American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-08-21

4
in check, and exercise a salutary in
fluence upon the legislation of Con-
gress, generally.
The Political Situation in the South.
Says the Baltimore Gazette: The
elections which, by gracious permis-
sion of the COMMANDMENT Chief of
the Army, have been, or are yet to
be held South of us, have attracted
the attention of the whole country
and have been the subject of consid-
cradle comment. OF course these
elections cannot be taken as in any
way reflccting the popular sentiment
of the people of the subjugated dis
trictS; and while we feel a certain
sort Of satisfaction at the results in
Virginia and Tennessee, it is accom-
panied by much bitter disgust and
Indignation. 1t is, as we have re-
marked, only upon the sufierance of
the President and his advisers that
the people of the South can vote at
all, and it is only between contending
Radical factions that they have been
allowed the liberty of a choice. The
men who really represent the intelli-
gence, wealth and education of the
South were compelled to submit, and
they had no other course to pursue
than TO endeavor to secure the least
of two evils presented to them. This
state Of things, 1t is evident, cannot
now last long. The split in the Rad
zeal faction is the best that could
have happened short of the thorough
restoration ofpOwer Ofthe real repre-
sentatives of Southern opinion. The
quarrel is irreconcilable, for though
begun originally in the lowest inter.
estS and the basest passions, it has
passed now beyond mere personal
considerations. Larger issues have
become involved, and graver politi-
cal principles are gradually giving
form and color to at least one of
these Radical divisions. What is
called the Conservating wing is in
power through the efforts of the bona
! fde citizens of the South, and it
must and will continue to sympathize
and to act more and more nearly
with these until one great hOmOge-
neous Conservative party will grow
out of what seems TO be but a tenn
porary alliance. The more Radical
faction, hopeless of achieving any
thing in that section, save through
the edicts of the President and the
bayonets of his pro Consuls, withdraw
itself into the closest utilization with
the EXTREMIST Radical sect whichNew
England may produce. AT present
this faction seems to possess the
good will of the Radical party in the
North and of its most energetic and
influential leaders, and thereforeisn not
to be dCspised. Its mode of proce-
dure is revolutionary, and is there
fore dangerous, for we live in revo-
lutionary times. 1t scarcely troubles
itsclfnow a-days to try and check its
doings under the garb of patriotism
or the forms Of law. It's demands
are explicit. 1t insists that the whole
people of the South shall be compel
ed to conform to the ultra Radical
creed. or consent to he ruled by Tho
ultra Radical faction, and it looks tC
Congress and the army as the agcn
cies through which these ends are tC
be secured. 1t calls for the drpOSi
ton of Walker in Virginia and Sen
fer in Tennessee, with as much con
hdence as it heretofore sought ant
obtained the rejection by Congress
Of State Constitutions which haC
been adopted in precise conformity
to the will of Congress itself. Suci
are the two parties between whicl
the lines are now being distinctly
drawn in the South. There can III
/ no reconciliation between what nov
! are known as the Conservative ant
ultra wings Of the Radical party
, They must rcccde more and NOR
, from each other daily, and in th
T the South secs her present gain, an'
!, hascs ON This her ntnre hone.