Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-06-19
MAKING AN ISSUE.

|
The platform adopted by the Repub-
| licans of Ohio would not DO worthy OF
| comment were it not for one provision.
In decraling for the policy of Crum-
packer it would seem that South
batting campaign is to be waged. Upon
the questions of the day the Ohio con-
vention is is evasive and hypocriticaI
as would be expected of a body in
which George B. Cox was a power.
Ohio Republicanism is without indie
pendence. It's conventions are alter
nately controlled by bosses. The nom
inees are selected in advance. The big
bosses in Ohio are Hanna and Foraker.
then comes George B. Cox, compared
to whom the much-discussed Dick Gro
ker is almost angelic. Then beneath
COX are number of lesser bosses, all
of the same stripe. 1t is no wonder
that with the Republicans of Ohio so
subservient to bossism it's politics is
putrid.
Nor is it any wonder that from such
a source emenates demand for the
cutting down Of Southern representa-
ton. 1t is just such a scheme that APP
peals to bossism. By iniaming preju-
dice against the South attention is dis
tracted from the conditions at home.
For many years political rascals -four
ished in the North by waving the
bloody shirt, and realizing that even
remnant of that desreputable garment
| l. potent to invoke the passion of sec
tionalism in Ohio, the bosses of that
state frantically wave it.
1t may be that the Ohio convention
is leading the way for similar declara
| tons elsewhere and that the national
| Republican convention will incorpor
ate in it's platform demand for the
Crumpackering of the South. The Re
publicans seemingly are becoming des-
perate. Fearful that the shell game
with which they hace been deceiving
the people SO long will not work again,
they adopt new tactics. Neither the i
trusts nor the tariff is to be the issue.
Instead the negro is to be the bone of
contention. 1t may be that President
Roosevelt formulated this plan some
time ago. Certainly his course has
been directed as if he had such an OBJ
ject in view. The patriotism and con-
servatism of the South are to be sorely
tried. The constant nagging is hard
to bear with patience, but it is tt be
hoped that the issue will be wisely and
bravely met. Outside of the ranks of
selfish politicians and bigots the South
has many friends in the North The
recent agitation Of the negro question
has shown that there are many white
men in the North who feel keenly their
kinship to the white mensof the South.
1t is these that will be the hope of the
South against persecution.
1t may be that the Republican bosses
will overdo the negro question and that
the Anglo-Saxon instinct of the North
will revolt against the attempt to hui
initiate and degrade the white people
of the South. There has never in the
history of American politics been any
thing more disgraceful than the at
tempt of Republican politicians in the
North to create an issue which may re-
yiye the bitter sentiment of long ago
and incite racial and sectional feeling.
If there is not enough Americanism,
patriotism and Anglo-Saxonism in the
party to check the schemes
of the political bosses it is to be hoped
that these qualities are sufficiently de-
veloped in the American people to put
an eternal quitus on them.