National Republican., 1877-07-09
.II.SrECE 10 TILE SOrTH

The great need of our American politics |
at this time IS political charity. This is
especially true as to discussions relating to
the affairs of the South Mr.. BLAINE Is now
a rouSpiruouS and almost isolated example
among the eminent statesmen of the nation
OF narrow minded, fault finding spirit
which Is wholly at war with that generous
policy OF reconciliation which President
HAYES IS now carrying out toward our
southern brethren.
In Mr.. BIAINE's Woodstock speech We
ind no kind word tor the South. On the
eOntTary he seems to seek for faults instead
Of virtues, and to 20 out OF his way to at
tribute to them opiniors and doctrines
whirh they do not now hold. His Grafton
Is both unjust and unpatriotic, for he not
only misTepTc>sniS the EIcts Of history, but
inpntSs trcasouaile designs to people who
are now rhseriully and willingly obcying
llIs Laws OF the nation
The whole pnrpose Of MIR. BLAINEs
<pereh seems to have becu to create the be-
lief in the public mind that sentiment of
hostility to national unity exists in the
south He ignores all the changes which
war and the lapse of time have effected in
that regiOu. Because Texas was acquired
| to extend slavery, he thinks he can alarm
the North by the cry that the South wishes
I to acquire Northern Mexico and increase
her political power.
Never WAS there 4 more groundless state
mrnt made by public man. We say
nothing OF the willfdl injustice which Mr.
BLAINE dos to the Administration by as
suming that il tivors m acquisition Of Mex
Is.In territory. On this occasion we only
ask him uP.n what authority he charges
tine south with fayoring such u policy
Can be ind any evidence Of such desire
IN tine SpITit of the southern press! Who
are the Southern leaders " no aIe advocating
nv WORT OF deed the conquest OF Mexican
soITs On the contrary the South il NOR,
conservative upon this subject than tn,
North The truth is that the acquisition o
the Northern States Of Mexico would moi
benefit the South. They would at once b,
illed with a population from California
and the Northern States, which would con
troll them socially and politically, and the,
would like California, Nevada and Colorado
] h. lar more likely to become Republican
: than DemoCTItir States.
; Thesc considerations show how absurd /
; Is foT Nr BLAINE to charge that the SOutl
! has deep and dangerous designs in rcierenc
to Northern Mexico. In speaking of thi
subje,t he did not need to do more thai
, pies. His appeal to the old anti-slaver
, sentiment OF the country was ill-timed an
= mtschieyous. and unworthy OF his characte
4 OF n statesman. Notwithstanding all h
, slys on this subject we are very sure that
:, Mexican aggTssSiOns compel Us to engage !
p war with that Republic in seli-deienSe tn
!. VsOple OF this country, North and soutl
would stand by the Administration, shOui
4 Il hscOme necessary, to acquire the norther
Il States OF Mexico to indemnify Us Tor th
, expsnSss OF defending that frontier. b
l. sides. the most intelligent Mexicans then
I" salyeS admit that the absorption Of the
= country nv ours Is but u matter OF time, an
CHAKLEs SUNNER, in his Prophetic Noic'
q COncrTning America, refers to the same II
eyitable event without anxiety.
We regret that Mr.. BLAINE, in his zeal
make out q ease against the South, misstat
= the fIcts OF history by saying that in NAL
n Ing the ASHBURTUN treaty, and the OregC
+, bnundIry treaty, Northern interests we
2 Sacrifrr,t by the South. The facts do nj
, Justify any such conclusion The ASHDUl
.s ION treaty, which concerned a matter
u which New England had a special intercs
wis negotiated by DANIEL WEBSTER, Il
. most eminent Of New England statesmc
n aud il he did not take care OF the nation
20 honor and welfare the South surely was n
3D. IN blaul. Nor j. the South responsible 4
' the reealt Of the Oregon boundary nrg"ti
O. tilus. Tor President Polk, a southern ma
,nnk a drci,led stand in opposition to Il
Demands of the British GpNcrnmcnt and
20, wL> only the strenuous opposition OF Il
WhIs party which compelled him 10 nal
= the concessions which he did. And in tn
he a. ted wisely, for 1t rs extremely douh