espousal Of a cause they
formerly dared only cherish in Sc
cret. SAX
Henceforth there will be a white re-
publican party in the south, the same
as there has always been a white dem
ocratic party, and the time is not so
very far distant when the 'sclid
south will have ceased to exist as a
political factor in national affairs. Evi-
dence of this is forthcoming in the
fact that the republicans of Alabama
have nominated a state ticket and
are making an aggressive and determ-,
ined fight in several of the congress
sional districts of their state. In
North Carolina the leaven is working
and Senator Pritchard is leading the
republican forces and making a cam
paign on the issue of protection, a
policy which has been instrumental
in building up the industries hal have
made the state so prosperous. Even in
Texas the movement in the same di-
rection is beginning to attract atten-
ton from the democrats and in
Arkansas a new republican party is
being organized for the purpose of re-
deeming the state.
Thus it will be seen that the action
Of the democrats in the cotton belt
is likely to react and be resultant of
conditions and things not anticipated
by the bourbons.