Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-04-19

soil after death, ii during life You have not
had as much left you oven as the name on
the tail Of your shirt.
Southern Politics.
In view Of the probable failure Of the ap
plications now before the Supreme Court OF
the United States in favor of tho States Of
Mississippi and Georgia, the boosted apathy
Of tho Southern people, on oil questions Of
& political nature, Is not only no longer
creditable to them, but is Of itself highly
blauablc. The question OF the RECONSTRUCT
ton Of tho Southern States, ovado it now
as VIC may, is, in reality, only Il question Of
time. It is al emergency which must be
met, and one Which may come suddenly
upon rs, and it is, therefore, tho part of
wise men TO be prepared to meet ii. The
| time for tho exhibition Of pride and reserve
has passed away; the day-dreanl which VIC
| hav9 been indulging for SO many years, tho
! disregard o. present abasoment in tho
hopes Of q future better, are 10 longer
worthy Of tho Southern mind. The prin-
! ciplcs which were 80 nobly contended for
!
! revocablo when those battles were lost, but
! shall it bo said that tho samc men who so
| bravelv etiovo for four long years against
the powers Of var. disease and famine, are
now Indifferent 70 the after fate Of their
political Independence ? Tho loss Of that
independence, or even the abridgmont Of
The privileges Of franchise, is serious
blow TO tho nationality OF a people or State.
Commercial disease is tho legitimate Oft
spring o? political abasement, and the loss
Of the distinguishing traits and character
istics Of people arc sure to follow. Other
races Of men viii tread in the footsteps Of
tho lawful inheritors Of the soil strangers
will sit in the halls Of commerce, upon the
forum and in the assemblages Of social life;
the teeming wealth Of the land will go to
enrich the oppressor's Golfers, and the once
| proud lords Of tho donain will degenerate
into * dra uera Of water md hevers Of
wood" vhero il ves once their place 80
command, md others to obey. History,
it is said, is constantly repeating itself.
Pray Heaven that il repeat not itself hcre.
This political apathy Of tho Southerncr,
vhile i Is eraIitablo in sono points Of
view, Is, in others, equally deplorablc. II
IS craditable, indeed, to the nobler feelings
of The heart, hut not TO tho cooler iudg-
z0ent of tho mind, md should conyon-
ton Of the people be called, will provo
greatly 10 the dotrilaont OF tho true inter
st of the county ana it should be tie
constant ondoayor Of tho Southern press 10
arouse their people from this political tor
por. Because at The ballot-hox the negro
will have equal power IL. vote upon tho
question Of G convention, pnl for Delegates,
20 that convention. rs hai. the white natiro
Of tlo soil, Is 40 reason Why tho latter
should disfranchise himself. The old pre-
JUDGES Of birth and cast, and the inherent
,Gnd IN this case injurious! Southern pride,
should not be allowed to stand IN the light
Of tho true interests Of the pcoplo. \ battle
IS great as any OF those that so lately
watered Virginia with blood, il to be fought
ct the ball0S-box. Here the arms and
mode OF warfare gro different, but the
prize is collaterally tho same. Then it WAS
for existence Is s. nation, now il is for in
dividual liberty and equality under the lew.
T formerly tho odds were US ten to one; nov
it is but as man arrayed against man. IL
is critical pcIi~ in the political history
Of the South, and one III which every en-
ergy ia needed and should DO brought into
reQuisitioO. The Radical emissaries arc
zealously working throughout tho length
and breadth OF the land, and are leaving
no stone unturned by which to accomplish
success. IT is with them q question OF
vital Importance. Should they succeed,
continued present and future escendancy
is assured thom. Should they fail, q final
and political decapitation will be the re-
suit. The very means by which they hope
to obtain their ends, and the utter and
complete degradation Of the States, are
now IN tho South, and are, il greater Or
less degree, at the disposal Of our people.
| The logical march Of events has been such
that there is no escape from the trial Of po-
| litical strength with the combined Grant
/ Radicals and their colleagues, tho recroant
! SoutheTEers. The Issue must be met
sooner or later, and whom it is joined, it
should be upon our part with the united
and determined strength Of our own
people.
IL connection with this subject VIC give
here the estimated franchise strength of
the South as exhibited by the returns of
! she elections Of 1865:
SAFE. Vo!e.1 STATE. Vote.
Alabama. = $50 Mississippi. $500. i4,9lG
4 kansas ...... G4,i0Ii >urth Carolina. So 554
| Florida $500. 49,. 40 >outh Carolina. o.. vs. $50
| GeOr gia......... II Dos exas........... so $50