Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-08
HOLDING OF OFFICE
Real Object of Southern Dem
0CratS.
MR.. HAYS INTERVIEW
THE NEGRO VOTER HAS BEEN
ELIMINATED.
No Other Reason Why Party Lines
Should Not Be Divided and Ma
tional Issues Debated.


permit Representative Hays remarks re-
garding the President and the effort TO
build up a republican party OF real strength
in the south to pass unnoticed," said gen
tleman well posted on matters political to a
Star reporter in an uptown hotel this MORN
ing, and its editorial in Fridays issue
strikes the keynote TO the actual situation
In that section Of the country.
Il fancy that the country at large viii
read with amazement the words Of "A rep
resentative in Congress who declares IN the
public prints that the President OF this
country referred to a gallant hut van
pushed foe In such terms to character
ize them as anarchists and that he bit
terly denounced the southern people.
Such remarks. and those Of similar tenor
which are stated to have flowed from the
lips OF the representative in question ought
to be considered unworthy OF notice. Tn
fortunately, however, they were made IN
evident sincerity, and The Star in holding
MT Hay up for condign censure, performed
a public service.
There is one point. however, In Mr.
nay remarks, since he is a representative
IN Congress from Virginia. and is there
fore. a representative OF his people. and
presumably speaks for them, which de-
serves further attention. He said:
The Politicians Real Purpose in South
" The lines having once been drawn. the
hope which some republicans indulge that
a large number of white men will join the
republican party, will not be realized
IF this hope be not realized i'm time"
continued the gentleman, no stronger
proof of the insincerity and falacy # the
southern democratic cry of negro DONNA
ton can be made manifest.
Ever since the civil war the southern
democrats have reiterated the statement
to the northern press and people, You do
not understand the situation: We must re
main democrats because Of negro domiEa-
ton, and because no decent, self-respectirg
white man in the south can become a re
publican by reason of the necessary ASSOC
citation with the negro republican
There has been no deviation in the ex-
preston of this principle, and but little. ex-
cept in length. of the words. The northern
man did not understand the situation: The
southern man did. He proceeded to clim-
nate the negro voter absolutely and by con-
stitutional provision. and by SO doing he
hoisted himself by his own petard as re-
CARDS the now bugaboo of negro DONNA
ton. for by this constitutional action he
placed the negro entirely out of the realm
OF politics and completely buried and
knocked from beneath him the props which
held up the grim specter OF negro domina-
ton
And now comes Mr.. Hay. at a time
when the negro Is generally ackuovlcdg
to be out Of it in the south as a political
factor, with the statement that no white
men In the south will join the republican
party. Why not? Is the question Of hold
ing office the real and only existence Of a
solid democracy in the south after all? II
the negro voter has been wiped off the face
of the earth, why cannot the white people
of the south divide upon political HEcs as
well as in any other section Of the coun-
try? The business south, but for the en-
actment of the republican principles of pro-
lection and sound money into laws, could
not exist, it may almost be said
The Division of Party Lines.
''Thc south ought to be solid for protec-
ton. Its cotton growers and sugar pro-
ducers would be wiped of the earth finan-
cially but for the tariff. Il has it's own
party to thank for a period Of stagnatIon
which it ought never to forget, but does,
and the republican party to thank for it's
recent unusual prosperity. Why should not
the party divide to preserve the status In
quo? With the negro eliminated what valid
reason can be advanced why no decent,
self-respecting white man can become an
active member of the republican party?
Mr.. Hay unthnkingly lets the cat out
or the bag The negro domination issue
disposed of, the people Of the south who
stand as does Mr.. Hay, who wish the offices
for themselves and who are against the re-
publican party by instinct and tradition,
fear that the business and conseryat
element, which would attract to itself at
once other and equally powerful elements.
principles and not race prejudices shall he
argued from the stump, and when that
time comes an entering wedge will he
driven into the solid south which Will uti-
mately make of its voters independent
thinkers and not a lot of men who vote
Tor other men merely and solely because
they happen TO be democrats Irrespective
of their real worth or what they stand for
as matter of actual fact.
1t is the opinion of many men with
Whom nave come in contact that the idea
OF the President Will bear fruit ultimately.
and that remarks like those of Mr. IIav
are made because the democratic southern
politicians in crying II down show that they
DO not wish at this time or at another Ia
meet before the people on the hustings
questions which are live issues With a re-
publican party in the south made nm nr
white men there would be a discussion Of
else than that which inflames the passions
There is no debate in the south such as IN
other sections of the country.
Debates an Exchange of Personalities
THE talks of the men who come to Con-
gress and who seek other positions in the
gift of the people are not like those made
by similar candidates in the west and north.
They were 'four-fifths Niger and one-nfth
giving the republican party hades on gen
eral principles, as southern statesman
cnce put 1t to me. They are still largely de-
voted TO acrimonious personalities. The
great political questions are drowned I'm
personalities Violent talks rejecting upon
the honor Of the respective candidates In
which the lie is being almost constantly
passed, and beyond attempts at fisticurrs
goes unresented, take the place OF debating
the great matters which affect the nations
welfare.
The Presidents purpose is probably to
begin 10 establish a real republican party
In the south, which will place the other side
before the people there. With real PARTY
and not one on paper the democracy can be
and will be hammered in its own stronghold
for the first time. With republican candi-
dates, even leading forlorn hopes upon the
stump discussing the issues of the day
the democrats must perforce reply. IL would
be actually funny, would II not. to hear a
joint debate in Louisiana between a demo-
cratic candidate for Congress and a reput-
lican opponent, the former showing how The
principles of free trade would save the su-
gar growers in that. one of the most thor
oushly protected, yet democratic states In
the Union?
1T is not to be wondered that Mr. Uav
and other of his colleagues view with dis
favor and alarm the Presidents determine
ton to try to establish real working repub-
lican organization in the south. But Il is TO
be wondered, and deeply regretted by all
fair minded men. that these paptl.,,.,