Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-10
The Over Confident South.

Sharp Williams, the leader oi ''e
Democratic minority in the NaHoiid'
House OK Representatives. The room
in the Capitol reserved for the minority
! leader is very pleasant one anu
Speaker Cannon could not refrain from
| remarking the fact.
Glad YOU like 1t. Joe" responded
Mr.. Williams. cheerfully. 1t Will De
yours next Congress"
! Now that Mr.. Williams upon matur-
g., reflection has decided to remain
uher. he is next Congress. this episode
is chiefly o: interest as showing MS at-
,i,ude Of mind prior to the election.
There is no question but what MT.
williams. and the Southern Democrats
generally, looked confidently forward
70 A substantial party victory at the
nolls. There had been a strong con-
servative element IN the South. which
had looked upon the radical departures
Of the K:!,.:;.s City platform in 1896
the conservative Democrats of the
North. Unlike their brethren of the
North. however, they lacked the moral
courage to refuse 10 support the candi-
dates nominated upon the platform
they disapproved, and who went before
the American people as the chosen ex-
ponents OF its wild-eyed heresies. Peo-
oil. in the North who have never visit
Cd our Southern states, can have little
conception of power Of the race issue i'll
maintaining political aliignments. TIL"
Southern white gentleman has many
conspicuously good qualities. He Is
chivalrous, kind hearted, and hospit-
able 10 a degree. On this side Of his
nature the colder, more calculating and
less spontaneous gentlemen Of the
North have much to learn Of him. H.
is also steadfast in his friendships. and
brave a., lion in everything that per-
tains to his physical life. He is wont.
also, TO be quite outspoken Of his
opinions in private circles. If. how
ever he shows at any time. a DISPOSE
ton 20 get out OF the Democratic
traces, the leaders Of that organization
know how to whip him into line with
out delay. At once the word goes out
that lie is "consOrting with negroes"
and forthwith he makes frantic haste
to get back into the Democratic collar
that he may prove by the very strenu-
business and righteousness of his pull
ing, how wholly unmerited was the
charge 1t is an old political game.
so often played in the South, that il
has become worn. threadbare, and very
much frayed about the edges. 1t looks
positively farcical to those who have
no clear conception Of Southern condi-
tons and Southern prejudices: and yet
it has sufficed for decades to make the
states Of the old confederacy Il unit in
that the number of Southern white
men who have dared to brave
local preJudces for conscience sake
has been growing gradually larger;
but the number at best is still
small when compared with the
great majority who still cover alb
jectly before the bugaboo of negro
domination A failure to support
tho Democracy in the solid South"
invariably means political and fire.
quently social ostracism. within the
limits of state powers and associations.
Republicans who hold office in tn.
South must do so by Federal appoint
mcnt. and not through the grace of
local white sentiment-which. it is only
proper to say constitutes in very many
instances, a small minority of the total
population.
Hence the Democratic leaders Of the
South, who chung tenaciously to the
older traditions of their party. and who
looked askance at the Kansas City
platform. were. nevertheless. brought
| into line for the Democratic ticket
while the men of their party in the
North who entertained similar views.
showed their independence by voting
for the Republican candidates.
| 1t is not surprising. however, that
these men of the South. while support
ing Bryan and Organism with their
votes should. nevertheless. hold them
responsible for the sweeping defeats
which their party sustained IN the
campaigns OF 1896 and 1900.
1t was largely through the influence
Of the conservative party element in
the South. that the National Democ-
racy abandoned it's old vagaries at it's
last convention. and went before the
voters of the country. in the recent
campaign. with a new confession OF
faith. They said. in effect to the
voetrs Of the country: For eight
years We have been dealing in hot air.
Our voice. roaring up and down the