New-York tribune., 1909-02-28
FUTURE OF THE SOUTH
It's Plight Hopeless While SolidIy
Democratic, Says Julian Harris.

I-,o1a Rernus's 'aThe Home Magazine & political
editorial calculated by it's author, Julian Har-
ris to stir the voters OF the South 1t is enttled
Shall the Solid South Be Shattered?" and one
Of its points is that already made by Fresloeht
Taft that If the "solid South" is to be broken the
decision must come from within ths South The
writer who is tbs son OF the late Joel Chandler
Harris and succeeded to the editorship OF the
magazine on his fathers death, believes the
breaking OF the SOLID South would be one OF
the best things politically that could happen
to it.
He says at the beginning of his editorial after
sketching the intense interest Of Sortherners in
the present political situation:
This must be borne in mind Whatever the
SOLID South" does or is to do. must corns from
wlthin--it must be q condition wrought by the
yeast Of years Of development working among
her own people. This talk OF President elect
Taft winning the South. or the South winning
Mr. Taft, is absurd But Mr. Taft can and viii
be so understanding OF tbs Southerners that his
interest and fair play will hasten the Souths
EFFORTS to solve difficult problem.
He speaks of the first step toward the forua-
tion~of the Solid South as the effort TO over
come the power Of the ballot in the hands OF the
ne gro sketches its commercial awakening and
in telling why the South has been solid and
powerless" tells Of political conditions of re-
construction days. THE white primary and the
further and more recent attempt to eliminate
the negro vote are the two big forces 70 consider
in this evolution that may resul+ in breaking the
Solid South he says, ana in taking them up
declares the white primary rots the South's
craftsmanship and prestige. while the disfran-
chisement Of the negro is called the very best
and the very worst move a Southern state could
make" The white illiterate voter has doubled
the South's burden Continuing. he says;
President Roosevelt has begun to understand
the situation in the South. he has opened the
way for Republican President TO be put In
close touch with Southerners ana with thelr
ideas and ideals.
President-elect Taft has wide and wonderful
opportunity. The way in which he handles
ing on the making OF history in the next ten or
hfteen years. 80.
we touch back to the handspring OF this discus
Shall the SOLID South" be broken
We have said that this decision must come
from within the South
What then is the position OF the Solid South"
in Democratic ranks
cratic under present conditions she viii be hope
less and helpless. She gave to the recent Demo
cratic Presidential nominee all but thimbIetul
Of electoral votes yet she had voice in max
ing the nomination; and II the election Of the
nominee had followed she would have been not
one whit better of, save for sn isolated once
or two
South believe that the negro scarecrow will keep
Tor years that the Democrats of the South would
vote for q yellow dog' If ths party nominated
one Therefore the Northern and Eastern and
Western Democrats write the platform. name
the nominees and in their hearts--for they do
not understand how the negro question has
scli6idad the South--desplse the Souths tinaid-
itv and cornplacence II is because the South
has always been solid and Democratic that g
has no power with the Democratic party, and r
Is for this sans reason that the Republican party
has heretofore slipped in no plapkS that might
palliate the Southerners. The SOLID south
IS no longer a power, il is a phrase that is the
Demccracy! What do the organized Demo
Gratis of Tanmany care foT Democracy in its
br0adest sense? For national politics TanmanY
wouldn't lift q finger II New York City might
be carried in local politics by knitting the na-
tional nominee
TWO COURSES OPEN.
But the South is seeing and understanding,
There two ways open for her, now that the
negro vote is for few years put out of danger;
one to demand control Of the national
Democratic party and the convention, and then
If the demand is refused take control and nom
mate its own man out OF the South and begin
a ight from the start and TO the finish.
The other course is to break the Solid South"
II by any chance this should occur next cleo
ton and Georgia should be the state that breaks
from that state, doubtless one or more Repub-
ncan-Southern Republican-Congressne
And there you have tbs Souths political free
dom told in nutshell.
N the South no man but a stanch South
erTer could be elected even as a Republican,
would the Republicans appoint any other
kind Then the South Will have representa- ation
in the party councils Of the Republican party.
ana what her representatives say will be needed.
not only because doubtful states are not easily
TO be disregarded. but equally because the Re
publican party viii be hearing the South's story
from a Southern Republican. And the negro
who waits for federal appointment win tnrn
gray with age.
Fra nky we believe the breaking OF the ~SoHd
South" would be one Of the best things polit
tcally that could happen to this South and we
have tried TO lay the foundation for this con-
clusion. and yet not distort conditions.
There is no Intention TO suggest that the man
who Is genuinely a Democrat should recede from
his position; at the same time thers Is every
reason why every white Southern voter who is
genuinely Republican should cast his vote for
the Republican, ticket.
Twelve years ago there was not much regard
for Southern man who voted the national Re-
publican ticket To-day some OF the leading
citizens, for instance, of Atlanta are known as
national Republicans. Now that the negro IS
disfranchised we ought TO be fair to those of our
friends and acquaintances who believe with the
party Of Roosevelt and Taft
Nor is the Republican party without !ts re-
can show that there is sincerity in Republican
speeches and intirnations. He can keep the CAD
fly OF negro appointments away from the South,
AMI by seeking the suggestions OF leading citi
South can regardless OF political lines make
federal appointments which will not only reflect
great credit on his administration but establish
propaganda for all time
The South is bound TO be slow in any radical
move and Mr.. Taft will doubtless be in no
hurry In the mean time, each one of US can
help the nation at large and the South In par
ticular By standing TO the gun OF his convictions
and voting conscientiously and honestly, whether
for Republican or Democratic doctrines.