Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-02-08
Staumto11 Spettatot.
Tuesd0u. February s, 1870.
The Political Action of the South.

The French Courier des Etats- Unis is dis
cussing the probable course of the South and
its relations to the parties Of the North. 1t
conceives that the South will hold the balance
of power and be able to decide the party con-
ficts Of the Union. This supposition takes tor
granted that all the Southern States will be
unit. This will depend on circumstances-but
the probabilities are in favor Of such result.
The Courier proceeds to consider what will
be the policy of the South. 1t thinks there
would be no difficulty in answering, if the ques-
tions of to-day and those soon to arise were the
same which fomented the antagonisms and IN
famed the hate Of the past. But most of the
questions which led to discord heretofore are
finally settled, and sentiment cannot long hotd
ont AGAINST interest. That which the South has
now to consider is, not how it may avenge the
wrongs of the past and revive abolished lnstl-
tutions: but to devote itself to its economic In
terests to its finances and credit-to its ways
of communication-its railroads and canals; in
a word, everything that will substitute wealth
and prosperity for the smoking ruins OF the
war. Now, the party that will give to the
South the strongest guarantees for the devei-
opment of its riches-for the revival OF its ag-
ricrlture and commerce, will be that which can
most surely count on its political support. In
this, the South will have neither to repudiate
it's friends nor compound with its enemies. =
Parties are nothing more than shadow OF
their former selves. The principles which con-
stitute them, the opinions or interests which
separate them, are no longer what they were. =
Their names alone survive-their Specification
is entirely changed all is new, and new start
is to be made. The South has only to consult
its most important interests, to choose its
friends and its enemies
From this situation it results that the South
is henceforth not only mistress of its own des-
TIMES, but, in great measure, the arbiter OF
those of the entire country. That is capital
point which all will have to take into consider
alton. One serious matter, for example, and
which should weigh upon the policy OF the pre-
sent Administration is, that the Presidential
election of 1872 will depend in a great degree
on the attitude of the South and if, as seems
sprobable, General Grant should desire a renew
al of his trust, he should strive during his
three remaining years to counterbalance the
unfriendly dispositions of the Radical majority
of Congress towards the Southern States
Here lies without doubt the key to the next
election; for it is beyond doubt that the South,
with common interests with the West and COM
mon sympathies with the Democrats of the
North vould ho able To dictate conditions tC
the Republican party. This makes situation
entirely new.
These are the views, says the Richmond
Wing, of an enlightened foreigner who has
never been slow to avow his sympathies for the
wrongs and sufferings of the South. They
strike US as founded in good sense, and justified
by wise appreciation of the situation.