Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-19
The south and the Presidency.

are a UGLlO uneasy cS WIZ AO~A
in the South as to personal preference IN
regard to the nominee for President and
their Willingness to endorse the platform
without reference to its recommendation
upon the financial questions which divide
that section. The unanimity of the Southern
States makes it somewhat doubtful of uni
versa1 Radical success in these States.
Some attempt to persuade their readers
that our party discipline extends to the
sacrifice of our political honesty. We
might very we'll retort by referring to the
double dealing avoidance of the financial
question in the Chicago platform-havlne
one face for the East and another for the
West-if we we're forced to the necessity OF
defending our position under the dlshon-
esty of our opponents, but such is not the
case So far as the South is concerned
there will be nc reason to shun the word
gold in the Democratic platform AS it ha
been done in the Radical. We would like
for the whole financial policy Of the Gov
ernment to be honestly and candidly dealt
with So, too, the questions Of free trade
reduction of interest on the public debt,
reduction of expenses and taxation, and The
resumption of specie payments. Upon all
of these questions the South has well-set
tied policy and most warmly cherished
opinions. But she is willing to subordi
nate them all to other questions which vii
come up for endorsement in the National
Convention, to which they are insignificant
What the South desires is guarantee
that the fundamental principles which lie
at the foundation Of the Government shall
remain intact that the rights of the cltl-
zens and of the States shall be held inviola
bic. Let the Union be reconstructed let
Justice and fraternity characterize its legls-
lation; let the Constitution become again
the chart of our guidance let peace be in
deed restored, and these questions Of fnan-
cial policy will be governed by the IN.
erring laws OF interest, without re,
gard to political platforms. Party drill
cannot marshal men against then
own interests the acts OF Congress
cannot long enforce laws adverse
TO the material prosperity Of the coun-
try; nay, national honor will be sacri
iced rather than con tinued submission to
arbitrary and unj Just determinations against
labor and in favor of capital, The wealth
of the country will take alarm in time, in
spite Of the success Of one or the other of
the political parties, and protect itself
against danger, by voluntarily assuming
It's due proportion Of the public burdens.
What we want is the declaration, in tho
language of the triumphant Democracy OF
New Jersey, of 1.-The right of each State to
determine for itself all questions relating to
suffrage, and that any legislation of Con
gress upon this subject, affecting the
States, is in violation of the Constitution
and an infringement upon the reserved
rights of the States. Wecare nothing, even
if those among US who have claims upon
the gratitude and sympathy of our people
were eligible for Federal appointments, for
the public plumber. Our suferings are too
great and our necessities too urgent to be
controlled by such soriid and contempti-
BILE considerations. Let the Democratic
National Convention declare, as recon
mended by one of the most influential
Democratic journals of the North that, with
the readmis sion of the Southern States un
der the present Reconstruction acts,
universal negro suffrage is a fixed fact,
then, so far as the South is concerned, it
matters but little whether PENDLEroN or
GRANT is the neXt President, and our peo-
pie will take but little interest in the is
sue. Under the administration of the
former, the insignificant offices in our
midst would be filled with other occupants
and the strangers who now hold them
forced out, but certainly a noble people,
suffering as we are from the tyranny of sec
tional hate and plundered by the misera-
BILE offscourings of the social cess-pools OF
the North, cannot befacinated by such pal
try considerations. Our political princi-
pies lead US to other reforms. We desire
the return of law and order we want our
jury boxes freed from Ignorance and cor
ruption; our Judiciary unpolluted by brain
less pettifoggers and dishonest partisans,
and restored to its former learning and pu-
rity; our offices filed by the wisdom and
experience of the State as chosen by the
will of an intelligent people in a free and
untrammeled expression at the ballot-box
We want the taxes levied by the represen-
tatives of those who pay them ; we desire
to see ignorance no longer controlling in
telligence or virtue paying homage to
crime.
These are, indeed, principles beyond
those of financial policy, and to further
them we will submit to any declaration in
regard to the payment of the bonds. Those
who chide us with mercenary motives, dc
so from ignorance or III falsehood. Our
people cannot fill the highest or the lowest
Office within the gift of the President his
favors and his frowns are alike Indifferent
to them. We want platform of principle
upheld by candidates with policy, by
which the opinions and the demands of the
people of the North will be expressed in