The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-07
OUR "sOUTHERN POLICY"

1t is a mi slortune that there should be
in the country any occasion tor the use
of the phrase "a Southern policy" or a
"Northern policy" or any other policy
characterized by an adjective OF
sectional import. But such has become
the political status of the country that
the designation of the course to be pur-
sued in regard to the government of Il
certain portion OF the commonwealth
has taken this sectional form, and is
now spoken of as our ''Southern policy
The incoming of new administration,
presumably different in many respects
from the one just closed, has naturally
given rise to much speculation concern
ing the course to be adopted by the
national government touching the State
government of the South. or course,
such speculations could not arise,
nor could any question be made
upon the subject, were it not
a fact that some abnormal
conditions, or deranged relations,
existed so as to call for "policy"
special in it's bearing upon that'section
of the country. Indeed, that fact has
been too potently and painfully i'm
pressed upon the minds of all sorts and
conditions Of men to permit of its being
gainsaid OF denied. Those abnormal
conditions and deranged relations have
existed now for sixteen years. True,
the State governments of the South are
no longer in arms against the National
government. There is no form of con-
fict, IN any manner distinctly dehed,
now existing therein as between the
federal and State authorities; and the
people profess and avow adhesion and
obedience to both in their respective
spheres. And yet it is true that COM
plete harmony and accord do not exist,
as with the States of any other section
of the Union.
To bring about that lacking harmony
and accord, to remove those abnormal
conditions and deranged relations 80
unfortunate for the quIetude OF the coun'
try and so adverse to the best interests
of the South itself, is the problem in
yolyed in what is now called "oul
Southern policy" The solution Of this
problem is not without difficulty, and its
Importance to the country is beyond al
estimate. AS to its desirabillty, all
men agree; but the mode OF reaching il
is the subject of infinite disagreement
1t is in this diversity oil views that much
of the difficulty attending this probe m
is found; and it must be admitted that
the expedients hitherto adopted for this
purpose have not been crowned with the
measure OF success expected and de-
sired. And yet, with all the light OF the
past now thrown upon the subject, i
would be difficult to conceive OF any
other course that could, under the cir
cumstances, have been adopted witt
any greater promise of success. AL
that can be concluded, then. from thii
fact Of failure is, that expedienJs con
fessedly unsuccessful should not b,
persis ted in.
This, 10 be sure, is only negativ
point gained. But we are taught by in
ductive philosophy that an affirmativ
conclusion may be reached by the proI
-er exclusion of negatives. The demon
stration OF the inexpediency of fofme
,expedients clears the ground before u
of much that would otherwise be embal
raising or ambiguous. Knowing tina
one given line of policy can not, or wi
not. achieve the result desired, is fur
thering us one step in our inquiry as t
what will.
When party contest result in doubl