Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-10
A SOUTHERN VIEW,

l ne Atlanta, Ca. Constitution. one
OF the most influential Democratic pa
pers in the south, declares that III
tuesdays election the southern states
began writing their political declara
ton of independence" Business men
all over the south who had been ad.
herents of the Democracy all their
lives dared to support hopefully and
openly the candidates of the Republic
can party, because their conviction
led them that way" and the Constitu-
ton halls this as an indication that
the time has passed when a resident
OF one of these states must buy his
social security at the price of his
political convictions"
The Constitution did not endorse the
action of the southerners who voted
the Republican ticket only to the ex.
tent of saving they Were right in CIV
ing material expression to their true
convictions I'VE may differ with
them upon the wisdom Of their
choice" the paper says, without
once putting it upon sectional
grounds
TO those disposed TO criticise this
position the Constitution declared that
the pursuit of political conviction and
The freedom of political action are big
ger and broader questions than any
fixed idea of party alignment based on
tradition and added that "the Con-
stitution will be found fighting for
sound and progressive Democratic
principles long after those who may
see fit 10 carp and cavil at these views
are gone and forgotten
The Constitution said:
That southern vote which, in firm
belief, wrenched itself away from sec
tional. political tradition-and it was
a large one-was significant
1t means that the south is no longer
10 be kept as voting machine; as a
slice of country to be depended OH to
go solidly Democratic though the
heavens fall; as mere tail to what
by itself would be an unf1yable north
ern Democratic kite.
1t means that the time has Guns
when the voter of the south is going to
demonstrate his faith by works and
not let conviction wait upon cob
Webbed tradition which new nation
to date, to stand the test of the reason
OF the hour, or fall il it fails to do So
The south has fed too long upon,the
political crumbs which the scattering
Democratic elements in western and
eastern states have brushed to it from
the table
. 1t should long ago have demanded
more. The south furnishes the votes;
1t should before now have supplied the
platform and presidential nominee.
And yet for all these years it has been
playing the part of the quadrennial
suppliant--until even it's
own people have grown tried of it.
The south will not be continued
longer mere voting machine.
asday practically demonstrated
mat. ,asats .e; ss
.Ie, it is still solid, but the veneer
s dangerously thin.
1t will no longer content itself with |
lust the crumbs that fall from the
Democratic table
What the south needs is few doubt
'ul states; then it will be in position !
o demand and get something.
1t needs not additionally to follow !
he past, but progressively to support ,
nen and measures that will build
md strengthen the nation and the !
south along with it,
If it is to continue soidly Demo
ratio, it should do. so upon the merits
If what the opposing parties have to-
'ffer, and not because Of ancestral
lictation
The Constitution is taking what. for
southern paper, is an advanced |
ground. No doubt it will be criti-
Used freely by the old line southern
rs who place tradition above prin-
'iple. But if the lines are drawn in
he next national campaign as tight
as they were in the late campaign
may not take longer than four years
0 bear out the statement of the Con-
titution that the south has really de-
Jared its independence.
-