Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-12-07

Mr.. PATTERSON ATTACKS THE PRESIDENT
PoLIcY.-Before conclude desire to say
word more as to the Southern policy, so
called. inaugurated by the President OF the
United States in March last, and since prose
cnted by him with most singular ardor, and
with an effect most damaging to the cause oil
true Republicanism in the Southern States.
| shall speak with becoming respect oil the
President, but must bear in mind that he
owes his exalted position to the votes oil he
publicans South as well as North. As I'M
derstand that policy in its final analysis aEu
its sure consequence, it means the abandon
ment of political friends to concillate point
zeal foes Ii makes the further mistake oil
assuming that it is the Democratic South
that must be cOncliated, whereas 1t IS the
mighty Republican North that should be
conciliated This scheme or policy oil con-
ciliation involves, | am informed, the rehab-
ilitation or revival of the old Wing party as a
necessary agent to secure its permanent sue
cess. If the President can effect this, II he
can 60 down into the political valley OF dry
bones and infuse life and motion once more
into the scattered elements OF the old Wing
PARTY, he will stand confessed as the cham
pion resurrectioni-t Of the age. No, sir, 1t
cannot lie done as well may some deluded
architect attempt to erect the thousand pal
aces of great city out of the broken and
moldering tombstoneS of an ancient village
graveyard.
But it i now an open secret that the
President saws that he intends to reinforce
or Supplement the resurrected Wing party
with the merchants and religious element IN
the South, and then Incorporate this po-
litieal trinity thus formed into the national
Republican party. | am not aware that
there are any live merchants in the south
who are without present party ties or pollt-
zeal identity II there are any such, then
they arc not properly represented by the
New Orleans. Mobile, Charleston and "a
yannah chambers Of commerce, and as for
the religious element of the South,
they worship God and Democracy,
and will not bow down to this craven
image called "Ilaycs'S Southern policy,
which Acknowledgement the king hath set up.
But. whatever this policy i in theory, we
know what it is not in practice. Ii certain
" is not protection Of Republicans in the
Southern States in the free exercise OF all
their rights as American citizens and Just
recognition Of their great and timely pollti-
cal services We know that it is rebuilt on
Il broken political trust, and its cornerstone
is laid in black iDgratitude and cemented
by the blood Of betrayed political friends.
Sir, the Republicans Of the South are not
dead, nor are they sleeping. The Athenians
erected monument to Time and inscribed
il. - To him no ayenges.' Time, sir, will
surely ayenge this great wrong, and in the
not far distant future the now down-trodden
Republicans Of the South will remember
both those who beiricnded them and those
who BETRAYED them in the day of their need
Doubtless, the Republicans of the south
have been guilty of many errors. and are
responsible Tor much OF the maadmlnistra-
ton of the southern State governments dur
ing the past eight years, but, whatever then
grieyous faults. betraying their friends Wa
not one OF them.
have said that, whatever protection tho
republicans enjoy in ;he South, 80 far n
their persons and property are guarded
against actual violence, they owe to the
clemoncy OF the victor. This Is emphatic
ally true. In South Carolina. 50 Tar as th,
influence GOy Hampton extends, | belicg,
that he isa Just and honorable man, ant
intends to nlorce Just and impartial ad
minstra.ion Of the laws without regard t,
race or party. But, benign as are hls pur
poses, there is a power behind the throne
stronger than the throne itself, and he sit
silent and inactive, while the State Is ter
rorized and Republicans are crowded int
the jail at Columbia through a ilagrant poll
teal conspiracy prosecuted by Democratic
officials against them under the forms OF law
-Smator PdtfrSon's spo'Ch, Nor. 3OH.