The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-11
the WEEKLY REGISTER
the You've SOUTH.

A"h IVVNU bOCH"s
The assertion made, by two prominent
speakers in the Republican Convention
last Saturday, that if the Democracy
was restored to power the party would
be under the same influences that sought
to destroy the nation-meaning the old
hre-estiug element of the South-was
but the echo Of Mr.. BLAINE's famous
speech, which is to be the battle-song so
far as the Republicans are concerned.
There is, or at least ought to be, rea
son in all things, and we ask every fair
minded, liberal Republican to take up
this proposition as laid down by the lead
ers of the Radical wing OF your party, ex-
anime 1t for yourselves, and see what
truth there is in it. We assert that there
is no danger to be apprehended from the
old political leaders of the South if even
placed at the helm, for bitter expert
encs has taught them sad lesson. But
there is no probability of such thing as
the old element controlling the politics
of the South to-day. Come, let us reason
together.
Any observer of Southern society will
note a striking CONTRAST difference be-
yond the test of age-between the men
of forty and younger, and the men OF
forty and over. The men under forty
either went into the war when young
men, just having completed their educa-
tion, or often going from college to the
camp, or they were boys when the war
closed, and consequently have NO anti.
war record or traditions. This is the
most numerous class in the South to-day,
and by their energy, talent and industry
are bringing her out of her troubles.
They are really the South OF the present
and the future.
The men between forty and sixty who
represent the old South ale small in
numbers sd influence In comparison.
They have IAN ant.war record" and have
been bred in the ED school traditions
They constantly look backward and live
in the past. It's perfectly natural that
they should do so. They see around
them nothing but poverty and misrule-
there is no future for them that is worth
looking forward to, and sitting down in
spirit of lsmcntation among the ruins
that surround them only find pleasure In
pointing back to the golden age
of glorious sunny South. Who
with the heart Of a man in him
could chide these old gentle
men for indulgind such emotions, for
the only consolation they have Is the
light which plays around the memory of
glorious and to them, dead past.
Many of these chivalric old gentlemen
have the gift of oratory and it is very
easy for them to strike chords of emotion.
which set the old glows and glories and
sorrows of the war aquiver. The soldiers
and the boys listen 10 them with re-
spectful tenderness, but they are not ex-
cited, and still less do they take the ora
tory OF the old men as their guidance. 1t
is t. them an old ballad or tradition
They want something plain and business
like for rule of action to-day. The
young South is practical. The
soldiers as rule are the very ones who
are least inclined to exploit their war
records, for they are the earnest men OF
to-day. They become impatient of war
talk, glory and all that sort of thing
They know all about that, they have
talked it out, they have fought it out
and now they are looking ahead for
something practical. The boy who
was ten years old when the war closed is
voter to-day, and they and
the young soldiers who are now
approaching forty form the great bulk Of
the voters, and the overwhelming major
ity of working and thinking men who
control the destinies of the South. The
fact that TooMBs ard HUNTER and
CHESTNUT and WISE, and men of that
type, are laid aside, and men like Con-
DON ard WITHERs and VANCE and
HUNToN and LAMAR, and men of that
type are looked TO and trusted, is enough
to show who are the representative men
of the South. Who has ever heard of
their uttering sentiment duyng their
service in the National Councils, that
could offend the most sensitive loyal carr
Theyoung South will continueto hold
in veneration its chivairies, and con-
tinue to possess an esteem and affection
for the old chivalric orators, although
they are truly no longer its spokesman.
One BY one they are dropping away and
soon all will be gone. In view of these
facts, for they are facts, we do not under
stand how Radical orators can have the
cheek to make such reckless assertions
before an intelligent people, nor can we
understand how rational, intelligent
man could give credence to them.