The Van Buren press., 1872-12-24
" An Asp In the Roses of the Victor. y

Such was the expression of the veteran
Thomas Rtche when in 1916 Gen. Har.
rison carried all the twenty six States of
the Uniln except Alabama, Arkansas
Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire and
Virginia, which adhered to Van Buren, ,
and the popular majority of Harrison, ON
less than two and halt millions az
gregate vote, was AS 00J and that truly
unterrifed" old Democrat declared
that Nirgnian could thus be denomina
ted. Yet as the Baltimore Sun. from
which we borrow the reminiscence, truth
fully adds, in commenting on the express
sion: Yet such is the instability of poll
ties that at the next Presidential election
James X Polk, the Democratic candidate
for the Plesdency, beat the greatest of
American statesman, Henry Clay, aad
the old mans prophecy proved true.
Now as the same journal adds: "From
Maine to Mexico, and from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, there seems 10 be, with
few exceptions an almost unbrokcn cur
rent Of Republican triumphs. The only
consolation for the defeated is that which
a Georgia negro suggested to his master,
plantation had been swept over by a tor
nado. The negro was sent out to ascer-
tain the extent of damages in the estate,
and, after including the surrounding
farms in his observations, he summed
up his conclusions by saying " Master,
there's only one conclusion-it's CINE
raj thing
To day, Georgia occupies, in the midst
of this general detection and desertion
Of the candidates and platform of the
party of 1872, the position precisely Of
that Of Virginia of 1915, with this differ
ence, that she is supported and sustained
in her proud position of mistaken fidelity
to the men and principles she profe'sed
to support, by seven Of her Southern
sisters, and large and respectable mi.
nority of all OF them, whose voices were
not stihed, and could make themselves
heard.
Never was there truer uttCranco than
that of the poet when be said,
Man spnrns the worm. but tremblcs ere he
wake
The slumbcrng venom of the folded ,nake."
Strength and courage ever command
respect and forbearance from power,
when only exerted in defence OF resist
ance to wrong and the South is stronger
to day, even alter this defeat, brought
upon us by the detection of hor Northern
allies, who dragged her into the position,
for which they now seek to hold her re-
sponsible-th she ever has been since
the war.
All that she asks now Of the triumph
ant party is to BE Let Alone TO be
permitted to tread the quiet paths OF
peace, and develop her commercial and
industrial resources, undisturbsd by the
intcrmeddling of the Federal
if it will not help her in so
doing. and is determined to keep hsr still
outside Of the pale Of the benefits show
cred with 50 liberal hand on her more
favored Northern and Western sisters.
A magnanimous and patriotic policy
II ay disarm even the wasp of its desire
to sting and the South never has more
rcscmbled her own rattlcsnakc than the
" Serpent Of Old Nile' in this, that she
never strikes except in self defense, and
peaceably pursues her own rath-when
let alone.
Whatever the mutations of parties or
politics may be within the next tour
years, when another great struggle for
the prize of the Presidency is to take
place, it 10 at this moment too late and
TOO early to trouble our people about the
matter So, If the administration be pru
dent it will make chi!d's bargain with
the Southland agree to let her alone
il wise, to admit her to share OF the
benefits and blessings of the common
Republican.