National Republican., 1877-07-09
NE srtPnrE SPRINGS COMPETENCY

TIE sSt-EPHT'E SPRINGS CONFERENCE
Whether true or not, rs surmised by FER-
NAND1 NOop. that the sulphur Sprin IS
cunisrrnce i an ingenious scheme OF the
hOssl-kecPers to put money in their pockets,
IL Il nevertheless q success in the way of q
call. and the council will assemble But
what particular matter or matters will come
before it for dclibSmtion no one eau find
out. and Il IS extremely doubtful If major
ity OF th0<e who have determined to attend
have the TsmOtCst idea Of the origin of the
movement. 1t is, however. unimportant to
know definitely what subjects have occurrcd
to members OF the mysterious b'dy to be
convened A. proper to he discussed in adj
Vance OF more solemn action, for the
weishtieT questions are familiar to all, and
any one may easily name one or more of
them surely to lc considered in any assem-
bllsc ut ncmNCTatS at the present junCturc.
No doubt the primary motive for attend
NnCe in the minis of such as are candidates
tor the Sps-ikcTShip Is to look after their re-
SfcCtiNe interests in that connection; but 1t
cannot h. this that has artuated the movers
in the matter, whoever they may he. in
brinsin. about the conclavr. There Is
higher aul more vital interest somewhere
than mere Office hrnting. and it is pretty
c-Ttain to leak out when the time arrives,
though all informed he sworn To secrecy.
To our mind it WAS originally intended
to l-e 4 Conference among southern men
touching some one Of the many Southern
interests involved in impending Federal ac-
tion; hut the obtrusive Yankee hearing of
the ppjcrt Immediately makes himself a
party tO the pTocectling and summons him
self To attend.
ThsTe Is groun. to lelieve that there is
disposition among Southern men to eN-
change Nicws ON the subject of the internal
ppiIty OF the Government, and to settle
among Iheniselvcs just how far they will
co0 ent tn b- chained to the whcels Of the
rhs not OF the New York DcmucrICy in their
n; bnu on this and other questions of ma
tio..-.. '-'~-"-, an,l it is more than probable
that whether interrupted by the presence
oG the party specs from the North OF not,
theTc will Ia opportunity found for q
general understanding As tn SECTIONAL ac-
tion- The question how lat the President
shall L. sustained in his policy in case
he = aSSlilrSi by his own party in CongIeSs
will likely h. definitely settled in private
consolidation; and also the further ono re-
c,n;Iy rai~~d Of sp-cial Southern interest in
anu-Nations Ut any portion Of Mexico us an
/ objsrt oE result of the policy adopted to-
ward the Government of that country.
Fat it IS uot belicyc,i that Southern
men. deSots,l exclusively to the pro-
notion OF Southern interests. will see
any SHCh advantage tn her future in the
acquisition oi further territory in the direc-
iiou Indicated as reveals itSrlf to the horo-
/ sup OF Srultor BLAINE Nor is it prOha-
hls that any numlcr of Southern men can
L. Iound tn take part in any scheme for the
adv ancrment or such an object. On the
contrary, there is every reason to conclude
that what the people OF the south most de-
SiTe Is tranquility, cessation OF strife among
ourselves and with our ncighbors, ii posi-
BILE. and the general application to the de-
Vrlnpmcnt OI the vast national rcSOurctS we
now enjoy. without regard to further eNten-
sion oI our domain. They must, to be sure,
icsl lively interest in the border question,
hut that it goss beyond desire for their
own serunty from invasion is not probable