The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-28
The Political Horizon.

Within ten days from this time, the annual
elections will take place in no less than thlr-
teen States including the great States of New
York, Massachusetts, Michigan and Illinois. 1t
is nearly certain that the result will show large
conservative gains; and the feeling of conf
dence caused by the conservative victories in
California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, will, with
| out doubt, be both strengthened and increased.
Already, in the Southern States, there has been
| joy and thanksgiving; but, at this moment,
| when it is most necessary that we should be
patient, prudent, and temperate, it is our duty
to beware of either undue trust, or rash ex-
ultation.
The North, aud Northwest, have no great
! love for the Southern States They have no
such affection and favour in their hearts, as
would cause them to jeopardise their own for
tunes, in the defense of their neighbours of the
South Nor have they any implicit faith, or
belief in Mr. JOHNSON or his policy. They act
independently of him and of his plans. BY
all but by the knot of fanatical impeachers, the
fresluent Is pracLcaiy iorBoIIeh.
But, while the North will not move actively
| in behalf of the South, will not strike a blow
| in defense of tho President, it will do, both
emphatically and promptly, whatever is neces-
| sary for its own safety and the preservation OF
its own gigantic wealth. The startling vote at
the late elections was not the result of widen
| ing breach between Democrat and Radical, Free
| Trader and Protectionist-the advocate Of re-
pudiation and the friend of specie payments.
| 1t was an instinctiye feeling that the time had
come when the chariot of revoluticn must be
checked in its bloody course; it was an ins.nc-
/ tive feeling that the time had come when a
| blow must be dealt at the hydra of agrarian-
| ism, confscation, white slavery and black
! supremacy, which had already paralyzed trade
and industry, and sapped the foundations of
general and individual welfare. Without lead
ers, without complete organization, with many
crievous differences of opinion, the conservative
men of the country marched to the polls, moved
by the great leyers-personal interest and per-
sonal security.
But while this reaction will go on, and go
much farther, it may yet prove of no imme-
diate benefit to the South. New York, and In
| diana, and New Jersey, and Illinois, and Wis
consin, may follow in the track marked out by
California in the West, and Pennsylvania, in
the East and yet the South not obtain her
freedom There will be ground and there is
reason, for hope, and courage, and patience, un-
der trial and temptation; but it must not be
expected that day, or month, will roll back
the torrent of oppression, or purge the stains
from the bloody page of war. For the South,
the value of the reaction in the North will de-
pend upon the manner in which her people
behave;-upon their action during the next
few months, will depend the destinies of them
selves and of their children.
Those men who have watched, and waited,
and suffered, during six long years. cannot be
covards now. The men who have fought and
b,ed, the women who have worked and wept'
will not finch or swerve. Now, again, must
the dignity of race the supremacy OF princi-
ciple, be asserted and maintained. Now that The
dawn is breaking, every Southern man must
continue to be calm, moderate law-abiding and
just There must be no compromise, no TAM
pering, with the honour of our people and 1t
must be borne in mind that, while here, as else
where, there is room for judicious, conservative
reform, there can be no safety, no freedom, no
permanent prosperity, in any land that is gov
erned upon such principles, and such doctrines,
as those of which the Radical party of the
United States is the exponent and the cham
pion.