Year: 1877

MAY BREAK UP TgE DEMOCRACY IN The DIS


TANT FUTURE


1FRoN \ STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNEl


WuMINGToN, n. c., May 24.-ln the course OF
two months spent in travel in eight OF the Southern
States since the adjournment of Congress have
been on the lookout to discover the beginnings OF
the new party 80 much talked of by the Northern
newspapers. Not the first sprout have been aDie
70 find The surface of the political field is every
where covered with thick, stout growth OF Demo
cracy which whether it be thought useful plant
or noxious weed is so we'll rooted that bids fair
10 resist for some time to come the development OF
any new crop And yet the prospect is not aIto-
gether hopeless. The seed of a political forma-
ton has been sown, and the soil is by no means
wholly unfriendly. 1t is not gong to spring
I'D in few weeks or months, however,
or even in year. To suppose that the cessation OF
some of the causes that have soldied the whites Of
the South in compact organization VIII Imme-
dately result in their falling apart into contending
organizations is absurd but it is no less absurd to
imagine that because they show no signs now OF
dividing they therefore certain to hold together
for an indefinite period, and that solid North must
be organized TO resist their influence III national
affairs The sensible is to wait two OF three
years and see what will be the effect of wise ana
friendly Administration at Washington on the
politics of the South Then if there is anything





be time enough for Senator Morton to sonnd his
tocsn.


Every where have been have found division
of opinion among the intelligent white people suiii-
ciently radical to work out III a division III party
action if il were not for the feeling that the safety
of their local interests requires them to continue to
act together. The black clOnd of negro rule still
fingers OH the horizon, and mems memories OF the
OWL it inflicted have not yet grown dim There
must be thorough conviction, reinforced by ex-
perience that no further danger need be appre-
hended of the massing of the black VOTE before any
large body of whites will withdraw from the Demo
cratic party. Plenty of mon met with III every
Southern State who say that they have no sympathy
with the Northern Democracy, that Hayes suits
them exactly and ought 90 be sustained, and that
healthfu condition of politics requires that men OF
intelligence and property should divide INTO
opposing ranks; buh ask them If they are
ready TO lead off, and they reply that u Is
TOO soon There is wisdom in delay, they say. They
will see whether the President will be able to keep
on in the good path he has set out upon and whether
the Republicans are going 10 sustain him on try TO
break him down. They viii see, too, whether there
develops any purpose on the part OF the Northeih
Republican leaders to reorganize the negroes for use
in future campaigns. Everything NAV be hazarded
and nothing il likely to he gained by hasty action.
Az far as their State Governments are concerned
there are no urgent reasons for putting party IN
the field in opposition TO that which. under the name
of Democratic and Conservative, is controlling
affairs Strict economy and prudent, conservative
legislation is the rule at all the State capitals.
often hear men say, when commenting on the
management of their State affairs that there Is 100
much Democracy suit them, but 1T seldom THAT
they make specific objections 30 the acts OF the
Governor or Legislature. They restive under
the unnatural condition of things, which makes
healthful political strife impossible-that is all.


In North Carolina and Tennessee, where the negro
is in such hopeless minority that ne is not danger
ous and where there is a respectable white Repub-
lican element the effect of the Presidents wise
policy has been TO strengthen the Republican organ
Ization In South Carolina and Louisiana, and to
less extent in Mississippi where the black vote pre-
ponderates over the white, there Is disposition to
form an organization in support of the President OF
Use the existing one for that purpose. in order TO
keep the Northern radicals from breaking down his
policy. The whites in these States do not care for
party names-the main thing is to hold on to local
self-govemment and to insure themselves against
Federal interference. In Georgia and Alabama.
where the two races nearly evenly balanced. the
Democracy is more solid than anywhere else, and 1t
is rare TO find politician who will tolerate the idea
of division of the white vote. account for this
bv the absence of any dread of interference from
Washington and the conviction that, as long as The
Democratic party holds together as at present organ
ized the negroes will De pOwerless. If there Is any
early break in the white vote in these States 1t viii
erow out of the ealouses and quarrels OF political
leaders.


There are two kinds of Democrats in the south
first, the Democrat per Sc, who is OF about the
same cut and kind as his Northern brother. who is
happy in belonging to the National Democratic
partv and who hungers and thIrsts loritho spos of
office, and looks forward with bhssful anticipation
to the time when his party will distribute the pat
ronaee of the National Government; second, the
Democrat perforce who is such because of the
pressure of circumstances-the paramount necessity
of rescung and preserving his State from the ruin
Gus rule of the carpet-baggers and the negroes.
The latter continues TO be a Democrat solely be-
cause he is afraid that if he and bis class were TO
become anything else the prosperity and good gov
erument of his section would be put in jeopardy
When he is satisfied that he is free to follow ms in-
clhnations i'll politics, he will be a Democrat no
longer. He may not be a Republican, but be will
oppose the policy and the leaders OF the Democratic
party. / can discover no essential difference be-
tween the views national and State Affairs OF
such Northern Republicans as Hayes, EvartS ana
Schurz and such Southern Democrats sO-caied] as
Hampton, Nichols, and Drew.


Tie old Southern Republican party is dead beyond
resurrection. and any effort 10 blow the breath of
life into il with a bellows worked from Washington
will be futile. In the three States that have Just
passed into Democratic control the political de-
mOralizatiOn among the negroes is complete. Their
old carpet-bag leaders have left for former Northern
homes, preparing TO go. The coored voter, find
ing that bis officers have deserted him at the first
defeat and that there is 10 Gen. Grant at Washing


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