Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-10-27
Mosby Relates His Opinion.

delphla, ana mas expressed his Opln-
ions quite freely to a reporter of the
Times. We quote:-
81 am of opinion that the solid
front which the South now presents
will produce a decided reaction in
the North; in other words, the at
tempt to solidlfy the Southern politi.
cal forces is going to make q solid
North against the South. l thlnk,
too, that the good faith of the South.
ern people will always be suspected
while they remain in alliance with
the Northern Democracy. Now, on
the other hand. If these people
would come out and vote for Hayes
and Wheeler-not for the reason
that they are Republicans, but be.
cause they are the representative
candidates of the masses of the North
their action would be the very best
pledge they could give of their 10y
atty to restored Union. Such ac-
ton on their part would eliminate
the war feeling from politics and
bring about reorganization of par
ties on new issues. There are many
men in the South of sound conserva-
tive and national sentiments, who
are to be found to-day arraycd against
the Democratic party and in hearty
sympathy with the election of Hayes.
Even if this were not so, my own
opinions and purposes would remain
the same,
Eleven years ago ceased to be a
Confederate soldier, and ever since
have been a citizen of the United
States. AS soldier, l did what l
conceived to be my duty conscien-
tiously, and as a citizen l intend to
do the same thing as far as my in
telligence will permit. I have been
repeatedly asked to support Tilden
and Hendricks, because, it is said,
they are the candidates of the South
ern people, and, if elected, will be
under their control. Now, it is just
for this reason that I am on the side
of the opposition, and it is for the
same reason that their election is an
impossibility. The sectional unity
of the southern people has been the
governing idea and bane Of their pol
itics. So far from its being the rem
edy for anything, it has been the
cause of most the evils they have suf-
Jared. So long as it continues, the
war will be a controlling element in
politics, for any cry in the South
that unites the Confederates re- echoes
through the North, and rekindles the
war fires here. For this reason every
Presidential canvass becomes a bat.
tie between the two sections, and the
South, being the weaker, must nec-
essarily be the losing party. TO in
sist on keeping up this sectional
fight may be very heroic, but, in my
opinion, Is just as reckless and I'M
wise as was the charge of Balaklava.
The reconstruction measures necessa-
rily divide parties in the South ON
the color line, for the issue they pre-
scented was the political equality Of
races. While the South was oppos-
ing it the Republican party was on
the side of the negro. But since the
South has accepted it and incorporat-
ed it in their platform on which it
has mounted its candidate, l see no
reason for continuing to divide on
an Issue which has become extinct.
Having adopted all the principles of
a party and sanctioned all its measu-
res, can surely see nothing incon-
slstant IN my voting forts candidate.
You must see that SO long as we
keep up the fight on the old lines,
with the same allies and same bat
theories, the north will be suspicious
of our good faith, no matter in what
way we protest it. All that the Re-
publicans propose is to preserve what
they have accomplished. The Dem
ocrats are pledged not to disturb
what the Republicans have done. 1t
cannot be complained of that the
sincerity of Gov. Tildcn to execute
certain laws is distrnsted when his
supporters justify their opposition to
Gov. Hayes on the ground that his
party has enacted these laws. TO be
CONSTANT they should 60 for repeal
ing them if they came into power
l concur with those who desire
change in the policy of the national
government towards the South, but
then such change can only come from
the shifting of the attitude of the
Southern people towards the admin
istration. 1t is great mistake to
suppose that there is no one in the
South supporting Hayes but the ne
groes and carpet-baggers. / should
be very sorry if this were SO; but
even if it were, should still vote for
the candidate of my choice, and
would not let this class deprive me
of that pleasure.
Iowa Fish Interests.