The San Francisco call., 1904-03-29
THE WAvERING SOUTH.
VX YHEN the second defeat of Bryan revealed
NV utter weakness of the once formidable ALLAN
betNeen the radical Democrats and the Pnr

yX HEN the second defeat of Bryan revealed the
Nv weakness OF the once formidable alliance
w between the radical Democrats and the Popu-
lists platform of free silver. there notable
ouburst of activity among the politicians of the Southern
States and the beginning of wtat promised to be
ment toward the establishment of of Southern
supremacy in Democratic councils famous conven-
ton held in Atlanta and the chief speakers of the
occasion We'd with another in pointing out that the
hour of opportunity had f,r the South since New
York and New England leadership had been dscredted
by the Cleveland administrator. and Western leadership
by the double f>ilure of Bryansf1.
Utterances o. that kind werefso frequently made and
were so uniformly we'll receiyH throughout the South
that it looked Jas if the Southern leaders really
going make:a vigorous efot to get control of the
party councils and shape the farty programme had
been done by their predecessors before the OF
late, however nothing has been heard of those high
solves. There is confusion in the Democratic camp and
strife usual between the radicals and the
tves, but the South rushing forward profit by
the opportunity her leadership and reesabsh
harmony among the contending factions. On the con-
trary her statesmen her politicians her press and her
people be utterly incapable of furnishing a
tonal platform competent leader for the distracted
party.
During the early months of the movement for re-
vva of Southern leadership the Atlanta Constitution
of the stalwart advocates of the policy. It
treated the convention in Atlanta of the great
political of the time and prophesied important
things from the reasserton of Southern
manship in Democratic councils. All is changed now
The Constitution would have the South stand
aside and let the North and the West decide the
policy and the platform. In a recent appeal for,
harmony declined take sides between even such
Parker and Hearst and said "The Consti-
tuition is for the who win. Since the doubtful
States the deciding factors in all calculations
Democratic success, their preferences now
ally be given prime consideration by those States which,
whoever may be nominated"
The sentiment thus stated appears be shared by
majority of the Southern papers and politicians but there
exceptions Here and there vigorous protest
against the yellow candidate is made. Thus in South
Carolina the Greenville News is quoted saying: eff
any South Carolina Democrat believes that Hearst
the kind of man to rule this country who imagines
that his private character is above reproach promise
to make him dizzy with the revelation of certain things
during the Spanish-Amerc War if he will kindly
call at this Office The Richmond Times has much the
say of the Hearst boom and adds ct would be
suicide for any political party to nominate such man.
The voices of protest however, while emphatic enough
not and the Constitution ntmates, the
South will stand for whoever is nominated though
it political suicide In fact of the Southern
papers treat the subject ippantly if they took no
pride in Democratic virtue and felt shame in the pos
sbilty of a disgrace to it. Thus Mississippi paper
says: There is good thing about the Hearst boom
in the Southt is circulating lot of the coin of the
realm while the Nashville Banner is quoted as saying:
Evidently Mr. Hearst does place much stress on
records as he does on money"
That is the way the much talked of Southern oppor-
tunty is being evaded by who lack courage seize
it. There is question of the opportunity 1t exists
beyond doubt Unfortunately there can be no leader
ship without leaders and the South has not any with
courage enough following enough profit by the adj
vantage offered.