The leader., 1904-03-19
SOUTHERNER FOR
The PRESIDENCY
WANTED BY CONGRESSMAN PAT.
TERsoN, OF TENNESSEE.
THREE EMINENT DEMOCRATS NAMED
Weary Of the stereotyped Iteration
and Reiteration That the 'south 10
For Any Man Whom the North May
See Fit to Nomlnate"-His sugses.
ton Received With Applause.

Washington, D. c., March 14.-Rep-
resentatiye Malcolm r. Patterson, of
Memphis, today delivered a speech in
the house which aroused widespread
comment on the Democratic side. 1t
was iat-footed declaration that the
time had come when the South should
cease to play second fiddle in the
Democratic party and that a South
ern candidate for president would
have have as good chance in the
North as any one else. He was fire.
quently interrupted by applause and
the speech was well received He
named Williams, Bailey and Carlisle
as men who were available as candi-
dates, and the Democrats enthusiastic
cally applauded all three suggestions.
He recited the prominence Of the
South in national politics prior to the
civil war and its utter exclusion since
then.
He said the spirit Of animosity to
the South had died away and illustrat-
ed the change that has come over the
Northern opinion by citing Wendell
Phillips "Amalgamation theory" and
Elihu Roots recent declaration that
suffrage was a failure.
"The change" he said, "opens the
door of opportunity for remittance
on the stage of national politics from
which the South has been SO long ex-
cluded. The day has come for the
South to assert her political independ-
ence and resume her historical place
In the Union.
THE hour is now for the South to
lift the mortgage on her electoral
votes which she has paid to the ut.
termost farthing. The spectacle of a
proud people, who were willing to
forfeit all, though discouraged and
dispirited, and in my opinion not al
ways necessary, do not think that
to nominate Southern man for the
presidency would change one electoral
vote against the Democracy. For one,
am weary of nearing the constant
and subservient iteration that the
South Is for any man for whom the
North may name for the president.
Southern Possibilities.
"Why should John G. Carlisle, the
distinguished ex-speaker of the house
and ex-secretary of the treasury, be
prescribed, because he comes from
Kentucky? Why should the leader
of the Democratic minority upon this
floor, who has exhibited such con-
spicuous ability and grasp Of public
questions, be barred from the presi--
dency because he lives in the South,
In the State of Mississippi? Why
should the eminent Texan, formerly
the leader of the Democratic minority,
whose intellect is of the first order,
and whose knowledge and exposition
Of Democratic principles has given
him high and deserved reputation,
not aspire to the chief Office in the
gift of the people? The question
should no longer be from what State
or section a possible nominee Of the
Democratic convention should hail,
but should solely be, What are his
qualifications, his worth, measured by
the high Office to which he aspires?'"
In reviewing the banishment of the
South from Office since the war, Mr..
Patterson said: "The only oasis in
the desert of misrepresentation which
has been the unhappy lot Of the
Southern States since the termination
Of the great rebellion will be found
In the two administrations Of Grover
Cleveland.