Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-01
Another Presidential Talk.

New YORK, February IA Washington
special to the Tribune says The President,
while convcrslng on the electoral bill, branched
of upon discussion Of what he considers the
present tendency Of political parties in this
couDtry toward camplcte reorganization. lie
said he has observed movement in this direc.
ton for several years, and that he accepts the
reaction OF 1874, known as the tidal wave, as
an indispusable evidence oil it, lie then said
he thinks the republican party will be able 10
a great measure 10 recover It's lost ground, and
possibly 10 maintain it through another presl-
Dental term, but the experience OF 1876,
though favorable to the republicans 10 the To-
cal elections, and TO great degree 10 the Con-
gressional districts, proves TO him that on Da-
tional questions, tho time Tor reconstruction OF
the political parties has come. lie does not
mean by this that he believes that the demo-
cratic party will certainly secure permanent
control of the Government, but simply that the
republican party, shattered as it is by internal
dissension, will only be able to rally its forces
and harmonic its diverse elements upon some
new question. He said that, of course, no one
can know until the result of the election is Of
fcialIy declared which party will secure control
of the executive branch OF the Government,
with its extensive aud potential patronage.
But whatever the result OF the present contest,
it will only postpocc the reorganization, Of
which he spoke. lie thinks that before
the end of the cext presidential term 40
entire reorganization Of parties will take place
in the South at least, and in the contest of
1880 that section Of the country will not again
vote any more solidly for the democratic can
didatcs than the North for the republicans.
Ia the South as political contests are now car
red on there is in his estimation neither
democratic nor republican party The strug
gle is simply for political power between the
white people o1 the one hand who desire TO
ignore the blacks entirely, and the colored peo-
pie 90 the other. The loss to the republican
party Of all the Southern States under these
circumstances he thought the natural outgrOwth
of the opposition Of the party 10 power before
the war to that which grew out OF the great
struggle. If Mr. Tlden is declared elected the
President thoks that the two States nominally
yet held by the republicans will probably sue
cumb The moment this unanmity is estab-
Iished he believes that the people OF the South
will begin 10 discuss measures OF State policy,
and that the result will bu division of poiti-
cal opinion. which will crystalize into political
organizations. This condition of affairs will be
more wholesome If nothing else caused a dl.
vision. The jealousy of political leaders and
the desire to control official patronage will cause
a division where one party has entire control.
Then be thinks both political organizations
will put forth their best efforts 10 secure the
negro votes as the democrats Of the North have
cajoIcd the Irish and the republicans cultivated
the Germans and the Scandinavans.