The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-08-21
inc IpsanItyofPolitlcs.
From the PhiIade{phia Led1er-A Neutral Z
per lCtEh Democratic EeGniHDS.

From the Philadelphia Led0er-A Neutral Pa
pertTtth Democratic LednfHDS.
Every good citizen must look with
profound regret upon u great deal that
is now going on In the Southern States.
There was room for the belief, after the
rebellion WAS suppressed, and when the
Southern people were brought face TO
face with the widespread ruin that
was brought upon them by the "gigan-
tic blunder," as some oftheir statesmen
called it, and crime as the nation re-
garded IL, that they would never more
hair-bTained orators and writer's who
had dragged them into that terrible
desolation. But Notwithstanding the
bitter experience of the past seven
years, that fruitful section of our coun-
try Is still cursed with the influences
and tho active agency Ufthe same class
es of men. But a short time ago Il was
the belief of an unquestfonable majori-
ty of the people OF the old free States,
that the planters, farmers, merchants,
manufacturers and all others in the
South engaged in industrial and pro-
duCtiVe pursuits, were heartily sick of
all the memories of the late rebellion,
and were anxious to put them all aside,
so that they might get their business
affairs into successful action once more,
and go on with the necessary operations
of Lie. There can be but little doubt
that such was the case, and we cherish
the belief that 1t still remains true of
tho masses ofthe people of that section OF
our country. Yet what wonder is itIhat
many plain, good people in the North
and West believe that the rebellious
spirit still prevails, only waiting for
another opportunity TO break out
afresh? They aretoid so day after day,
aud week after week, by those who are
put forward or put themselves forward
~ 80
old slave states. This comes to us from
conventions, from meetings, and
through the partisan press. The utter
ances on these occasions are OF the
most mischievous character, damaging
to the people OF the South, and exas-
perating The people of the rest of the
country. They are naturally looked
upon as showing the temper of the
great mass of the Southern people, and
the inference quite as naturally follows
that those who show such n spirit of
Qualification over the events of 1851 to
1865 will not be slow. to repeat them III
the chance presents itself, and that they
are thel efore not to be trusted. They
boast of the achievements of the rebel
lion, they apostropkise the rebellious
nag, they declare that the "lost cause"
is TO be resurrected, they speak lightly
OF numbering the Northern Hnns,n
they declare that their former COM
| "a "a no aIe EeAuy 10 rise again
when the signal Is given, and they deal
| generally In grand round of the same
style OF exasperating Oratory that
'hred the Southern hearth before the
| rebellion, and which at last fired the
| Northern heart also. There is great
danger that both may be fired again
and the worst enemy to the South conld
hardly desire worse fate to befal that
unhappy country.
Now as we have alrendy said, we be.
lieve that majority of the Southern
people are not truly represented by
these scandalous proceedings, but I'M
| fortunately for their peace and quiet
ness and for the tranquility and pros
| perity of the whole country, there is no
effective or emphatic population of
| them on their part. Some of the more
sagRcious of the Southern newspapers,
It is true, have deprecated such
speeches and publications as Injurious
| to the canvass for the Presidency, and
on this ground have tried to muzZe the
slangwhanging speech. makers and edi-
tors. But this Is not satisfactory
ground to put the case upon at all.
| What is said and done is not condemns
ed because it Is wrong and bad in itself,
but because 1t is impolitic. Now, al
though this may go down with party
men, it will not satisfy those whom the
Southern people ought to be studious to
retain as their friends. 1t will not
satisfy those who desire to be generous
to the South, because they wish to see
the people OF the South rescued from
the ruin OF the rebellion, but who at
the same time hold their country above
party and will not associate them
selves with any. movement that
Keeps alive the spirit of re-
q Del4ion. 1t will not satisfy those