The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-07-17
DEMOCRATIC A>PIRANTS FOR THE
PRESIDENCY

70 49, 'N''' ~ 'pp"' wv ''' Wv
last two years that Senator Allen
q. Thurman Of OliO, has been
shaping his course with reference
to the presidential nomination by
the Democratic National! CUnvcn-
! ion in 1876. Hi, course in the Son
ate of the United States on all ques-
tons relating 20 the political status
of the Southern States, and their re-
lations to the Federal government,
has been all that the most prononn-
ccd friend OF the south could de-
/ mand His Remuneration Of the
wicke mess of the administration,
in its attempts TO substitute for the
government Of the people in the
reconstructed States, the rule Of
the bayonrt, have been unsparing
and bitter. For these services to
! the cause Of constitutional liberty.
the South will never cease to hold
him in grateful remembrance.
Entertaining these sentiments TO
the utmost, il cannot be an agree
able task to crilicise the official con
duet, or question the motives of the
distinguished Senator. But candor
compe!s us to say that we fear the
course Of Mr.. Thurman towards the
South, has not been entirely disintcr
ested. The White House, for years,
has been the goal Of his ambition.
lie well knows that without the
vote of the South, in the National
Democratic Convention, he cannot
hope to be nominated. His course
on Southern questions will, he
supposes, secure this. But it is
equally important not to offend the
Northern Democracy. On most
questions, there is no conflict be
tween the Northern aud Southern
wings Of the party. Bnt on one,
not an abstraction, but practical
question, in which the South is in
terested, there appears to be some
probability of II divergence Of scnti-
meht, arising solely from dll,r-
encc of local interests.
The Northern people having, for
years enjoyed the lions share of
the governments expenditures, for
objects Of internal improvement,
and having got ull they require,
have latcly ascertained TINT govern
ment assistance to such enterprises
as the Southern Pacific Railway are
opposed to the doctrines Of the Demo
cratic party! We, at the South
regret the latencss Of the discovery.
We regret that il was not made be-
fcrc nearly eighty millions q dol
lars were paid or pledged for The
construction Of the Union aud Cen
trail Pacific railways. VIVA, a bless
ing it would have been 10 the tax
bgracned people Of the South
had the North GsnfrlRined tbs
before the small retnnnnt e our
property was practically mortgaged
TO the government to pay the inter
est on the Union-Central Pacific
bonds. But as the discovery was
not made until the South began to
claim her share of such cxpendi-
turee. we regard it as denial Of
justice under u false end hypocritical
plea.
1t is just here that our dissatis-
faction with Mr.. Thurman comes in.
At the )ast session Of Congress, when
every Southern member of the
House, except fourteen. voted for
the passage of the bill granting a
loan of the credit of the govern
ment for the completion of the
TRANSIT Continental rail
road, Il is well Known that Mr..
Thurman used all bis influence, 10
both tho Senate and the House, &c
defeat The measure. lie had an
abundance Of cheap sympathy for
the Southern people, and could ex-
press il in most eloquent rhetoric,
until it came to the test Of doing
in practical way, for