The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-28
THE NEW YORK PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT TOPICs-COMPmED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
The Republican Party In the South.


If Congress the other night had especial
reference to the organization of a Republican
party in the Southern States. This looks as
if speedy and practical political reorganza-
tion were expected in that quarters and though
it may be supposed to have particular refer
ence to the State elections which will soon be
under way, it may also be based on the proba-
bility of such action in the South as will enable
some or all of the States to participate in the
Presidential campaign of next year.
The movement is proper one, and if CON
Quoted wisely, will result in advantage,
not only to the Republican party, but-what
is more important--to the people of the South
themselves. The despotism of party in the
Southern States before the war was crushing.
The supremacy which the Democracy had ac-
quired in almost every slave State was eXer-
cised without regard to anything but itself
1t was based on the most intolerant of insti-
tutions, and from that took its character
Under it the present generation Of Southern
voters have acquired their political nature
and proclivites; and there is danger that,
even with all the great changes which have
taken place in the South, the traditions and
feeling of the past will again, under new forms
gain ascendancy. 1t will require great labor
to prevent a renewed growth of sectionalism,
of the State-Rights heresy, and of the political
into the Southern soil. We believe it can be
accomplished even yet, if properly set about;
but there are a few major and minor things
which will have to be attended to before sue
cess is possibe:-
l. The Republican party itself will by its
own action have to be Invested of all appear
ance of SectiOndlism, both in action and spirit
in other words, it will have to be thoroughly
ndtjoRdiized in all respects. The fact that ever
since the origin of the Republican party it has
been confined to the Northern States, has
unquestiOnably had great influence on the
policies it has from time to time pursued
Having no support in the South, either before
the war or since its close, it did not need to
consult Southern feeling, Southern interests,
or Southern ideas. All of these and even
Southern preiudices, must have their Just
weight with party which proposes to control
the political action of a country whose Govern
ment is constituted like ours.
2. Those who propose to undertake the
formation of the Republican party in the
Southern States must above all things, avoid
anything like setting one class of the people
against the other. There is no greater danger
at the present time to the South than this;
and it were better for both the North and the
South that the Republican party never had
an existence in the latter than that its action
should be of this character. We should like to
have Republican leaders and voters among the
''pOor whites" but we should also like to
have them among the landed proprietors, and
among those who were lately Rebel officers
and leaders. The party in the North drew to
itself hundreds of prominent Democratic
chieftains, and tens of thousands of Democratic
voters; and this history must be repeated in
the South if the party there would have a
healthy and beneticent existence. In like
manner, we would by no means have the Re-
publican organizers overlook the importance
of the negro vote; but it should not be treated
as separate from the other vote, and, above
all, the blacks should be discouraged from
politically dntagonising themselves with the
dominant race.
We regard these two points as being vitally
important in this business of organizing the
Rel ublican party in the Southern States.
As minor matter, we cannot suppose that
the Republican leaders in Congress and else
where, who have originated and propose car
rying on the movement, will fail to see the
necessity of ceasing to indulge in any such
wholesale denunciations of the Southern peo-
pie as we are frequently compelled to listen
to. The war upon the South is over; and if
we desire united political action with its peo-
pie in the future, there must be cessation of
sectional acrmony. 1t may crafty personal
feeling, minister to sectional pride, and 50
promise local political victories. But even in
this respect it involves danger of a reaction,
and is certain to be a source of party weak
ness and disaster in the long run.
The Radicals Stumping the South.
From the Herald.
1t is given out that Mr.. Wilson and others
of the radical leaders in Congress intend, after
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