The Washington herald., 1907-07-21

The southern Nan IDEA

Discussion of Southern man for the
Presidency continues 10 engage the at
tenton OF political writer's ia every sec
tion of the country. although the topic
has failed TO arouse more than an aca-
demic interest in any quarter. II is
noteworthy that the most pronounced
sentiment against The Southern man idea
finds expression In the South. where the
feeling prevails that it would Doe inexpe-
dent at this time 10 nominate "a South
ern candidate. Coupled with this feeling.
there is "a natural regret that the South
should stiu bo somewhat isolated from
the main currents OF national politics
and that the voice Of her statesmen
should be of relatively smaller weight
than they are entitled 20 I'm the councils
of the Democratic party A demand IS
frequently met with in the Southern
press that the Democracy of that Sec
tion should assert itself in the next ma
tIonai convention, and tie hope is en-
teruiued that some day the South wiz
come into its own as an influence in
national affairs
Just what is meant by these expires
sions it is GimcuJ To- SAY. The South
has no special interest TO subsgrve by
regaiains that supremacy in national af-
fairs which it exercised prior 70 the war
Gov. Nardamans propaganda for the re-
peal or the fifteenth amendment has not
become popular enough To command the
united support of the Southern people. We
are unable TO discern a distinctivelv
Southern political idea in the utterauces
of modern Southern statesmen. for the
State rights dogma u0 LONGER las its old
significance. being nowadays mere
question of how far it is eXpedienJ TO
extend Federal powers over matters Of
national concern. ms to which there Is
the same division of opinion In the South
rs elsewhere. In fact political opinion
in the South, leaving ost of cousidera-
ti0n the race question with which the
Federal government has little 10 do, tends
more and more 10 divide on national
instead of sectional lines There is no
pending political issue. and there has
been none for some years past on which
the South has been pitted against the
North This being the case. the part
played by Southern statesmen in ua-
tional affairs must depend more upon
their personal character and influence
than upon their ability 70 command the
adhesion OF their party or the country
TO UarticUlarist ideas.
tt may De- urged that this theory of the
situation supplies the Des- f5ass.ale argu-
menJ for the nomination Of Southern
candidate for the Presidency. If Southern
statesmen are no longer possessed by
sectional political ideas. why. it may be-
asked. should not some one of them De
found who would answer au the require
ments OF Presidential asp.-aut? Ger
tain of the Southern papers answer TINS
question by saying that sectional feeling
has not altogether disappeared al the
North and that 10 would be unwisc not
to take this fact into consideration. The
New Orleans Picayuue remarks on this
point.
''L-r it b. announced that the south is claiming
tse night aud uia4-tas.iuE tll Intention Of reltl-
lns the struggle fr political control lv putting
forward t-c n Us ,llE for the chief executive
oalr- 80 tle republic and fhgr. would lt once De-
raised the .utes, taat tl- Srs-h was again ia The
S-N--e ana "o'ia ,.OA ha marching Oh Washington
iF an riiar- 20 rsam s1II. .mlcJ-
Unfortunately there is enough truth
IN all this TO put damper on the as
piiauons Of Southern candidates. par
ticularly if they are 10 be brought for
ward for the avowed purpose Of restor-
ing Southern domination in national az
fairs suen sa ambition. though hatter-
ln7 20 southern pride, prodpces an alto
getHer different impression in other por-
in This connection the St Louis Re
public offers a timely reminder tbar the
rhminarion NJ , Soutbcrr E,,..si5s,,,ia,