The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-23
IFRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
Mrw Ynpr Nov Of

IFRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
New YORK, May 20.
The pronunciamento of Mr.. Clement L. Val
landlgham, published in all the morning pa
pers of yesterday, has provoked general COM
ment-not so much because the man himself
| is OF consequence, as that his abandonment OF
the position he has so long defended marks
the breaking away OF almost the last Vestlge OF
opposition to the situation as it is (the amend
ments, negro suffrage and all. inside The
Democratic party. Mf. Vallandisham has been
| 40 long regarded in the North as the npers0-
nation OF what Is called "Copperhead. 'll, that
mis- change OF front Is really a sensation In poll
tics. Il may be regarded as certain now that
the National Democratic party will accept
the situation," and in the National ConVen.
ton will cut loose from the dead issues Oh
The drift of Democratic sentiment is nearly
all In this direction. The Southern papers
which were disposed to take issue with the
Northern Democrats on their proposed policy,
shortly after the publication OF Judge Llnton
Stephens's letter, have gradually dropped their
beliigerent attitude, and, believe, with but
few exceptions, have now expressed a.wiIing-
ness 10 let the Northern Democrats shape the
national convention their own way. The action
of the south Carolina Taxpayers Convention
is regarded as another indication OF the Will
ingness of the Southern Democrats 10 take the
| .nsW departure" and 1t is understood that the
Pennsylvania Democratic State Convention,
which meets in Harrisburg next wednesday,
will make q bold push and plant the party
suuarrly on the issues Of the present TaIlan-
digham's speech shows how rapidly the reVO'u-
;iOn has progressed in the West.
On this platform it is believed we can win
the next Presidential election. It TANKS the
Radicals. It completely checkmates Morton's
tactics; lor you will remember that the burden
OF that PERSONS complaint against The Demo-
Gratis, In his speech opening the campaign at
Indian .polis, was that they intended TO unset
tie reconstruction, re-enslaye the negro, and
consent tO The re-establisnment OF the South-
ern Conlederacy. 1t Is Of paramount import
ance That the Democrats shall obtain posses
sion OF the General Government (Which
means possession Of the purse strings and the
sword. and If success eau be accomplished oy
recognizing The validity of the amendments,
moments hesitation would seem TO DE O.
hluuder Time will test the justness OF their
application TO our system of government. Ii
they are inharmqnious with 1t of course they
will fall and it is better for The South that the
Democrats should be in power, While the trial
is beng made, than its enemies. give you
this as y sort Of resume OF the opinions oi'all
the New York Democrats With whom have
talked.
The changed tone of the New York Tribune
note. The letters of its correspondents travels
ling through South Carolina and Georgia have
rather opened the eyes OF Its editors TO the
real condition of things In those States: A
remarkable leading article, published on We'd
nesduy, admits that the South has just cause
this extract IL you would learn how lar the
Tribune has become converted:
s.Our correspondents have now been so long
in the disturbed districts Of the South that we
can form from their letters distinct Idea oil
the slule Of society In that unfortunate part OF
the Union. 1t is a melancholy picture. that
they draw for us. The most intelligent, the
influential, the educated, the really useful ne,,
OF the South, deprived oil all political power,
have come 10 look upon themselves as the
outraged subjects OF q despotic conqneror.
Taxed and swindlcd by horde OF TdScdtty
foreign Qdpenturers and by the ignorant class
,ohich only yesterday hoed the fields and Serued
IN the E,tchen, they care nOtniGg for politics,
except to throw off the oppressive yoke; they
have no interest In natioua affairs; they would
call themselves of either party, provided their
rulers were only Of the other. The refuse OF
Northern cities, lohO loent SoathedTd after TIE
,odT out-Gt.elbolos and destitute OF character
and education, now roll.ln splendld carriages,
drink rare Wines glitter with diamonds as. big
as Fsk's,ana steal taxes as fast as New York
street commission. II is no wonder that the
Impoverished planter, growing poorer every
day; the eT-Contetlerdte officer, lch0 Fought so
brauelY for q cause in lohich he honestly 6e-
l,eued; The professional men, accustomed OIL
their lives TO hold Office and aead the pubic
sentiment Of their ommunities. look on such
things with rancor0us hearts: They might
submit to be ruled by soldiers who had beaten
them in battle; but here they areplundered 6y
suffers and camp. .toll0NerS. This Is miserable
slate of things, indeed, for Republican Gov
crnment-a burlesque upon the suffrage, when
the only restriction upon voting Is that the
votes shall not be cast for TIE most antettagent
and UirtuouS citizens"
The writer goes on to say That this .mise-
rable state OF things" has come 10 pass be-
cause the Republican party has refused to
follow the advice OF the Tribune and concede
general amnesty to the ex-Confederates. Fer
6aps, however, the real reason Of this new
departure" on the part of The Tribune Is the
secret hostility OF its chief 10 u. S &. The
Radical party Is substantially Grant party,
and Greeley is not In the Grant ring. Four
wears more OF the present administrator Is
evidently not to his taste. "What will he DO
with himself" after Grant is renominaled, ns
he will be
Mr.. Greeley is making tour of the South. He
was in New Orleans yesterday, and, as you
have learned before this made strongly Con-
seryalive speech. Coming face to face with
The best men In the South. this editor OF the
leading Radical paper 0l Inc country VIII, pro-
badly for the hrst time In his LIE, learn the
truth about the Southern people. Though his
brain is iul OF crotchets, he really wants to be
fair; he is warm. hearted, and his sympaLhies
are easily touched; his vanity Is inord!nate,
and he is easily flatlered. II will be worth the
while oil the Southern people to cultivate him.
His influence is very great here, not With poll
ticians, but with the RADICAL masses, and he
is as independent OF public opinion as Woou-
sawyer. If he gets the ideu in his head that
you have been wronged, the entire Radical
party will not be able to hold him.
The world Of art is very much stirred over
remarkable painting on exhibition among the
collection at the Academy. Of Design. IL ia
head of Christ, by William Page, who has just
been elected president OF the NATIONAL Acade-
N.Y. No painting In the collection has pro-
vOked SO much criticism, and artists as we'll
as the public are divided into two hostile
factions upon its merits. The picture is
simply the head OF Jesus with enough oil the
neck and shoulders TO show that the figure Is
walking There are some clouds over head,
and faint palm Tree in the distance, which
Indicate That he Is in the open air aud in Pal
esLire There Is no. halo no supernatural
li.ht and none oil the usual accessories used
in treating this theme Indeed, Mr. Pages
Christ is so entirely different from the myriad
Christs oil the old masters that something Ike
u shock Is given to the feelings Of lhe be-
holder upon looking at il for the first time.
To the eyes OF some lle face Is ugly, Utmost