New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-29
BLIND LEADERS.

The Southern leaders plume themselves upon
what they are fond of calling practical states
manship. The stupend0us folly OF the rebel
lion destroyed the fiction of their superior
ability, which the old Southern politicians had
managed to impose upon mankind, and the
men themselves were buried with their repu-
tations in the wreck Of the Confedeacy
For long time the South was without
leaders and almost without influence
In National affairs. OF late, however, new
men of considerable force have come to the
front, and public opinion is disposed to re-
neat its former mistake. and to take them at
their own estimate of themselves. Already it
exaggerates their qualifications as statesmen.
4 little sharp inquiry into their conduct
and avOwed intentions gives abundant
reason for thinking that their states
manship is as great a dciusOn as was
that of the Old set whose places they
occupy. What do they want Of the Govern
ment. and how do they propose 10 get 1t :
They tell Us that the Old Issues are settled,
and that all they ask now is national aid to
omen avenues Of commerce and stimulate the
industries OF their section.
How are they going about the accomplish
mcnt of their purposes! They join with the
formulating element in the West 20 assail the
credit o. the Government. They eudeayOr to
reneal the Resumption Act in order to lessen
the valne of the grecnback currency, and they
are eager to remonetize the deprecated silver
dollar. so that all creditors may be robbed Of
norton of their dues, and tie Treasury may
lose nearly ten millions of its customs rev
enue. Now, it Is ~ PLAIN as the multiplication
fable that Government aid to Southern i'm
movement schemes could only be procured
under the conditions of sound National
c,ed;t and an overlooking Treasury. The
country will never consent to the contraction
Of new debts for the purpose OF building
Southern railroads or scoopmg oat Southern
harbOrs.
Again. the Southern politicians show their
lncll of sagacity IN taking up the Democratic
party as an instrument to accomplish these
publc Improvement schemes. Their formula
for future action, bluntly stated, is as follows:
eve will give our solid electoral vote III 1850
" for Northern Democratic candidate Tor the
" Presidency, and in return the Northern Demo
"crats will give ia their solid Congress
"slonal votes for our railroad, river, canaland
selves. The Northern Democratic leaders will
make profuse promises, but when the time
comes they will not be able to deliver the
goods The Democratic masses Of the North
believe in what Mr. Tilden calls " low gov
"ernment,r which might be defined rs
not much government OF any~kiud, and
what there is, of rather poor kind
According to their idea, the functions
of inc General Government do not extend
much beyond fighting the Indians, collecting
the revenue, and carrying the mails Then
representatives can never be brought to give
ANYTHING like a solid support TO the magniti-
cent schemes for regeneating the South which
are buzzing in the brains OF South
ern congressman. They may not care
much for tho old anti-Whg principles
about internal Improvements, but they have
n wholesome fear of their constituencies.
II is Republican legislation that is deepening
the channel of Galveston and opening tho
mouth of the Mississippi. Never since the
war have the Republicans Disseminated
against the South on River and Harbor bills,
but, on the contrary. that section has always
had rather more than its share of appropria-
tons in proportion to the amount oil It's COM
merce.
Well, gentlemen of the South, make your
bed as you like, but when you come TO lie on
it YOU will not find it SO soft as You now
imagine. Hold together as solidly as you may
for the party of reputation and reaction, you
will not accomplish your ends. You will only
provoke the united opposition Of the Republi-