Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-11-16
TINE FOR THE SOUTH TO THINK.

Our Southern friends can very
well afford TO look on while the
Democratic leaders at the North
squabble over the reorganization
which every one now seems to
agree is inevitable. Last Tuesday
elections have left Democrats
enough this side of the Potomac to
form a nucleus which will at least
be visible 10 the naked eye, but
as the remnant consists chiefly of
leaders, the process of reorganiza-
ton will naturally be attended by
a certain amount of controversy.
in which the South will be wise to
take no part. Much better wait
until the leaders in question emerge
from the wreck they themselves
have made. 1t will be high time
then to consider the propriety of
reviving the old arrangement.
For more than ten years the
Post has urged upon Southern
Democrats the absurdity of sub
hitting to Northern, especially
New York, dictation in party mat
tiers. 1t has always seemed to us
a prepoSterOus proposition that the
real body of the Democratic army
should remain subject to an unim-
portant branch-that the South.
which furnishes practically three
fourths of the party's representa-
ton in Congress and in the electo-
raj college, and nine-tenthS of the
strength which can be safely
counted on under all circumstances.
q should permanently occupy the
position of a subordinate and re-
tanner. For nearly forty years
this grotesque adjustment has been
IN force. There may have been
some reason for it in 1868: there is
none whatever now. 1t has sur
vived all changes, however, proved
superior to logic and common sense.
The South does most of the effec-
tive fighting, makes all the vic
tories possible, supplies the bulk
of the force that is exerted in
national affairs, yet the South
tamely defers to the leadership of
the North, sinks its own individu-
atty and repudiates its own judg-
ment.
OF course, there is question of
still higher character and of in
fnitely more Importance to the
South-that of dissolving solidity
which brings neither honor nor
profit, and selecting its leaders and
Its policies for the future with 4
view to economic rather than SEN
tnmental victories. Nobody doubts
that the section would be far better
of IN all considerable respects if il
were to make a definite departure
IRON the course it has pursued
with logged perseverance ever
since the civil war. 1t is not good
Tor any people or any section in a
country like this to have it under
stood that they can be counted on
to support platforms and candi-
dates no matter how irrational or
unsafe. 1t lowers them in public
estimation, reduces them to a spe-
cles of Servitude, robs them of
dignity and influence. The ar
rangement is injurious, even 70
the Democracy itself, for the abso-
lutte security of Southern support
too often prompts the leaders TO
Ill-considered ventures and TO |
calamities that might have been |
avoided. But the matter of chief |
concern with us is the South's pre- |
dlcament-its welfare and It's rep
utation.
What the South needs is a set of
leaders who can lead-not a mere
medium for the commodation of
orders from Wall street and Tam
many Hall. Surely the stock that
produced ToOmbs, Yancey, Steph-
ems Clay, Ben Hill, Lamar. and
Hampton has not wholly vanished
from the earth. W Washington Post