Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-06-29
AND PLATFORN Nj
OF REPUBLICANS

vention met in Chicago last week,
adopted II platform III harmony
with I'll wishes of the President,
named Theodore Roosevelt and
Charles w. Fairbanks as their
standard bearers, and then adj
journed. The choice was unanl-
nous. lii fact the greatest har-
mony prevailed throughout the
convention. 1t could not be other
wise from the fact that President
Roosevelt had plainly indicated
what he wished done, and the
delegates were not slow in carry
ing out his wishes.
From Republican standpoint
President Roosevelt has been a
success. He is man of force and
impresses his individuality on
those with whom he has to do.
This is firmly illustrated in the
present situation. Many leaders
of the party, including his run
mig mate, were opposed to the
strenuous Roosevelt few years
ago, but by the force of his strong
will power he has pressed him.
self to the front and demands
obedience to his wishes, which is
grudgingly granted. He has not
shown himself to be friend OF
the South, Notwithstanding his
mother was a Southern woman.
His views and practices of social
equality between the whites and
blacks have lost to him the respect
oe Southern Democrats, as well as
many Southern Republicans other
than the office holding class.
The platform is a well-written
document and bears the marks Of
Senator Lodge who wrote it. 1t
is self-laudatory and deals in
glittering generalities. The Re-
publican party is praised for its
achievements during its half a
century of existence, and especially
since 1897, when complete control
of the national administration was
obtained from the Democrats. The
gold standard is upheld. The
platform declares for a protective
tariff as cardinal policy and en-
doses the creation of powerful
navy. 1t closes with a tribute to
President ROosevelt's administra-
ton, including his policy in re-
gard to the Panama Canal.
One plank has special reference
to the South. 1t is: ave favor
such Congressional action ms shall
determine whether, by special
determinations, the elective fran
chise in any State has been un-
constitutionally limited, and if
such is the case we demand that
representation in Congress and in
the Electoral Colleges shall be
proportiohately reduced, as direct
ed by the Constitution of the
United States"
Everybody knows that this
means the cutting down of the re-
presentation in Congress Of the
Southern States. The Republi-
can party was organized with hos
tility to the South as its basic
principle, and it has never BEN
able to regard the Southern States
in any other light than conquered
provences. which must needs be
dealt with accordingly.
In this connection the Baltimore
Sun says that it CLOCKS like a
determination to wage war upon
the South. And it cannot be ,
doubted that the South, IF aroused,
will find some means of retaliation.
The South is the best customer of
the Northern factories. The South
,an get along much better with I
,ut full representation in Congress
han the North can get along
without Southern trade. For this
'easOn and and for others, tits not ,
believed that the sober, business
of the North, in which !
men Of Southern birth are so large !
v represented, will be satisfied to
,ermit sectional warfare, which +
would be scarcely less bitter be- Il
ause b1oodiess." v
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