New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-10-21

would mean q Democratic HOUSE. DuI tii0
large majority. probably more than Two
thirds Of the Democratic members, would DC
from the South. Mr.. Riddle of Tennessee VIII
call up lis little bill, now pending, when pro-
vdcs for the payment of all persons VINO may
prove their losses before a jury OF the Viclh-
ace. or establish them to the satisfaction OF
the Secretary of War. A jury in any neigh
borhood must be largely composed OF persons
who have other claims OF their own to estaD-
Esh. Secretary OF War; if selected by
President owing nearly all his electoral votes
70 a solid South, will not be likely to scruti-
nize too closely the demands of that
section. Mr.. Riddles bill will be advocated
thus: awe at the South have lost and suffered
"terribly, while YOU have grown rich and
powerful. Northern States have been repaid
"their losses, and loyal men. But are not the
Estates equal nOwl Are we not all loyal
"now Is it not fair to pay us also" Half
of the members from the South will applaud,
having claims of their own. The other half
dare not oppose, because all their active and
influential constituents have claims. If North
ern Democrats object. a Democratic caucus
will be called. In that caucus, the Southern
members form a majority, and the bill will be
Gratis from the North will then dare to make
enemies in every Southern State, impacable
enemies in that section which always controls
the Democratic party, by rebclling against the
decision of caucus Z
The Senate, many hope, would prevent the
passage of such bill. We recently showed
that the Republican majority in that body
would be small at least four members OF that
majority, enough to turn the scale, Will be
from the South and in one section or the
other more than four can be found who are
capable of being corrupted by share in an
enormous lob. When the bill has passed both
Uouses. will a Democratic President dare to
veto itl Where is the man who will dare, III
such a matter, to ailront the overwhelming
desire of his partyl Presidents are human,
and have ambitions. A Democratic House
would have immense power to tie the hands
of rccalctrant Democratic President. Inc
man who will dare to commence such a sluS-
gle is not the man TO get Democratic NOM
nation in these degenerate days.
The bill becomes law. How much money
does it mvovel Estimates range all the way
from SjOO,OO00O0 TO $4,000, 100000. Our
Washington correspondent reports that, upon
the best information there atainablc II Is be-
lievcd that these claims exceed S2,IOO,OOO,-
600, and the amount does not seem too large
in Wow of the fact that during four years
very large proportion of the South was cX-
posed to loss from the movement OF armies,
and tried in vain to get its surplus products
through he Union blockade. 1t Is not un-
likely that the property destroyed in the
progress of the war exceeded that sum, but
the actual value would by no means limit the
claims "cstablishcdn TO the satisfaction OF
Jurors having other claims equally elastic. In
brief, the payment of these claims 'means
doubling of the public debt. Nor can any
man give good reason for the hope that the
payment Of them would not be ordered If the
Democratic party, controlled by solid South,
should gain the power
The South il not anxious about the magnl-
tudc of the debt. Ever since the war 1t has
been a favorte idea with Southern men TO
make the debt 80 great that no one could eX-
pect il ever to be paid. TO get their share
first and then to rcpudate the whole would be
n fine revenge for those who were beaten in
the war. Is it in accordance with human
nature to suppose that Southern leaders would
protect the credit of the Union against their
own interests, against the passionate demands
of their followers, and in spite of smolderng
rcsentments which even the best of them often
betray9 If this nation is so reckless as to
take the risk, it Will learn in due time the
meaning of q solid South.