The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-10-11
Eusionism.

Fusionism.
In the campaign that is being
waged in Tennessee the question that
is 10 be decided by the people is
whether or not they prefer to con-
tinue under a fusion administration
or under an administration of some
regular party.
The history of fusionism proves
that it has always been a failure. In
every instance it has been the result
of dissatisfaction. A disgruntled
crowd of one party has agreed with
a ~disgruntled crowd of another party
to throw their strength together and
defeat some well-established party.
It has often been the case that these
factions have been able to appeal to
the sentiments of the people and gain
enough support to win a victory. But
in all cases such efforts have proven
to be short-lived. They do not last;
first of all. because they are not BIN
of pure motives. 1t is, either a selfish
desire on the part of some one indi'
yidual or a greed for office on the part
of a certain click. Neither motive
has ever proven to be conducive to
the welfare of the people.
Tennessee has had two years Of
fusionlsm, the beginning of which
dates back several years. 1t viii be
remembered that a few years ago the
republican party in Tennessee set out
to have a white mans party. They
tore loose from the old moorings and
drifted out into mid-stream with
their craft loaded with white men
only. and the Negroes, who had for
forty years or more fought with the
republican party in every noliFlcal
battle were left on the shores look
ing in amazemenl at the newly con-
structed craft ,auncned upon the pc
litical sea with his inscription On
their banners, 1--WE want no Negroes
in our fold" This new movement
gained the popular distinction of the
"lilywhite" movement. Lilywhitism
was all right locally, but when the
doctrine of the white mans party was
presented to the National republican
! organization, the Yankee was farsight
ed enough to see the undoing of the
: republican party in the South If 1T at
7 tempted to cast aside the Negro sup
l port. So, the 'lilywhite" apostles
: set about to revise their new princi
: pies and to convince the Negro tina
= what they were doing a for nj
+ benefit as well as theirs. But the ny
: pocrisy of the scheme was made mani
d fest two years ago when "lilywhitism
r was grated into confusionism and cor
2 fusionism was grated into other ism
e that have made all isms become dis
e tasteful to the Negro voters OF Tel
~nessee. and for that matter, a mi
g jority of the white republicans
this state are as much opposed I
e fusionism as are the Negro voters.
Their distaste is being made man
re fest in more ways than me-. 1t
lie only necessary to recall the actions
er republican members of the last &c
eral Assembly, when some of the lea
to ing men of the state in the repuD
can fold Joined hands with the reg
it lar democrats in enacting certa
in laws. and in opposing certain 9th
SIN bills that were introduced.
i'd 1t is clear that the sentiment
Tennessee is in favor of a straig
las party of some kind. Fusionism is
Use failure and will always be so for
est simple reason that the man W
is leaves his party and conspires W
the a faction of some other party stan
nd himself as a hypocrit and loses
'op- respect of his fellowmen.