National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-10


battles of the war are to be fought over
again, this time it is to be hoped by peace
full contests at the ballot-box. The same
issues are pending and the same elements
are at work, strengthened by experience,
that prevailed in 1SGO-'G1. During the cam
paign of the former year, which resulted in
the election of Mr.. Lincoln, the Republican
party was in its youth, and to some extent
lacked the organization of perfect manhood.
Its principles had strong holds upon the
people; but they were not so thoroughly
defined as to impress themselves upon the
public mind with the full force of the gen
eral recognition they deserved. A year
later, when the shock of war startled the
nation, the party bounded with a sudden
leap into the full development Of matured
vlgor. From that time forward it
has ever been the party of the
people, except when, on minor occasions,
the people have been impelled by their
honest instincts to punish some of its re
creant leaders. But those punishments
have in no case evidenced a departure of
the people from their love Of its principles,
and to day, when, as we have said, the same
reasons prevail why its principles should
predominant as when the party was first
organized, and they were first formulated
into platform, the people stand ready to
support them with their ballots, their treas
ure and their blood, if need be. But there
is danger that, notwithstanding the expe-
rience of 1861, the insidious treason of that
year may again find lodgment and hiding
place in quarters from whence it may issue
to destroy the Republic. This treason
turks in every advance made by the De-
mocacy toward a compromise with the
Republicans. 1t is coVertly at work in the
Inequalities which illustrate the inter-
course of Southern Respectable" and
Northern men who are weak enough to
believe the professions of a return to 10y
atty and proffers of Cancellation made by
the former. Behind these Respectables
the careful observer will find the Fire
Eaters, the Ku-Klux and the White
Leaguers. In truth there is a military ring
in the Southern wing of the Democratic
party which controls it, securing the cleo
ton Of ex- Confederate officers to positions
of trust, honor and profit, and in turn con-
trolling the entire organization. This ring
or these select few, like Lamar,
Gordon, Ransom and Cockerell, plaus-
IDLY represent the condition of South
ern affairs to be complacently loyal;
but they well know the result which
would ensue to them if they dared to pro-
claim an adherence to loyal anti-secession
principles. With one Whit of the popular
Southern Conservative breath these Re-
spectables would be blown into oblivion,
and the Fire Eaters, Ku-Klux and White
Leaguers would soon find other men to
represent them in the councils of the ma
ton. There are numbers of men in the
Southern States, the intellectual equals if
not the superiors of those whose names we
have mentioned, who have never been so
prominently obnoxious as earnest supporters
of the Lost Cause" as they have been, and
who might be selected for the places they
now fill; but the military ring has the as
cendancy and will keep it so long as their
unreconsructed constituents retain their
love 1Or the Lost cause.
This analysis of the situation forces the
conviction that the next national contest
will be sectional. The Third Party idiots
will join in the cry that no alternative is
left but a sectional contest again, and will
falsely charge that the Republican party is
responsible for this unfortunate turn of
affairs. The truth is, however, the South
ern malcontents have pursued such course
as to antagonize every element of loyalty
against them. When the Southern States
were reconstructed the Republican party,
being in power, established certain condi-
tons, a compliance with which was pre-re-
quisite to their admission into the Union.
Those conditions we're wisely drawn. They
were intended to place every State in the
Union, and every citizen of the Union, on
an equality before the law and under
the National Constitution. The Southern
leaders accepted them, and with their re-
newal of allegiance to the Government,
pledged themselves that they would be re-
ligiOusly observed. No sooner, however,
had those leaders regained power in their
respective States than they began to ignore
those conditions, and now the spectacle is
presented of party composed Of pardoned
traitors attempting to replace, in the Or
ganic acts of their States, clauses which re-
assert the fallacies of the rebellion. In the
face of their surrender and their solemn
promises to abandon theidea that the States
have an Independence which may be used
to separate the Union, they have begun to
pave the way for another State Rights
revolution. This fact alone settles the
question of responsibility for the sectional
aspect of affairs but it is supplemented by
other facts equally convincing, not the least
among which may be mentioned the pro.
scriptive declarations of Southern Con-
servatiVes when they cry, Virginia for
Virginians only" or the South for South
rons only" But it is needless to ampIify.
Sectional, the fight will be, and the sooner
we acknowledge it the better we will be
able to prepare for the emergencies of the
future.
The Third Partyites, who dream that
they may be able to squeeze in between
this sectional division, forget the eager re-
gard of either section for its especial
theories. That regard is so eager, in fact,
that it will permit of No compromise, and
although the Third Party schemers may
tender to the Democracy some consolation
in the way of arguments to prove that the
States should be left to their ewn control,
and to the Republicans that the integrity of
the results of the war should be preserved,
their offers will be rejected. On other is
sues, regarding which this sectional d.
vision does not exist, such as the Cheap
Transportation question. Internal Improve
ments, and other measures, including the
tariff, which directly appeal to personal
interests, they will find that the progress
sive spirit of the Republican party is apace
with the demands of the people, and is
sufficiently comprehensive to satisfy those
demands. What, then, can these sore
headed hybrids dor If they attempt to
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