Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-04-17
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
b POLITICS q 81 e Il y
" ===OF THE DAY "
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South Must Lead.

south Must Lead.
The Southern States are the strong
hold of Democracy, for when other sec
tions went off into un-Democratic
fields, the South stood steadfast for
the Ihrty of the people. Heretofore
the South has been very modest even
with advice, at national conventions,
and has brought forward no eandi-
dates for national nominations, excep.
in an Indifferent way from the debata-
BILE border states, such as Missouri and
Maryland.
The country sorely needs honesty,
and Democrats must rescue the gov
eminent from the party of graft, greed
and scandals that now is in power.
The steadfast south, whose unwaver-
ing devotion to Democratic principles
has withStoOd the brides and 1iDeS or
the enemy, has now been invited to
lead in the reorganization of the party
on the old and undisputed doctrine OF
equal rights to all and special priv
ileges to none. This invitation comes
from the state that has heretofore al
ways been dominant in debating party
policies and candidates, but Is now
ready to follow the lead of the South,
who has hitherto been content to fol
low wIat have been considered the nee
essary but doubtful states.
1T Charlotte, North Carolina, Judge
Parker lately made speech urging the
South to take the lead in party man
agement, and further said:
But the time has come when new duties
and responsibilities must be undertaken
by the Democrats of the South. 1t Is
more than two score years since the war
closed and your people find themselves
upon the threshold of what promises TO
be the most remarkable business develop
ment the world has ever known within
the same time and space. Some OF your
men have gone forth to command the
highest success, in the most honorable
wav, in the greatest financial and CONNER
cial movements of the time; others have
become the managers of great railway in
terests you have developed great manu-
featuring enterprises, and, most difficult
of ALL your people, as whole, have 50
maintained and increased their own posi-
ton and the dominance of the country in
one of the greatest products of the soil
as to make them the wonder and admira-
ton of the world.
In spite of your devotion to principle
and consistency in the face of a numeri-
cal Importance that was preponderant, in
81: l.. h vro,, or o-iIa ItrO,,
the earliest day you have sent your best
men into public life. They have been at
once modest, able, devoted, patriotic and
honest. No Jail or penitentiary has open
ed its hospitable doors to admit your
Senators, Representatives or Governors,
nor have the officers of the law, from de-
tectives to Attorney General, been com
PEELED to haul them into the criminal
courts. In the face of this record you
have not only permitted us of the North
to present to you candidates for President
ard Vice President, but you have insisted
upon our doing so, and have then voted
for them, and that, too, when sometimes
no ether States did so.
After plainly presenting to the minds
of his audience the Democratic disas-
tiers Of the past ten wears, Judge Par
ker continued:
When such conditions confront you why
should you hesitate any longer? You have
borne the heat and burden of the day.
Your statesmen have demonstrated their
ability not only to take care of the inter
est5 OF their States and their section, but
they have been the only dam against ag-
grnssion at home and the threat of dis
credit abroad. Among them are men with
the knowledge, experience, honesty and
courage to represent their fellow-partisans
without the surrender of principle and
their fellow-countrymen with safety and
honor.
The time has come when the really
effective Democrat of the country should
be recognized and when they themselves
should no longer hesitate, decline or re-
fuse to seek or to accept those honors
which are their just due for work we'll
done. l believe firmly that it will do bet
ter, because it will at once eliminate the
factions which are inevitable, so long as
their leaders feel that they have only to
capture few State organizations in the
North, nominate their candidate and then
uepSuu upon the OOulu 10 support ana
elect him if possible.
But if this course would give Southern
Democrats the recognition they deserve.
1t will also put them upon their mettle.
1t will make it necessary for them to in
sist upon devotion to ideas and principles :;
to avoid, as their character and traditions
assure, extreme policies; to keep them
selves thoroughly in touch with all the
elements to DE found in a national and
progressive party, and to be ready and
willing to anticipate and promote all the
needs of great country.
If we are honest with ourselves, earn
est and vigilant in the recognition of those
popular needs which are both safe and
democratic and regardful of our own ideas
and traditions, we shall again be intrusted
with power and we shall be ready for it.
When this time comes the South ought
to be, and, indeed, it must be, the one
great effective force in bringing about
such happy consummation-sore need
ed ii our institutions are to endure invio-
late.