The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-13
GAN PRODUCE THE MAN.

CAN PRODUCE THE MAN.
 Tn an emerge Icy the South has new CT yet failed to produce a man." re- marks The Richmond Evening Journal in an editorial favoring putting forth a Southern man as the candidate of of the Democracy for President in 1908
 "a sentiment in which we fully con- cur. But can he be found for the com ing occasion? We do not go quite so far as do some of our brethren, who say that the first thing to be consid- cred is success. We certainly want to see our party succeed next time, but it might possibly be more creditable to the party and better for the country to go down to defeat with a good man than to succeed with a bad one.
 / We are very far from admitting that all the brains and statesmanship. in the Democratic Party are domiciled North of Mason and Dixon's line. We are equally far from admitting that we owe such special political allegiance to the Northern Democrats as would bind us to vote for any man the North or West may select. There are many good and true men up there; men whose statesmanship is known of all men, and whose Democracy is unquestioned; men who have stood by their guns and fought for the traditions and principles of the party when it was a reproach in some sections to be called a Demo- crat. and when 1t was known to be throwing away time and energy to speak or vote for the ticket.
 Admitting all this does not mean that we have not as good men in the South as any section of the Union can lclaim. We have always had them, and, as The Journal says, they have come to the front when needed. Most assur- edly this section has no cause to blush for her sons. From Washington down they have been to the front in war and in peace and always have they added to the honor and glory of a common country. We have some of them left,, and If the Democratic Party calls for them with the voice of authority the answer will be that of the Scotch clans Ready, aye, ready"
 We go as far as any of our contem- poraries in the feeling that the Demo- crats of the South have served long enough. For more than three score years we have been voting for North ern or Western men, with never a can didate from our section except in 1860, and then we knew the struggle was a | hopeless one. With that exception the candidate has not been Southern man since 1s44, and every Democrat who has filled the Presidential chair owed | his success to the Southern Democracy. Is it not high time that there should l be change? And yet, if the leaders of our party In 1908 decide that the only hope of success lies in the sselec- | tion of a good and true Northern man had we not better take him than run the risk of losing tll by taking a man of our own and by that means subect the country to another four years of | Republican domination?
 These are the questions to consider, | though it is rather early for the dis cussion. Still, perhaps there is no harm in speaking of what we prefer. Then, too. many things may happen before the time comes to make se- 1 lection. We do not believe that the | present administration and its follow ing will make Republican policies very popular throughout the country. It may be that the. way to success will be opened and that all wings of the party will be ready and"willing to unite on man of Presidential size from the South Then, as The Journal says. our end of the Union can produce the man."