Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-07-11
THURSDAY. JULY II, 1912.
STILL LIVING IN THE PAST.

when such manifestations of
healthy public sentiment occur at
the north it causes US to regret
more keenly than ever that the I'M
natural political conditions of the
south makes it impossible for our
people to divide upon public ques-
tons. Here we are forced to think
slike, or, in any event, to act to-
gether whether we think alike or
not"
Two weeks ago the News said in al
EDITORIAL under the caption THE Incu
us of Manner"
To disenthrall the south from
the incubus of a name'-that's why
K. L. Thorpe, prominent Virginia
republican states his willingness to
join Roosevelt's new third party
movement. 1t is the mere appella-
ton, republican in Mr.. Thorp's
opinion that has thus far held the
solid south for the democrats.
While Mr.. Thorp overstates the case
with reference to the past, he says
something that is not without inter
est and pertinence to the south's
political future.
The people of this section of the
country, have stood in unbreakable
opposition to the republican party
not because of its name, but be-
cause of its principles; because of
its traditions; because of its infa-
nous record with regard to the ne
gro in politics; because it has never
had conscience enough or courage
enough to boldly repudiate as the
supreme political crime in the his
tory of the world, its damnable eff
forts to shatter the civilization of
the south by placing the ballot in
the hands of slaves just ffeed, and
by DISTINGUISHING intelligent and
property holding withstand be-
cause against every attempt made
by the south to be saved from the
body of living death thus sought
to be fastened upon it by the repub-
hcan party, the republican party has
fought with sullen and vicious per-
sistency. 1t is true that the men
ace of negro rule no longer projects
its ugly shadow over southern poll
And so it is the incubus of crime;
the incubus of vicious principles; the
incubus of oppressive legislation;
as well as the incubus of a name
under which republicanism is con-
stantly staggering to defeat on this
side the Mason and Dixon line.
1.-The name of course is a source
of prejudice for what it recalls as
well as what it now represents. 1t
is regarded by many as badges of
odium; as a remainder of intoler-
able political iniquity; as a synonym
for what is evil in American poll
tics-just as the name Judas Isca-
rot reminds of the vilest express
sion of human treachery. And no
political cause can afford to wear
the appellation in the south-nor
can any political cause flourish in
this section that doesn't take out
and-out position in favor of the suf-
frage policy and race separation
laws that have been the result of
the white mans domination of the
south's political affairs"
There is no one, it may be said, WI
will defend the wholesale enfranchis,
ment of race held for generations
servile subsection any more than the
would defend the right to hold hi
man being in bondage. These ideas b,
long to bygone generation, and shoul
be allowed to rest in peace. The on
was the outgrowth of the other-on
the principal cause of long and blood
war, and the other, in part, at leas
the result of the bitter feeling enger
dered by that war.
That at is true that the menace {
negro rule no longer projects its ugl
shadow over southern politics" is show
IN the fact that there is no Federal il
reference with state statutes that dii
the negro voter, unless he
ambitious enough and enterprising Ell
,ugh to conform to the regulation
which will give him the right of sui
rage. Are the skirts OF the demo
;ratic party in this state entirely cIea
n the matter of the Acknowledgement O
he colored voter who does nc posses
he qualifications demanded by our stat
Those who remember tn
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