The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-12-03
TIE HOPE OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY IN THE SOUTH.

The great handicap 10 the growth
OF Republican principles In the South
has been the old referee plan which
placed in the hands Of one man
power TO dictate all the Federal Of
fees. This has necessarily resulted
In forming a close corporation or
patronage machine which has al
most invariably used the powerful
Federal Offices to perpetuate itself
in power. This Is done by forming
a small clique who used the Offices
not to build up the party, but, II
possible, to make It grow smaller
Indeed, party growth would be
sure menace to the continued power
of the machine.
This system has been more at
fault than the men, but the trouble
Is that the system has discouraged
the best and strongest men In the
party and has tended to bring to
the front men OF small ability and OF
less patriotism. 1t takes a broad,
high-minded, and patriotic man, who
once has absolute power, to be will
ing to give It up for the good of his
party; certainly, no small, insincere
and grasping man will do it.
When men of the latter class die
tate all Of the Federal Offices, they
try to pick men, not primarily for
their capacity to fill the offices or for
their standing and influence In the
State or community, but, on the
other hand, men who will swear al
legiance to the machine. Men so
appointed understand that they are
not expected to help advance Repub-
lican principles to the end that their
county, their district, and their State
will endorse these principles at the
polls, but they understand that the
allegiance required of them is to
help keep the party in the hands Of
a close corporation. They understand
that they are to work with might
and main to get delegates and pack
conventions, and then they are to
quit. OF course, such leadership
will never produce party growth, and
If recruits should come in spite of
such domination, they find that they
are not welcome but are frowned
upon with disfavor.
This condition has been the curse
and blight of the Republican party
In the South. In this State the rank
and file Of the party determined TO
overthrow such false leadership
This evidence of life and virtue in
the party, encouraged by Judge
Taft's speech at Greensboro two
years ago, has brought many recruits
and explains the great Republican
gains in the State, and 1t also ex-
plains the friction with Adams as
head OF the machine. This friction
was inevitable, and, indeed, it Is q
most healthy sign.
No one was more surprised at the
Republican gains made in this State
that was Chairman Adams. Indeed
his machine is the only thing thai
stood in the way of a complete vic
tory this year; and, it should be tt
the credit of certain office holders
who, In spite of this condition, Joined
In the effort to give the electora
vote of the State to Taft, more thar
one of them declaring that they
would do their duty, even If it were
treason to the machine and they
must lose their jobs for it.
The large gains in North Caroline
were made in spots; in every county
and locality where the local leader
ship was in strong, progressive
hands, there the gains were great
But in quite a number of countie:
where the patronage machine com
pletely dominates, there was no Sc
rious organized effort made, and IL
such counties and localities the yot,
was small.
Every intelligent and well-inform
ed man in the State knows tina
with competent leadership a sweep
ing Republican. victory would hay
been won at the last election.
The people of North Carolina hav,
resolved that the old reference sys
tenn must go, and they trust that tn
national administration will lift thi
yoke Of party stagnation and dealt
from their necks without forcin,
them to continue the struggle agains
the machine, backed by the powerful
Offices of the national administration
This is the hope of the Republican
party in the South.
So many concerns starting so 500
after the election leaves us to thin