The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-31
As to the South's "Asaertivsness." :" Chattanooga Times.

yAA&9Se Chattanooga Times.
 The Nashville American states. and The Montgomery Advertiser approves, that the South should be more assertive," provided 1t Is thoroughly converted from the 'heresy of Bryanism." We confess our inability to understand just what our two contemporaries would have us do. If the South should be 'assertive" 1t should be so as the majority of its people de- mand. To say that 1t should not be "as- sertive" unless pursed of "Bryanism" Is simply to declare that there is some doubt as to the propriety of its being allowed to hold too strong a hand In the manage ment Of the party machinery. In other words the logic of the two valued ex- changes mentioned Is that the South must be disciplined before 1t can properly be aggressive irf national affairs. This notion Is based on the old bourbon idea of the solidarity of Southern sentiment. whether led by MT. Bryan or Mir. Cleveland. We clusion of The American's ''assertive' idea, and we believe 1t Is all wrong.
 Unfortunately, however. 1t Is an idea that must and doubtless will control, be- cause of the so-caiied race issue raised by the designing politicians of both the great political parties on the heels of every national election. Southern men may differ widely op questions of finance and economy but in the face of the "ever present" race problem they are persuad- ed they must stand together. and they do. As long as this "black menace" so- called, stands in our way just so long will the Southern States remain solid and just so long will 1t be impossible for them to be 'assertive" on any other proposition. We have got to yield more or less either to the West or North in order to maintain our integrity on the race question. for some how or other we have been led to believe that if we don't do this. If we divide our forces the negro will get us sure enough.
 Shortly we are to have national com paign-the South, as usual, will be able to control the policy of the national Montgomery Advertiser, i've have had enough of the West and its Impossible political theories" and we must there- fore turn to the North We know before hand what we are to expect from that made up, and we would be glad to know of our contemporaries how we are going to be asserted? Mir. Bryan tells us what we are to do if we continue to follow his leadership, we have experimental knowl- edge that "assernveness" along that line is exceedingly unprofitable and altogether unsatisfactory. The alternative therefore Is not "assertiveness'' with the West but a complacent surrender to the forth and East, which at least offers us honest, sound traditional Democracy for our in- dorsement. We can at least in this man ner be sure of our platform, and as to candidates that also will not require ag- gressiveness on our part. We are solid. a unit for any man the North and East which are not so unaninnous--may find is the strongest and most available. The North and East are not solid and 1t will require not only sound platform but a sound man on 1t to win any of the States of that section. It will not be necessary for the South to assert that these two necessary prerequisites are attended to- the politicians of the North and East may be relied on to do that. The South may go to the convention solid for its man. but 1t would be folly for 1t to assert its right to name him if he Is not acceptable to our Northern and Eastern friends. who must supply the votes to elect him. In other words, our Nashville and Montgom- cry friends must admit that while we arc becoming 'assertive'' we must do 1t this time along the lines indicated by the leaders of the East and North. We have tried following the West and 1t didn't pay; if the North fails us then it might be time enough to become 'assertive- the real thing-and take our chances by dividing upon real issues and not on a mere party label.