The San Francisco call., 1903-01-13
THE SOUTH IN POLITICS.


NM busy with holiday festivities and with bust
ness. leaving politics for future considera-
tlou the Southern people have been medtating upon
-ler relations the politics OF the country and try
.r 10 formulate policy OF action for 1904 There Is
10 doubt that The discomfort Is great and widespread
i manifested itself last October IN meeting OF prom
men, Democrats IN Atlanta, and cropping out
-gaa in The press only IN editorial utterances.
lut through communications from prominent men
Recently Z Democrat OF local note IN Georgia
wrote 10 the Atlanta News bitterly complaining OF
tie position into which the South has been led by
5oIoairg Northern Democratic leadership, and es-
peca.ly by the Tree silver movement In conclusion
he said. Georgia Is not < silver producing State.
Georgia produces . million bales OF cotton year
Georgia Is a power in the counting OF the electoral
votes necessary 10 lect-whom?-President OF the
United States. But hcw much good has II done the
great Empire State OF the South to cast her cleo
to-al vote for this that since 1880? To Judge
by ne results one must conclude that the South is
indeed the ireland OF America
That Is not the first time the phrase the ireland
ri America has been used by Southern men in de-
ecrbia the situation OF their section OF the Union
Many time OF late The warning has been given that
the Sou-h must not permit herself TO stand aloof
from the general politics OF the country and form
IN the Union separate party such as Ireland forms
IN the United Kingdom. It has been pointed out
that her identical with those OF the rest
Of the country. The protective tariff has benefited
her industries. the gold standard has secured her
financial soundness. and yet through blind partisan
ship her electoral vote IS given for who seek
10 overthrow protection and sound money IN a com
mon ruin
II easy TO note the evils in the present situation
the South. but Il not so easy 70 point out the
way to reform. Recently one Southern editor sar-
casticaly reviewed the lessons OF the recent cam
paign and said in effect: Olney has been defeated
n Massachusetts, Pattison in Pennsylvania Tom
Johnson in Ohio and Hill in New York Bryan took
rhe stump IN Nebraska and Nebraska Re
publican. Cleveland took the stump in New
Jersey and New Jersey went Republican; Cor
barely made drawn battle IN Mary
and and Boies was showed under in Iowa
The only Democratic vctors were Henry Watterson,
who carried Kentucky, and doctor named Garyin,
who carried Rhode Island 50 it looks as il the next
Democratic Presidential ticket should be Watterson
and Caryin.
The Atlanta Constitution has treated the painful
subject more seriously, and leaving candidates aside
has tried 70 formulate platform for the party Il
purposes TO leave the money question alone There
Win be Z plank demanding tariff for revenue with
Incidental protectiOn another demanding full free
oom OF trade among the States Territories and de-
tendencies OF the Union; and third demanding
that there be placed upon the free list OF the tariff
any product, or finished, that by reason Of the
.a-iff is made the subject OF monopoly
With such platform It appears to the Constitution
that the Democratic party will win provided the va
-io1s factions viii unite
There can be no question that II is high time for
s9nebody to reorgsnize the Democratic party. and
also that the time has for the South to emerge
from Bourbonism. Let hope both Of those de-
-rabIe things will be achieved in time for the cam
-aiCn OF 1904