New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-28
snoorH-gHELL DEMOCRACY.

we are glad 10 note that our view OF the
south's inability 70 furnish a Democratic Presl-
Dental candidate for 1905 is sustained Dy SO
dispassionate an authority as THE Washington
Post" The Post" has always shown sym
pathetic interest in Southern politics ana mas
given Southern statesmen full credlt IOr the SCI
vice they do their section and the nation 1t
Gees clearly. however, that the SOuth's leaders
have more or less disqualified themselves as re-
organizers and rebuilders OF the Democratic
marty by their vacillatiOn between radlcaIlsH
and conservatism and by their persistent SUD
ordination OF principle to expediency. says
THE Post frankly:
Faction has got the Democratic party py inc
throat and there are thinking men VINO oe! me-.
thar only a ticket headed by Southern man
can relax its grip. But the Southern man VINO
is also Presidential timber is not born WHO MIli
contest the leadership with william Jennings
Bryan
Why are the Southerners. who constitute
ahout all that is left of the Democratic party
IN Congress and who dictate that party's Policy
In both House and Senate. so handicapped anu
imnOtent? THE Posts" answer is-as ours was
that they have shown desire and no capac-
fry 10 originate political ideas. "A great po-
.itical idea must appear and seize hold on the
democratic party before we are likely 10 see
another Democratic President" That Is me
truth in a nutshell Are the Southern Demo
Certainly not They are merely standing pat
on the ideas of an earlier generation and leaV-
ing a monopoly in the field of Origination ana
discovery TO Northern Democrats like william
]. Bryan and William r. Hearst
There are many Southerners in public life Oh
more than average attanments. Only year
ago Senator Joseph w Bailey rebuked Fresi-
dent Alderman OF the University OF virginia
for intimating that the SOuth's standard OF
publIc service is lower to-day than 1t was IN
the ante-beIlum period. We pass no Judgment
on this contention But if Mr.. Baileys view is
the correct one. then the South is to be cen
sured for either Incidence or Indifference for
the influence of its representatives in natOnai
notifies and especially in the management oil
its net organization, the Democratic party, is
today not onetenth of what ii was In the clos
ing decades Of the struggle over slavery. Ihere
is now practically no opposition party In most
Of the Southern States. The Democratic leaders
Of the South are never harried by the rear OF
local disaster They can give all their energies
IN the tasks of national politics. But this sense
Of security at home seems to have enervateo
them. They have ceased TO have Will ana
purpose of their own in national politics. and
content themselves with taking directions from
others. They have played the Opportunist with
cynical complacency, swinging from Cleveland
10 BRYAN from Bryan TO Parker and from FAR
ker again TO Bryan without the slightest inward
or outward conjunction. They have accepted
implicitly the watchword Of Senator Rayners
original and ideal Democrat, Iago-"l am not
what am
We agree with The Washington Post" that
"a great idea must seize hold on the Democratic
..party before we are likely TO see another Demo
'.cratic President" But the smooth shell of the
Southern Democracy will have 10 be sand
papered and corrugated considerably before an
idea OF any sort can be expected 10 seize hold.