The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-19
Political Campaigniug In the South.

Political Campaigning In the South.
Encouraged perhaps, by the examples OF
what has resulted in Southern cities from the
missionary labors Of Senator Wilson and Judge
Kelley, Greeley and Company are organizing a
republican invasion of the South on grand
scale. They make q fervid appeal for men and
money-and all for what! 1t is hard to see.
Greeley, the head and front Of the whole fury
has just certified in Richmond that no wrong
has been done-that Davis is quite harmless,
inoffensive fellow, and not traitor, and, con-
sequently, that the South was in the right all
the time and fully justifable in its acts. Why
convert it, thens Why argue 1t out OF prlnci-
Piles that are correct? Are not the republican
leaders little inconsistent and absurd and
ridiculous in this proposed onslaught against
principles they can find no fault with? II
Greeley and Company can stand bail for the
man whom they have for years denounced as
the greatest Of all reprobates, the most afro
cious of all traitors, their admirers must natu-
rally suppose that those denunciations were all
buncombe-mere theatrical phrases, uttered for
effect on the Northern public. How can it be
supposed that there is any more sincerity now
in the expressed desire to further the fepub-
lican cause in the South, especially as it can
not be thought necessary to change the views
of men who already hobnob SO nicely with the
philosopher and his followers?
But republicans have, Of course, the right
to go and indulge in free speech, and all that,
to any extremity. Wilson had the right and
Kelley had even the right to say the violent
things he did-only we may question whether
it was good taste or even good judgment We
may well doubt, indeed, whether the republi-
can party and orators, in their anxiety to fur
Their radical principles in the South, are not
taking the very steps most likely to defeat
their purpose. If the South were left to its
own thoughts we should find tina. the IDEAS it
associated with democracy were suspicion, hate
and fear of such party. Throughout the
Southern States the democratic party is held in
great degree responsible for the war and its
horrors. In that party the South sees the poll
ticians and principles by which it was deceived
and led to the aggressive policy and acts that
put the radical agitators in the position of the
defenders of the nation, and armed them with
the power OF the nation, to strike down all OPP
ponents Hence the South feels that it has had
enough of democracy for a generation or two,
and, turning with disgust from the old idols, is
ready to fall into any new political creed that
promises peace and quiet. The events of the
war destroyed the democratic supremacy in
AZ al fba o,,lr
nents Of the democracy might have reaped the
benefit.
But the radical orators in the South are now
the active influence in preventing such result
They are reviving the hopes Of the people for
the party that promises escape from the evils
Radical threats of confscation, and appeals
to the negro-to bad passions and violent
crimes-are already forcing the people to be-
Jieve that any other party must be better and
safer for them than the republican party. The
present state of parties in Virginia is signif-
cant. Already the blacks have taken an ex-
treme position around the more violent radical
leaders, position that will render it impos-
sble for the white voters there to join them,
and will, consequently, drive these white voters
into the arms of any opposition. Mr.. Bolts,
who favors such action as will render it pos
sble for whites and blacks to act together as
Union men and republicans, is denounced by the
negroes as the enemy of republicanism. This
is the Legitimate result of the recent radical
campaigning, and this will 60 much further.
It will force all men in the South who are not
in favor of the policy Of the extravagant few
to oppose the republican party and by this
means the republican orators in The South to-
day are building up the democratic party far
more efficiently than the democrats themselves
could do it,