National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-30
THE REAL POINT OF DIFFER
ENCE

There are so many lnteillgent men Id the
South to-day, including not few who were
before the war Acknowledged as leaders,
who now profess 10 believe that no real dit
ference exists between the principles of the
Republican party and the opinions of the
majority Of the Southern people, that the
belief begins to prevail of a possibility Of
reconciliation and assimilation Of political
theories between the two sections. The
exact theory by which this welcome result
is to be or may be realized has not yet been
formulated into any definite statement; but
it is agreed by many of the Presidents
friends in the Southern States that his re-
election would secure It. While THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN has always argued
the third term proposition in the abstract
as applicable to any incumbent Of the
Presidential Office, the suggestion has been
taken up and discussed by o number
of influential persons as personally
applicable TO President Grant. They
have assumed, as we have intimated,
that reconciliation and assimilation
can only be realized through his re-
election. Their arguments in support Of
this assumption we have printed almost
without stint; and the result has been q
series Of discussions, like that following the
publication Of Governor Hebert's letter,
which has startled many Of the Presidents
opponents into belief that it is possible for
him to consolidate the entire white vote Of
the South with the colored vote for the pur
pose ofhis re collection. 1t requires no especial
knowledge Of the relative voting strength
Of the several sections Of the Union to make
the deduction that, with this consolidation
of voters, added 10 his natural strength
In the North, his reelection would be q
foregone conclusion. But we are of the
opinion that until something more has been
done in the way of Cancellation than has
yet been effected, the predicted assimilation
will be impossible. We believe this be-
cause we know that very strong element
| exists in the South which is not only mimi
cal to President Grant individually, but op-
posed to his policy as the head Of the Fed
eral Administration. 1t is true that this
element does not embrace the truly conser-
vative members of Southern society, and
that it is mainly composed of the hot-head-
ed, hair-brained sons of degenerate "chiy
airy" nevertheless it is a power in the
land, and power to which the admirers Of
President Grant. to whom we have re
ferred, are compelled to bow, with an &C
acknowledgement of inferior strength. Thii
element embraces not only members Of the
intelligent, the sentimental or theoretical
but the rowdy and rOugher classes, and i
bases its opposition to the continuance o
existing conditions mainly upon the admit
ted prejudice of the Southern whites t
their former slaves.
To illustrate: We have an esteemed cor
respondent from the other side Of the Poto
mac who writes to US that 'in Virginia tn,
" white race is compact mass, and tn
" negroes are arrayed in another compac
mass-two hostile camps in the field
politics. Nothing can relieve this stat
" of things but the assumption by the Re
publican organization of a well-definet
" national position. When this is done tn
70 two races in the South will divide anon
d" national parties according to opinion.
THE only magazine ofwar, he adds, whic
"the Conservatives, or rather Democrat
LEADERS, now have, is,whst is furnished b
d" the in;judged policy Of the Republican
about the negro and the living dread OF
NEGRO ascendancy in this State. fifth
i negroes get no longer encouragement
" from your party leaders they cease
d" be dangerous"
The inconsistency Of the foregoing ser
fences is so plain as to strike the reader
t q glance. Yet the.writer was most assured
o in earnest when he began with the declar,
/: ton that the party should assume 4" wei
Y defined national policy" This advice 1
e gave because of his earnest conviction TIL
IS the necessities of his State required Il
= continuance Of Republican RULE. e.,
e third term for President Grant Yet /
e concludes his letter by advising that Il
d negroes shall not be encouraged by RepuI
st lican leaders. To stranger, to one wi
Of had not studied the motives Of the write
y and to one unacquainted with our prese
L political situation, the suggestion arises rig
?. here that the national policy" for 9
re party is well defined" to be the discoU
is sgement Of the newly -enfranchised citize
- of the South. In other words, our frie
j. in one breath processes to advance the pr
st ciples of the Republican party, and In {
he next proposes to ignore one of
&c most solemn obligations. Here '
D. find the real point of differences I
IN tween the North and South, and from o
IN standpoint We are inclined to believe IL
Is the South must bear the blame. 1t is Ii
e. less to say that the Republican party dc
r. wrong in encouraging the blacks, because
1g has done nothing more than its duty in a
ey ing them to enjoy the rights Of citizensh