The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-08-18
Repeating : Fatal Blu,lsr.
.[Trom tlne Sew YORK Tribune.l ].

q z . =
Prom the New York Tribune i :,
he must bea very dull student of po1iti-
cal history who can not read in the progress
Of events in Mississippi and the other States
Of the South in which the opposition to
Democracy is gradually disappearing, leav.
ing to that party the unobstructed posses
sion Of power, eventually DISASTROUS results
to the organization whose Affairs seem to be
going on SO swimmingly. The South was
never SO weak as when 1t seemed strongest
and most united; the end Of Slavery 50 near
and so sure as when its defenders and advo.
Gates, in the arrogance Of power, and with
the assurance Of certain success, began to
demand, not merely non-interference. but
the extension and spread over new territory
was never unit until the continued en-
croachments of United South
and the increasing demands of Southern
statesmen forced her into position of de.
tense; nor even then was the North SO thor
gu; Sughy united si. As the opposing section for
vided the Northern States with an opponent
which could not poll, and was not permitted
to poll, hundred votes south Of Mason and
DiXon's Line. Never were the prospects Of
q party fairer for uninterrupted power than
when the Democracy held all the South be-
yond dispute and without opposition, and
made an equal fight for ascendancy In nearly
all the Northern States. 1t win be well for
those who to-day are counting upon the re-
turn Of the Democratic party to power
through the means of South SO solid and
united that throughout its whole extent, as
now in Mississippi, no organized oppose
tion can be found, to remember what came
of precisely such condition Of affairs in
1856, when the new party to which 1t gave
rise first took shape.
History on such lines as this does repeat
itself. II is no less sure than thar effect fol-
lows cause. 1t is the absolutely certain
logic Of events. No element of chance enters
into it, for it is the operation of natural
laws which can not be overcome or turned
aside. Leaving out of the question the con-
sideratiOn of differing climates, productions,
forms of industry, elements Of growth, ma
terial resources and popular habits and GUS
toms, which might enter into a philosophic
tive population Of the two sections is the
conclusive factor in a sectional contest which
gives to such an issue the certainty of
mathematical demonstration. The political
action which, in Mississippi and other
Southern States, abolishes opposition and
Of the two great parties which divide the
North, is simply suicidal madness. 1t has
been tried once already, with the most dis.
astrous results. 1t can not be under
taken now, or ever again hereafter,
with any thing like the chances for
success IL nau IRON 1000 10 1851. tOr tnen
the South had something like pretext for
its action in the defense Of its peculiar in
stitution, and the need of union in a COM
mon cause. To-day they are forming a
purely sectional party upon purely section
al basis, with none, not even the fiimsiest,
pretense of a preteXt. The party they unite
against is the same they fought before, but
they were soon beaten on the issue; and up
on their pretense of having accepted in good
faith the results of the war, they have been
treated with magnanimity, and have accept
ed at the hands Of the victors favors for
which common decency, to say nothing of
gratitude, should dictate some other return
than sullen and malignant hate. That they
have no reasonable ground Of hostility to
the party now in power, certainly none such
as would justify this solid sectional array
against it, is attested by the very fact that
they are able to take such an attitude. The
South is deprived of no right or privilege
that any Northern State enjoys, nor are any
of her rights in danger of attack or meddle-
sweet will in every thing, and no one inter-
feres or offers to. There is no ground what
ever for sectionalism in politics; nothing to
excuse sectional issue or justify a Solid |
South.
Against Solid South there is soon to be
South, perhaps; that is not necessary; but |
solid enough and firm enough to possess the |
1t will be stronger than in |
1861; stronger for the prestige Of past sue
cess, the enlarged experience Of added |
years, increased confidence in its own re-
sources, and the consciousness of having |
earned power honestly, and used it WORTH |
ly. The small margin by which the Demo-
Gratis carried two or three Northern States |
IN 1876 will crumble away the instant such |
sectional issue is presented as that |
which the South seems anxious to in
Tite. These majorities were given by |
voters who were actuated by the desire |
TO have the Southern States restored |
absolutely to self-government and placed |
beyond Federal interference, and to see all |
cause for discomfort removed. They have |
seen this done already under the Admins. |
ration of President Hayes, and are ready to |
applaud the party and the policy BY which |
It was effected. Upon such an issue as the |
action of Mississippi makes imminent for |
1880, they will fall in line with the party to |
which the South opposes solid front. The |
Democratic management in Mississippi and |
elsewhere in the South, when the suppress
sion of opposition is carried to the extent of |
destroying the Republican organization, is |
something worse than an ordinary blunder |
1t is a willful and ineXcusable repetition of |
an historic blunder, whose fatal conse-
quences they have not outlived, but see on |
all hands around them.