The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-23
THE SOUTH IN THE EQUATION.

Under this head the Washington Post
mas an editorial on the southern demo-
Gratis IN the matter Of party control. The
suggestions Of The Post are worthy of
consideration and should be carefully
oy the party leaders of this
section. 1t is time the southern demo-
Gratis were asserting themselves and
demanding proper recognition in man
aging the affairs of their national party.
Ever since the close Of the civil war
the southern democrats LAY been al
most as absolutely under the domina-
ton Of h leaders Of the party at the
north as have the negroes been under
control of their white leaders. The
southern democracy is the backbone Of
the national party Without il there
would be no such party; yet we seem
afraid to demand even equal recogni-
ton. We cast most all the democratic
votes in the electoral colleges, M
most of the democratic congressman
come from the south. still we stand
aside and let our northern brethren
take the lead and control the affairs
VI III POI Il III " AHl~ ~
stop
The Post says:
Whether the southern delegates TO
the democratic convention OF 1904 con-
clude to nominate Il president from
their own section or from another, the
fact remains that they have a potent
and ought to have a controlling voice
in the matter. The south furnishes
nearly all the democratic contingent
in congress and in the electoral col
lege- Without it, the national organi-
cation would hardly rank above the
populists, or the prohibitiOnIsts. or
even the socialists. II the party con-
ventiOns were constituted by the ctand-
ard Of party usefulness and real
achievement, the south would sit at
the head of the table. instead OF taking
the part-as it does nOw-of servitor
and scullion.
We have seen, with sO-cOw and sur
prise, in n or two southern news
papers, lately discussions OF this ques-
ton which indicate a serene content
ment with the position of s~ubServ1ence
which the section has so long accepted
without protest. We derive sorrow
papers are still willing to fetchs and
carry for their impotent and ~ungrateful
masters. Our surprise is caused by
the spectacle of so much ignorance and
lnfatuatlOn on the part or a people VINO
once ruled the country and who still
represent the brains, the courage the
substance, and the force of the demo- |
cratic party. The matter is one which
the south must settle for itself. If the
leaders OF the southern democracy pre-
fer to serve at the party banquet, sure
ly no outsider has the smallest right to
object to hat arrangement. 1t is a
question of taste which must be ad-
justed at home, and we cheerfuly -
fer it to that adjudication
IF, however, the south accepts the
proposition, we shall be forced to the
that the south of Calhoun,
Wise, Slidell, Soule, Benjamin, Toombs.
Yancey. Foote, and so on, has vanished
from the political equation, and that
another and al feebler south-aDandon-
ed to weakiings and iutpostors-has
usurped its once hallowed place. IT
will be evident. not only to US but ID
all intelligent observers, that the seats
of the mighty nav been given over TO
the occupation of conterted trencher-
men. and that. from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande the country must look for
its recrulescenCe to other auspices and
a new and clearer influence.
What We know, and wE&t neither
DartS hacks nor blinded organs car
successfully deny. is that the south g
TODAY as rich in men of character n
force and high degree rs il ever was
at any period in it's history Whether
those agencies shall be applied to ne
situation, ;S a matter the Southern"rS
r,uSt decide fer themselves.