The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-11-15
TIME FOR THE SOUTH TO THINK.
Ii j. Absurd for Southern Democrats
o Submit TO Northern Dictafion i'm
Party Matters

Our southern friends can very wei
afford to look on while the Democrat
ic leaders at the north s1uabble over
the reorganization which every one
now seems to agree is inevitable. Las,
Tuesdays elections have left Demo-
Gratis enough this side OF the Potomac
to form a nucleus which will ~ least
be visible to the naked eye, but a.
the remnant consists chiefly of leaders
the process OF reorganization will nat
uraiiy be attended by a certain amount
OF controversy, in which the south
VIII De wise to take no part. Nucl.
better walt until the leaders in cues.
ton emerge from the wreck they
themselves have made. 1t VIII BE-
hlgh lime then TO consider the nro-
pr!ety Of reviving the old arrange
ment.
For more than ten years The Post
has urged upon southern Democrats
The a~psurdfty of submitting to north
ern, especially New York. d!cta.jon
in party matters 1t has always seem
ed TO Us a preposterous proposition
that the real body of the Democratic
army should remain subject 20 an IN
important branch-that the south
which furnishes practically three
fourths OF the paTty's representation
IN congress and in the electoral col
lege, and nine-tenths of the strength
when can be safely counted on under
all circumstances, should permanent
~ occupy the position of a subordi-
nate and retainer. For nearly forty
years this grotesque adjustment has
been in force. There may have been
some reason for it 1S4S: there IS
none Whatever now. It has survived
all changes, however, proved superior
to logic and common sense. The
south does most of the effective fight
ing, makes all the victories possible.
supplies the bulk of the force that is
eXerted in national affairs, vet the
south tamely defers to the leadership
of the north, sinks its own fndividu-
'Hty, and recudiates it's own judg-
Inent.
Of course, there is a question Of
still higher character and of infinitely
more importance to the south-that
of dissolving a solidity which brings
neither honor nor profit, and selecting
its leaders and its policies for the
future with a view to economic rather
than sentimental victories. Nobody
doubts hat the section would be for
better off in all considerable RESPECTS
II 1t were to make a definite depart-
ure from the course it has pursued
with dogged perseverance ever since
the civil a 1t is not good for any
people or any section in a ountry
like this TO have it understood that
they can be counted on to suppor,
platforms n candidates no. matter
how irrational or unsafe. 1t lowers
in public estimation. reduces
them to a species Of servitude. robs
them of dignity and influence. The
arrangement is injurious, even to the
itself, for the absolute Sc
curity OF southern support too often
prompts the leaders to ill-cons:dere3
ventures and to calamitieS that might
have been avoided. But the matter
of chief concern with US is the south's
pedicament-its welfare and its repu-
Wha the south needs is a set of !
leaders who can lead-not a mere !
medium for the communication of or !
ders from Wall street and Tammanv !
Hall. Surely the stock that produced
Yancey, Stephens, Clay. Ben |
Hill, Lamar, and Hampton has not |
vanished from the earth
Post. !