Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-11-22
THE SOUTH.
A SPLENDID AND DESERVED TRI-
Butte TO HER FROM A DIS
INTERESTED SOURCE.
THE TRUE Philosophy OF HER
SUPPORT OF GREELEY.
From the Kansas City (Mo.) Time

From the Kansas City (A1o.) Times.
There is one thing that never fails, said
BalZac, and that is ingratitude. To an
absence of this element in the character of
the Southern people may be attributed,
perhaps, the tenacity with which they
chung to the political fortunes Of Greeley
and Brown to the last. More honorable in
defeat than in any victory won at the sac
rifce of conscience of principle, they oc-
cupy in the nation to-day the exalted po-
sition of men who. in the face Of an almost
inevitable overthrow, and in defiance of
the centralizing policy Of powerful and
revengeful party, stood by those who had,
for the sake of reform and good govern
ment, committed their political fortunes to
the uncertain tide of the Liberal move
ment. As far as they We're permitted to
do so unintimidated by Federal soldiery,
and me masculated by the prescription
and Acknowledgement Of Radical registra-
ton, the Southern people never looked
back after their hand had been oI.ce laid
upon the plough. For the Bourbon move
ment they had only morkery and contempt
For O'COnor and Adams only the pity the
unshorn Sampson has for tn timid
eunuch. Grant was great and powerful
and full of promises, but because other
men bad broken with the dominant or
ganization for their sakes they fought the
Issue ont, standing or falling.
Perhaps they have fallen q little ways
further, hut only little, for God knows
they have but scant few inches more to
go before Ethey are in the b0ttomless PIT
altogether. How strange the bed-felloWs
politics introduces the one to the other
How unlocked for that alliance which made
Horace Greeley the champion of the Con-
federates, and standard-bearer of the Dem
ocratic party. But had only those who sat
at his feet in the ancient days, listening to
his voice as to the voice of a prophet, re-
manned as true to him as those for whose
overthrow he had spent all the vigorous
manhood, the sorrOwful spectacle Of ma
ton PROSTATE at the feet Of q despotism
might have been spared 10 the patriotic
vision of the country. Liberalism had no
more perfect illustration than that fur
nished BY an almost united South, stand
ing up in the midst Of her desolation and
holding ont her hands in friendship to those
who, great in all the elements of merciless
warfare, yet halted when the battle was
done, plundering no beaten tratricidal field.
True, always, whether in prosperity or ad-
versity, whether in victory or defeat, the
honor of the South remains untarnished
amidst the furious storm of So many polit-
ical wrecks, disgraces and assertions. No
matter what the future may bring forth.
AZ us very WOiSI IL can scarcely De darker.
No matter how much further and finer The
machinery of the Administration may find
1t agreeable to grind the lately reconstructed
States, the South stands acquitted before
the country OF every sentiment oftreachery
CT ingratitude. Governments are not for
Gay, nor are governments such as ours
the patrimony or the possession of
any man, oligarchy, or association. Be
meath the tremendous exhibitions of
strength upon this occasion, it is consola-
ton to know that, however high the edifice
may be built, it is worthless and valueless
unless wrought npon the solid foundation
of truth and justice. And SCORER or later
tho crisis will come again in the life OF this
very nation, now so noisy with cheers for
Grant, and now so jubilant with victorious
rejoicings, when the unconquerable man
hood of the Southern people will be worth
a premium in the political market and when
to have been steadfast and trne TO the great
principles of Liberalism will bring with
them the honors and the recognition Of the
Republic. Let those other Democrats who
surrendered without firing gun receive
such reward as Austria gave to GOrgey,
a1d as England gave to Benedict Arnold
The tiIae has not yet come for honesty and
reform, and hence the disgraceful rout and
panic which has extended from Maine to
Minnesota. 1t pays to desert, and in the
scramble the democratic party has sold
itself