New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-10-31

VI i
The discussion of Southern claims does not
please the Democrats. That is quite natural.
They are not so blind as to suppose that
Northern people want to have the public debt
doubled, and the taxation for payment OF in
terest. AS there are two possible modes OF
reply, the Democrats Enthusiastically choose
that which they fancy may be more readily
accepted by Northern voters. 1t is possible to
reply, either that such claims Will not be
SERIOUSLY pressed, or that Northern Demo
Gratis will not consent to pay them. But
there is a clear understanding of the fact that
fifty years of Democratic history utterly for
bids the notion that Northern Democracy Will
ever pluck up the spirit to resist demands
rcSolutcly made by the South. That, Demo
Gratis know, the Northern people cannot be-
leyc. Men who could not find i'll their hearts
the courage or the conscience to resist the Flu
gitivc Slave law, the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, the attempt to impose slavery
upon Kansas by force, the denial
of free speech at the South, or the
threats of rebellion, and who, when rebellion
came, were still 50 subservent to the South
that they could find III the Constitution no
warrant for its SUPPRESSION theSe men are not
at all likely to resist when u mere increase of
the public debt is demanded. Indeed, very
many of the Northern Democrats passionately
demand the same thing, in order to secure
that expansion of the currency for which they
have been clamOrng. Democracy, therefore,
wisely makes no effort to convince people That
il can bc trusted TO resist the payment OF
Southern claims if seriously demanded. 1t rests
il, defense upon the plea that the South does
not. and Mil not, seriously demand that pay
mcnt.
Again we have 1850 repeated. We are
asked 10 intruSt the Government to men who
do not pretend that they can be trusted TO
resist Southern demand, in the faith that
our cood friends at the south will not demand
ANYTHING. 1T is mere nonsense TO pretend
that the South intends To sccedC." we were
told. Quitc as much, and not more, the
south can be trusted to-day. Quite as much,
and not more. Il party can be trusted which
has proved by its whole history that 1t is the
subscryicnt tool of Southern leaders
What the South will demand a little knOwl-
edge of. human nature enables us to judge.
1 hat section pays far less than Its proportion
per capitu Of United States taxes. Ii has seen
hundreds of millions expended in railway build
ing. and improvement of rivers and harbors,
and PAYMENT of war claims, at the North.
The southern people would not be human ii
they did not desire To secure at least equal
benefits They would not he human, If they
could refuse, because of their participation In
rebellion, to take an equal share whenever
they get the power Men who care more for
the honor and welfare of the Union than for
personal advantage might. But the Southern
people cared so little for the honor and
welfare of the Union in 1861 that they risked
everything in an effort to destroy 1t. Does
anybody suppose that they love the Union the
more because they have been beaten I Or be-
cauSe it has emancipated slaves and made them
citizcnsl Ii does no good to deceive ourselves.
southern claims are presented, not IN jest, but
because there is very large and influential
part of the Southern people who mean to get
PAYMENT. GIVE them the power and they Will
get paid as speedily and rs fully rs possible.
That they will have power, IN case OF Demo
cratic success, the Democratic party does not
think it worth while to deny.