Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-09-23
The Republican Party of the
South,
Let Their Hands be UpheId.
From the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.

| ~nSAk AAhAus Do UpneId,
l From the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.
, There can be no question that if III
| southern States which have been or are
, pc restored to their Federal relations do mr.
hold the balance of power in the next Pres
Dental canvass, they will at least exercise
potent influence upon the result of that a
wen as al succeeding elections. In view a
} TINS TACT 1t Is to be regretted that the Reput
mean party in the South has not in the mas
Dcen more carefully fostered and sustaine,
by the National Republican organization
10 this negligence may, in no CONSIDERABLE
degree, be attributed the defeat of the Re
publican party in the recent elections il
virginia and Tennessee. 1t is true that th,
result In those States was not entirely du
10 this cause, TOR in both States il was in
great measure owing to sectional, local Of
personai ]eaiousles causing want of har
mony and cooperation among the Republi
cans thereof
The success Of the faction of Republican,
IN virginia, which bolted the regular nomi
patton and placed the Walker ticket in The
neld, was, perhaps, chiefly due to the peu.
'rality OF the administration, and to the
openly avowed sympathy of many leading
Republican Journals in the North. HAD
the administration been as fully Committed
against the Conservative Republican,
movement In Virginia as it against analogous
polllical combinations in Mississippi and
iexas, the Walker party would have at once
iost prcstlge,an thousands of Virginians
VINO earnestly desire peace, harmony and
| alone their State can be restored to
greatness and prosperity, and who. TO
that end, stood ready 10 co. operate with The
Administration and the Republican party
into whose hands the destinies of the nation
nave been committed for three consecutive
PRESIDENTIAL terms, would have withheld
from MIR. Walker their support, and the
schemes of the rebel Democracy to secure n
return to political power in the euise of
conservative Republicans would thus have
been frustrated.
IL is not by any means too late to repair
tne errors OF the past; there are in the State
OF virginia, elements, which when thorough
ly organized and coalesced, will form one of
the most powerful Republican parties exis-
tlng in any State of the Union. Shorn of
lis strength as 1t was by detection in the re-
cent election, it still polls more than one
hundred and nineteen thousand votes for its
candidates, MIR. Walker receiving a little
more than one hundred and nineteen tbou-
sand votes. We believe that the men who.
Notwithstanding the immense pressure
which was brought to bear upon them du-
ring the most bitter political contest ever
Waged IN that State, voted for Governor
wells, will not easily be shaken from their
allegiance TO the Republican party; while
on the contrary, the adherents of Mr. Wal
ker are notoriously inharmonious and radi-
caily at variance with each other upon many
vital questions OF State policy which are sure
10 arise just SO soon as legislation begins.
II Is universally conceded that as a party II
must fall asunder the moment the "cohe
slve power of public plunder" ceases IN
consequence of the distribution of offices In
exercise its influence.
The Republicans of the South should he
encouraged to preserve firm and unbroken
'front.', and they should receive the most ac.
i've sympathy and support from their allies
throughout the Union. Let the same inter
est be shown in closely contested election
IN the South that is manifested in regard to
elections in the Northern States. Why
should the best talent of the party he sent
into Maine, Connecticut, Ohio or Penpsyl- |
yanla, and the Republicans of the Southern
states be left to fight unaided an enemy as |
bitter and rancorous as he is powerful The |
presence OF Republican statesmen in the |
South would accomplish double good |
not only would it encourage and inspire |
Southern Republicans, but they would
themselves be benefited by being enabled
TO obtain clearer insight into the true DO |
!itical condition of the States lately in rebel
lion. and perhaps much unwise legislation
would thus be prevented. 1t may not be a
Pleasant task to canvass the South in behalf
Of the Republican party there are districts
where It is not even safe; but it is neverthe-
less an important and necessary work, and
should not be neglected.
But. above all things, let the Congress and
me National Administration be strongly and
ni1exibly just in their dealings with the
south; no pulling sentimentality, no puerile
lesire to conciliate foes who regard magma
nmity simply as a mark of weakness should
1e allowed to Interfere with the avowed pur-
pose OF the Republican party to secure. to
svery man who treads the soil of the re-
,,ubllc, and especially to every loyal man in
ne south, the most absolute justice and
citizenship. We think that Cancellation of
he rebels has for the present gone far enough;
ct the too tardy justice for the loyalist
,egin. 1t is not improbable that during the
coming winter every Southern State will
ave been fully restored to its Federal rela-
ions, and thus vast majority of those re-
'ently arrayed in arms against the Govern
nent be restored, by its own deliberate act,
o their forfeited political rights and privi-
eges. Whether it was wise to allow am
lcsty TO follow so swiftly upon the heels of
reason, to give full pardon before repen-
ance had even begun, time will determine.
SUIT whether wise or unwise, that it was
lind no one, save the pardoned rebel him
elf, will deny.
But there are in the South to-day multi
ude of men who have not required from
he government this act of grace, which |
ebels have so gracelessly received; who,
yhen the latter were wagng war against
he perpetuity of the Union, remained, in I
pte of relentless and murderous persecu- I
ion. loyal, steadtast and true or this ma {
erial is the Republican party in the South {
mainly composed, and these men are to-day {
skiing but one small favor from the govern s
nent which has granted so many to their '
nd its enemies. Protection the simple ]
ight to live unmolesied, and exercise the
lights of citizenship untrammclled by fear {
# violence. Let the Republic bare its I
irong arm in their behalf, sustaining them, {
need be, with the whole power of its {
rmies and navies. 1t must never be said !
hat the nation which would be SO swift to I
venge, should even its humblest citizens
uiier wrong or outrage at the hands of for
Ign powers, has no protection for the citi- 9
ems who dwell upon its own soil and be-
cath the shadow of its own flag.
4