The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-03
gitllrupud 9ispatth,
ru,rRspAy FEBRUARY 8, 1870.
Now and Then.

We have asserted that northern Democ-
racv is not now. what it was before the war.
Then it sustained oil the southern politi-
cal doctrines-those supported by the
majority Of the people in every southern
State save Kentucky. Up to the very first
gun Of the war the Democratic party Of the
South and the Democratic party of the
North were in entire harmony upon the
subject of State rights. Thatgun was the sig
nal for a practical division between them,
as wide as the poles. Prominent northern
Democrats entered the army to fight south
ern Democrats, and the body Of the army
was, in the beginning at least, composed
more largely of Democrats than of Black
Republicans. The greatest generals OF the
Federal army were Democrats. And DEM
ocratic statesmen freely voted men and mo-
ncy to put down secession and crush out
State rights, which had been the chief
plank In the National Democratic platform.
Nor has the northern Democratic party
tince the war taken any clear, decided step
in the way of returning TO its old princi-
rles. Democratic statesmen acquiesce in
tho situation, and put forth no theory at
variance with the absolute supremacy OF
the Federal Government. A few such as
Mr.. PESDLEroS, of Ohio, are little bold,
and take ground slightly elevated above
the dead-level Of Federalism; but they are
evidently without power, and fall before
the national enthusiasm for strong central
government and national grandeur. Gene
raj BLAIR, after assisting with all his
power to build up the sectional Republican
party, fought through the war it brought
on against us, and more mad than OTHELLo,
essayed after the war to restore the light
he had helped to extinguish. His absurd
letters and his discontinue in the Supreme
Court upon his issue touching his personal
rights are events in his post-revolutionary
record that do not elevate him much in
public respect, nor help to retrieve him from
the monstrous Inconsistency in which he is
submerged.
The leading Democratic organ of the
North-the New York World-speaks Of
tho South just as thes prominent Republic
can papers do. 1t speaks in it's issue of
Tuesday Of "thc misguided souther7sers
'cAo had been educated in false theory"
when that theory was as we'll the theory of
northern Democracy as of Southern.
1t is manifest that the great link which
bound the northern and the southern Demo-
Gratis together is altogether broken, and
that there isnow no ground of especial sym
pathy between them. Southern people may
therefore survey the field of politics with
entire calmness, and draw conclusions
therefrom with O judgment unwarped by
sympathy.
The war party, of course, has nothing to
commend it to our favor, and we may pause
long before involving ourselves in compli-
cations with present organizations.
What our people have to fear is division
here leavened with the preiudices and ram
cors Of the recent strife. As sure as such
division occurs, distinct part of our
population will combine and 60 en- masSc on
one side. 1t is easy to BEE how q small
part of the other race may turn the party
scale and give the power to handle in which
confidence cannot be placed. Need we say
that there is great number of white peo-
pic in Virginia who will never join the
Democratic party under any circumstances ?
We need less to say that there are thou
sands that will not join the present Repub-
lean party.
Therefore, we see no proper course for
Virginia but to maintain conservative po-
sjtion until we are required by Federal
elections to take position in Federal poll
tics. The party that first attempts to force
Virginia will be in extreme danger OF
forcing q result that will be by logical de-
ducticn beneficial to the party which it OPP
poses.