The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-11
NATIONAL SPIRIT OF SOUTHERN
CRAFTSMANSHIP.


l
II arrogance, cowardice, narrow anG
illiberal preiudices, constituted states
manship, the State craft Of very large
element Of the Northern people would
be strikingly conspicuous, and Mr.
Blaine would be. perhaps, the ablest
and most eminent political leader In
America. Experience, however, does
not encourage the belief that a party
based upon these energetic but PERM
cious forces of human nature will con-
tribute anything to the glory or pros
perity of the nation, or to the strength
and influence Of that portion of the
Union which 1t dominates.
The fact that the South, though
numerically the weaker section, con-
trolled the policy Of the Federal Gov
eminent before the war. Is now histori-
cal. That the South will again. before
many years, exerta controlling influence
In national affairs, the utterances Of
men like Blaine, and Of journals like
the Tribune and Sun, are a perfect
guarantee. The power of the South
prior to 1861, and the. subordination Of
the great North, were attributable to the
fact that the craftsmanship of the South
was broad, national, liberal and fear
less, while that Of the North was mar
row, jealous and cowardly.
During the exciting events and discus
sions anterior to 1861 the South never,
In any instance, opposed Northern
growth and expansion, nor challenged
the justice or wisdom of any Northern
institution, nor sought in any manner,
shape or form to hamper or restrict the
growth, prosperity and liberties OF the
people of the Northern States through
their own laws and institutions. On the
other hand. the period referred to, is q
history Of the efforts Of Northern lead
ers and parties to restrict the power and
expansion Of the South and Of Southern
institutions. 49, ..4
If this hostility OF the North to the
South had ceased with the abolition Of
slavery and the Acknowledgement Of the
negroes, there might, have been
some reason to accredit it to a
generous but Incorporate zeal for
human liberty. But, unfortunately,
such has not been the case. North
ern statesmanship has Invested itself OF
none Of its prejudice and cowardice; 1t
is as narrow and sectional now as it was
when it made the abolition Of slavery
the pretext for the devastation and con-
quest of the South. The New York Sun
opposes the measures Of the Admins
tration to protect the frontier Of Texas,
because those measures may possibly
lead to an accession to Southern terrific
ry. The same paper lives in constant
terror OF division Of Texas into several
States, and the consequent increase Of
Southern power In the American Sen
ate. The utterances Of the New York
Times and Tribune are inspired by the
same illiberal and contemplate spirit.
The whole East seems to be moved by but
two ideas-the payment Of the bonds and
all debts in gold, and hostility to gov
ernmental aid to any enternrisa which
wilt ala in the rehabilitation Of this Sec
tion. The growing power and influence
OF the South are the incessant theme
OF comment and denunciation by the
Northern Republican press. With
surly and discontinued spirit the Re-
publicans Of the North, and we fear
large class of Democrats, watched the
Of the troops from New Or
leans and Charleston, and the restora-
ton Of local self-government to those
States.
In his recent violent TRADE at Wood
stock Mr.. Blaine concentrated and in
terpreted all this prejudice, cowardice
and contemplate jealousy in this little
which we extract from his
The consolidated strength of the sixteen
States that were lately slaveholding Is a ire
mendous political force, embodying almost
more than one-third of the House of Repre-
sentatives, and about two-fifths of the. aggre-
gate Electoral College. This entire element |
IS controlled by a small minority of the people |
Of those States; it will be welded in the fu-
lure with the UNITY o. desp9hss ana as
The country. Let us look the future squarely |
n the face, prepare for the danger in season,
md avert 1t If possible. l take my position |
without hesitation, without distrust, without |
and without concealment believe |
hat Southern control in the government Of |
he Union is the worst possible result, even |
or the South itself.
No Southern statesman. and we trust,
Tery few public men of any Sec
ion or country ever gave utterance
% more narrow and cowardly SEN
iments. By Mr.. Blaine's own
showing the power Of the North in
he Congress and in the Electoral Col
eye is immensely greater than that Of
he South. What then is the danger
before which this blatant New Eng.
and leader trembles like sick girl
md against which he warns the mighty
North? Is the North with its superior
trength, two-thirds Of the House, half
he Senate, and three-fifths of the Elec-