The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-06-06
TIE NECESSITY FOR SOUTHERN
PPTDENGE

Morton letter, says the Americda,
may well cause the people OF the
South to pause and reflect. 1t is
a loosely written. rambling defense
of the President and of the carpet
bag governments, artful retreat
from a position maintaining them,
aud shrewd march under cover of
fog of his own raising to new posi-
ton. There will be a difference Of
opinion upon every line. upon every
position assumed in it, as to whether
be is defending or attacking the
President, whether he means to
defend or desert the esrpet-baggers,
whether he will support the Presi-
dents policy or join Blaine, Every
one of these points has called for
opinions as various as the number
discussing them. There is one point
about which there is no difference of
opinion. No one mistakes the strong
appeal TO the North for sectional
union and a solid front against the
South. However he reached that
point. by what line Of retreat, by
what long detour, no one can fail to
perceive the new line reached where
Mr.. Morton, far ADLER than all his
contemporaries, proposes to carry
on the war in the future.
1t is of the utmost importance to
tho South to perceive the new dan
ger and meet it. Our position is
good for renewed prosperity if we
but use prudence and moderation.
There are two sides to this country
and we are yet numerically the
weaker. We cannot expect to sue
coed in any sort Of raid on the trea-
sury which is not in favor of a gen.
eral interest not only at home, but
in some part of the North. The
private claims, the cotton claims,
the local enterprises. can only be
urged to the injury of the whole and
at the expense of the many. The
press of the South cannot afford to
advocate such schemes, because
every time they are made prominent
it is at the expense of interests in
which all arc interested. IF the
statesmen OF the South are wise
they will make themselves the watch
dogs Of the treasury aud go beyond
the North in demanding that it be
kept for the public and not for the
private ase-allowing the exceptions
made rather to strengthen than
weaken the general principle, This
dangerous movement for solid
North must be met and checkmated
at the outset. If we allow arrogance,
rapacity and selfishness TO blind our
judgment, Morton will laugh in his
sleeves as he enrolls even many
Northern Democrats under the ban.
ner of a solid North.
The cry of claims was potent
during the last canvass. It was not
sufficiently so to deprive any Of the
Democracy OF their interest in the
State rights question, but it did
arrest the movements of many Re-
pubIicans whose State rights views
were leading them to the Demo
cracy. 1t is well known that the
claims are not popular either with
Democrats or Republicans in the
North, and whether they are loyal
or unloyal makes no difference.
They ought all to go together, as
mere private matters which don't
concern the public. Mr.. Morton and
his party. by retrsatIng from the
Southern question, artifully leave
State rights apparently asserted.
The issue, they hope, will drop out
of sight, obscured by the greater
one appealing to the Northern
pocket. Who will say that upon
such an issue one might not well
hope 20 uaite the North, to resist
united South, in we'll arranged in
cursion on the Treasury of the coun-
try? The danger is easily avoided.
Mr.. Morton s fine plans can be scat
tered like a gossamer web, but only
by prudence and care, and good
INDIGNANT.