The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-06
TIE ONLY WAY TO ANSWER.

Under the caption southern Dcmoc-
racy on Trial" the milwaukee, (Wis)
Journal asks, What does Southern
Democracy stand for? Is Southern
I Democracy Democratic?'' These quer-
les follow the observation that not
since 1860. when the Democratic party
/ split and went to pieces. putting two
} tickets In the field, has Southern
man been seriously suggested or con-
sidercd for the presidency" yet nov
: the South comes to the front with one
or more leaders as potential candi-
dates for the presidency in 1912. with
out creating sectional prejudice or
/ comment"
| But also these queries introduce ana
arc made the text of II review of poll
cies and the history of the Southern
Democratic party since the War Re
tween the States. which renders them
exceedingly pertinent and timely. ana
which though not altoget her pleasant,
Is none the less instinct with truth.
In II we see ourselves as others soc
us, and SO seeing we should profit
thereby, especially considering the adj
mitted and obvious opportunity so to
do
SAYS the Journal. among other
things, for two score years the South
has been nominally solidly Demo
cratic, but during all that time the
principles of Democracy have been in
allowance "DirT,ro,c,. ,r ,,.,
opinion have been suhordinated or lain
dormant under tho supposed para
mount necessity of maintaining racial
supremacy.' The real necessity, which
is happily overpowcred, we here inter
jcct in justice to the party ana the
Southern whites. The Southern Dem
ocrats," continues our contemporaries.
have rehearsed the principles of JET
ferson as II creed of their political
church, without adherng to or Civ
ing much political thought TO them in
practice"
Here the Journal proceeds to argue
that the Southern people and party
have been equally without influence
or responsibility in national affairs, so
long as they have not had occasion for
dissemination on
the articles OF their faith-to deter |
mine how steadfastly they have stood
to thcm, and how far they may have
wandered from them, ana resumes as
subjoincd:
Southern representatives have
.,,i,
influence and freedom from rcsponsi-
bility. They have been returned 10
Congress time and again without any
accounting required Of their steward
ship Of Democratic principles and pol
lcies, under the tacit understanding
th;ut they We're 10 make the best OF
n situation that they could not control
and follow their discretion In making
the most of II. They have taken the
utmost advantage of the latitude al
lowed them; they have done In Rome
as the Romans do; they have affiliated
~ith and voted for the dominant Re
pnblicans ana their dominant policies
in economic matters without party or
opposition alignment
Next, specific instances arc given OF
Democratic dickerinE with
Republicans on protective schedules
and of bargaining on protective duties
for special state interests. together
with surrender OF principle for cx-
pcdicncy sake; and, in concluding
this portion OF its article, the Journal
alleges that even the trusts have had .
three Southern champions.
All this is not pleasant, as We stated
in the outset. hut we cannot be honest