The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-14
The Southern Democracy.

One noticeable feature of the demo-
cratic convention at st. Louis was the
important and decisive part played by
the southern delegates. The issues
Of that remarkable gathering were
determined in every case by the men
from the southern states, standing
with an almost solid front.
The south began to line up for
Parker's nomination before it was
even certain that he would carry New
York. When he won his home dele
cation the southern states declared
for him, from Virginia to Texas, with
the sole exception Of Florida. This
stand by the southern delegates
spoiled the efforts Of the Bryan
Tammany combination to head off the
Parker boom. 80
Tt was the opposition of southern
men that prevented Hill from forcing
gold plank thru the resolutions
committee, vet when Judge Parker
sent his telegram, the southern dele
gates stood firmly for the only
sane course, and voted to send the re-
ply indorsing the candidates views.
The south really acted as balance
wheel between the extreme conserva-
tism Of the eastern democracy, and the
radical tendencies Of the Bryan men
of the west. The southern delegates
had a reason for everything they did.
They, above all others, are hoping and
praying for democratic success.
With the southern democrat, de-
| mocracy means more than a, passing
craze for free silver or any other po-
litical fad. He may have his own
views on these questions, but he has
deeper reasons for his democracy.
His loyalty to the party is just as sin
cere as his loyalty to the government
bred in the bone. Republicanism is
synonymous to him with race agita-
| ton. Federal patronage tends to
keep the republican party alive in the
south, and so the greatest concern Of
the southern democrat is to see that
patronage passed to democratic
hands.
SO the southern democrat watches
the political pulse Of the northern
| 0IClICS. Lilo SollSCl IL ID W SCC SllOuSu
electoral votes added to the solid
south to insure a democratic presi-
| dent. The southern leaders, Bailey,
John Sharp Williams, Tillman and
Carmack, have been planning to that
end, shaping events to a possible vic
tory, and the democracy Of the south
has followed them blindly. Bryan's
| &1,o ,ot I've
ton could not come from the west.
1t was deemed necessary this year to
return to the old Cleveland alignment,
the only one that ever brought a
democratic victory since the war.
AS soon as the south found that
New York wanted Parker and that
| he stood a chance of carrying the old
| Cleveland states of the east, the south
declared for Parker with voice al
most unanimous. 1t went against the
conscience Of the southern leaders to
adopt a gold plank, and Parker's tele-
/ gram grieved them sorely, but when
the question came to be settled, they
knew that the only way to save the
party's face was to indorse the nomi-
nee. So again the SOUTH came in
solid behind the reorganizers. Hill
and Belmont won on both these tests,
| but not with their own strength.
They won because the south believed
their course was expedient, and
pointed the way to a possible victory
this fall
| Mr.. Hill found it necessary in 1895
and in 1900 to prove his democracy
/ by constant iteration. No southern
| bourbon needs to say T am a demo-
lcrat. The genuine democrat Of the