New-York tribune., 1877-10-27
A NEW SOUTHERN QUESTION.
WILL THE sOIlDITY BE BROKEN.


IvRoM A REGULAR coRRFsPoSDENT OF TIE TnIDUSEl
WAsHiNGTox Oct 2f.-The South is again great
power IN the politics Of the country and the future
formations and movements of parties IA the NoIth
depends upon how that power is exercised. II II DC
exercised as solid force fer the accomplishment of
sectional aims nothing is palmer than that It must
be resisted by the great majority of the Northern
people, acting in the old Republican organization.
IT, on the other hand, it separates itself into two
eontendng forces national questions then Mr..
Fvarts's cpigrammatic saying that the term of en-
listment OF the Republican party has expired, may
be verified. The old names Of Republican and Dem
ocrat may be preserved. but public opinion must in
evitably go into solution and crystalline INFO new
formations. With new issues must come new di-
visions. majority of the Republicans may enlist
for fresh term of service. TO effect Civil
Service reform, TO bring about resumption.
TO guard the public credit, to protect American III
dustry to develop material interests or for other
purposes; but there viii first time when party
fences will he somewhat broken down. Afterwards,
when they are once more built high and strong Il
great many new men will he found IN each IN
closure. Nothing is more important, therefore, TO
one who wishes to look into the near future oi ma
tional politics than the new Southern Question
What is the South going 10 do asks every thought
ful politician. The States that went into the Re
belon and the border States that were held back by
force are now. to all appearances, as sohd as "a
granite boulder. From the Potomac TO the Rio
Grande there is only one party. Nothing rs left OF
the Reuublcan organization but a few lonesome
Federal ofce-holders scattered here and there and
q little oasis of Union men IN East Tennessee. Inc
caref-baggers have returned to the North, or have
abandoned politics. and gone TO work with the IN
tention of identifying themselves with the commu-
mites they once ruled, and the vast ig-
H.
mont OF at least indifference the domina-
tion of the intelligent whites, and has no
weight in public affairs except here and There IN the
settlement of local quarrels between white office
seekers. Current Republican opinion in the North
Is that this sOaity Is going 20 continue for long
time and with this opinion goes the Apprehension
that there are purposes underlying twhlch patriotic
men will soon be called on to resist-puIposes 10
tanper with the accomplished results of the war 70
establish new Southern oligarchy, to set aside the
verdict of history and make defeat more honorable
than victory to pay rebel losses, and pension ebei
soldicrs-in short TO administer the Government III
the interest of the extinguished rebellion. EVi-
IDENTIFY it Is of the first consequence for politicians to
satisfy themselves whether there be ground for this
apprehension. No doubt many Republicans firmly
believe that snch ground exists. They take counsel
of their hopes as much their fears building their
proiects of future advancement on tho chance OF
arravinp q solid North against the solid South, and
prolonging sectional strife for yet another genera
ton.
have been at some pains to learn the views of
The Southern leaders IN Congress on this question,
not putting them into the nteryicweTs inquisitorlal
chair for public examination, and taking Gown such
opinions a. they may think IT polite 10 become re-
sponsble for in the newspapers, but drawing them
out in the freedom Of friendly and confidential talk
l find marked agreement of ideas among them.
None think solid South desirable or possible.
They give due consideration TO the influences that
laye lei the Southern States to act together thus
far-he fear of further Federal nterfence the dread
of a renewal of the evils of carpet-bag government,
tbe habit OF unity Of action learned i'll the war and
tradit nal attachment to the Democratic party-al
these are carefully weighed and measured, and also
the irritation produced by extreme partisan speeches
M the North but in spite Of all the conclusion Is
reached that a division must speedily occur. An
eminent Congressman from Mississippi expressed
the general belief when be sald There Is no law IN
plvc, more inexorable than that mental law which
divides men into opposing parties and its operations
bagin to be felt throughout the south. Inc ln"e-
pendent movements IN many counties ~ my state
show that the process OF dIsintegIatloh hiS IeaHy
leqrn" The independent movements 10 winch tbs
gentleman referred have no general Pnncipe III
common except the spirit Of revolt against the
dictates of the solid Democracy. They are
usually made i'm the interest Of candlcates for
The leg 5latiyc county officers who have failed OF
success i'm the regular party conventions Great ell
rt is put forth 10y the regular organization 10 sup
press them and in localities the Old methods OF
asfracisn and terrorism are employed, but the move
Inents gain strength and will GaSy a number OF
counties The prediction OF thoughiIu! S"utheTn
politicians l. that these separate local factions call
ing themselves Independent, getting the habt OF
acting r autGC0Hism to the regular Democratic or
QaniZatiOn viii n year OF two coalcScc INTO fOrn-
dahie opposition parties In many OF the states ana
that such opposition parties must inevitably ally
.ftrse IN
party at the North arrayed against the Democracy.
hear this prediction from who are thoroughly
identified with The Democratic party, and whose own
Interests would be sub.orved by keeping their CON
stituencies united. They recognize the inevitable,
they say.
Georgia furnishes an illustration of the ripeness
of Southern communities for division INTO opposing
political organizations-a ripeness, LET me say, pro-
dncod chiefly by the conciliatory policy Of President
Hayes After the new Constitution completed
by the convention, number Of leading Democratic
politicians canyassed among themselves the feast
bility of organizing party to defeat II by combin
ing such OF the whites as showed signs Of dissatis
faction with the bulk Of the negroes. They dropped
She project, not because they thought IL impract-
cable. but because they concluded that the issues
were not important enough TO be worth campaign
which they knew would conyulse the whole State.
All Georgians think that # the fight had been made
tie white vote would have divided and
each faction would have courted the blacks. The
itrengtb of the Conservative feeling in Georgia Is
shown by tho failure Of the effort to defeat Senator
Coriop for reelection. A combination of poll tclae,
prominent among whom are eX-G0yern0r smith, ex-
Governor Brown and General ROOt I0Omts, have
been al work against Gordon, endeay0rlnR 10 secure
the nomination for Members of the Legislature II
men pledged 10 defeat him if possible They have
made mis- COnserV atiye course IN the Senate his re-
flsal to approve the hlbusteling movement Of last
Winter and his friendly attitude toward President
HAYES the chief argument against him. Apparently