Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-13
SOUTH IN ooNGhEss.

SOUTH IN CoNGI.Ess.
Recently there has been talk Of super
seding Representative Richardson as
Democratic leader in the House and for
the reason. 1t Is stated. sthat the minority
has cut no figure under his leadership.
The Philadelphia Ledger. however. comes
to the defence of the Tennesseean. and in
raising the question whether the failure
OF the Democrats to. cut any figure under
Mr.. Richardson is the latter'a fault. lays
down some propositions and INDUCES in
some criticisms of the minority. which
may well give the party pause.
To begin with. the Ledger observes that
TO be successful party leader. it is
necessary to have party to lead a party
/ that stays together, and is willing to go
in one direction When" It continues,
ga party Insists In going In various arr,
contrary directions, every man In his
own way. the most inspired leader ever
born could not make it cut any figure
that would not be ridiculous
Next our Philadelphia contemporary re-
VIII advance SO far 40 to agree upon what
they want to do. leader may have some
chance to lead. But. lit concludes, with
Democrats from the East pulling ono
way. and those from the West pulling
another, and the Southern Democrats
shifting about-from time to time. and un-
certain whether they are for protection
or free trade or this. that or the other.
1T would puzzle much larger man than
Mr.. Richardson to know what sort Of
party he was expected to lead: what it
stood for. and what it. could be counted
on to do
Has the Ledger exaggerated the din
cultiee that have confronted MIR. Rich
srdson-the difficulties of successful min
GRITTY leadership by any man-and the
conditions that have existed in the Demo-
cratic ranks In Congress? Frankly. we do
not think it has: and the sooner the Dem.
Dcratic members Of Congress and the
,arty ut large realize that fact. the
Setter. It Is not to be denied that ever
ince the close of the war between the
my policy among the Democrats in Con-
PRESS. There has been too much Of COM
sinations within the party. and OF quasi
alliance with the enemy for the sake OF
ixpediency and the forwarding of sec
aonal interests And on occasions there
+ las. wa fear. been too much fence build
nE at the sacrifice OF principle. That
reteran Democrat. Senator Vest. In de-
eating the coal tax. made bold to charge
this virtually In one case. and in that
I sharge by the way, he advanced inciden-
ally powerful argument In favor OF
he popular vote.
Failing TO learn caution-and discretion
rom the manner In which the Mfssourian
had discounted one Republican Senator
tfter another. Senator Aldrich sneeringly
seferred to Senator Vests free trade
pinfons as championed only when they
ia not count" and tauntinely asked
why had not the Democratic party when
power done what II now rebuked the
Republican party for not doings The
.eply. which came without hesitation.
ras: eve wanted to. but the same ms
arrests which you now represent, held up
y he senate then as they ara doing to-
B lay
It is literally true that. save In rare
{ instances. the Democrats in Congress
have presented the spectacle of those from
NE East pulling one way. and those from
me West pulling another. while the
youthern Democrats shifted about from
rnc to time-shifted first to the Eastern
and then TO the Western division Of the
party. as represented In the Federal Leg
{ tslaturc. Nor, all the facts considered.
wore the Southern Democratic represen-
satives to be blamed. In sense. the
southern Democrats had never been adj
nitted to fun fellowship Ia the party. At
me same time. they were courted by each
IS the divisions In the rest OF the coun
~. when these began to pull against each
tther:: and the conditions In the South
& sirtated making the terms which would
most advantage their section. The SIM
SnlaT dtuntion was presented OF the
scnihern Democrats holding the balance
Pc pOwer. and yet being shorn Of indie
eendence and ability to take Arm and
consistent stand. However, that anomaly
= nov thing OF thu past. and with its
Sassing has como the South 10 great on
loefnnity. There g no longer any sea-
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1oIioe a3tr this OF that Division 81 tn
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