The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-31
DISTINCTION WITHOUT 4 DIE
FERENCE.

4 DISTINCTION WITHOUT 4 DIFF
FERENCE.
The question is not worth squub-
bling over. but we fail to see the
"vitnl'' difference, which the Lynch
burg News insists upon, between the
/ movement which 1t has now innugu-
rated to put the Southern Democracy
in the saddle. and the suggestion
which The Times Dispatch made last
| winter for conference of Southern
democrats to accomplish the same pur-
| pose.
| The News says 1t opposed the Times
! Dispatches suggestion, mot because 1t
| was opposed to the nomination of n
| Southern Democrat for the presidency,
| but by reason of the fact that in it's
/ Judgment The Times-Dspatch had
pointed out not only the wrong way
In which to encompass the end, but
the right way and the surest way by
which that end might be defeated.
To quote our own language In review
ing the controversy last january The
objection to The Times-Dispatchs sus-
gestion was, we take 1t, based upon the
method involved in that suggestions.
We further opposed the idea of insist
ing upon the nomination of south
ern man simply because being Il South
ern man. and went to record as being
IN favor of presenting the name OF
John w. Daniel to the next National
Democratic Convention II his name
shall be presented. not as Il sectional
choice, not as rejecting a candidacy
that had been Matched by a pre-
arranged and extraordinary sectional
movement. but as embodying broad,
national craftsmanship upon which
the distinguished Virginian could APP
peal to the favorable consideration of
the American electorate with as much
logic and force as If he hailed from
Pennsylvania instead of from Virginia.
We protested against unfavorable dis
elimination with reference to southern
public men simply and only because
being Southern men. and we like
wise deprecated the notion of seek
ing to promote the fortunes of a cam
didate from the South by distinctly
sectional program which was extra
party authority, extra party procedure
and never contemplated in the code of
sound national political ethics"
The Times-Dispatch had no partiou
lar candidate in mind, but as there had
been much discussion pro and con
ern man for the presidency, we sug-
gested that prominent Democrats from
all the States Of the South come to-
gether in conference and consider the
advisability or desirability of putting
forward a Southern candidate. We also
suggested, however, and dwelt par
ticularly on the point. that the con-
ferees should take such steps as would
put the Southern Democracy in posi-
ton to assert its leadership in ma
tional politics. The party needs to
be reorganzed,'' we said, land infused
and inspired with the spirit of South
ern Democracy. Its very salvation,
we firmly believe. depends upon the
affectionate agency of the South, and
hence a conference of Southern Demo-
Gratis in its interests seems to us to
be Imperative"
at seems to be widely agreed" said
the Lynchburg News in inaugurating
for the South to take ID .idership in
the councils of the Democratic party.
to assert due share of primacy to its
concerns, and to altogether abandon
the attitude of a practically voiceless.
If not spineless. quantity in the ma
tional political situation. If this view
is to prevail the hour is now at hand
to prepare for action And Virginia
was called upon to make the start.
1t appears. therefore, that our friend
and The Times-Dispatch are at one as
to purpose, the only disagreement be-
ing as to method. The News feared
that our movement would be re-
Garded as sectional. But with the same
object in view. would not concerted
action on the part of the several South
ern States be quite as Sectional" as
a conference of Southern Democrats?
IT
-sUNo