Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-10
From the New York Tribune.
The Policy of the South.


Ii is not by any means certain that the
extinction of Slavery and the removal oil
that issue from politics brings us to the
end of sectional division upon political
questions. This had been the hope of all
good citizens, and the confident prediction
of many public men. who believed they
could, in some degree, forecast the future.
Obviously enough this end has not been
attained. The Experimental it may not
vet be set down as a faiure-cannot be
called a success. The "Solid South"
was the great fact brought ont in the last
Presidential election. 1t is still the lead
ing feature in the political situation, the
most important factor in present politics.
II the Solid South is not confronted now
by Solid North, as in 1860. it is not be-
cause Southern leaders and the Southern
white voters have not invited such an an
tagonism, and done everything in their
power to provoke it. Senator Blaine very
evidently centemplates not the mere pos
sbilty. but the strongest kind of proba-
biity, of continuance of sectional ques-
tons and the inevitable arraying of South
against the North in long and bitter
struggle for the control of The Govern
ment and the direction of its policy. And
while there are many thousand republi-
cans who hope for better things from the
| b,n1;pr, i,H nf finn and tho a. Il.
sence of every genuine cause for section
al disputes it cannot be denied that there
are other thousands who believe with him
that the settlement of the Slavery ques-
ton has not given a quietus to Sectional
| ism, but that the South will still act togeth-
er solidly, as against the influence and
control of the North 10 the conduct of the
Government We cannot shut our eyes to
the fact that without any reference to the
Slavery Question or Negro Suffrage, or
any issue growing ont o: the War, there
is among a certain class, and very large
class at the South, very unfriendly feel
ing toward the North, and very strong
desire to Dust it from the seat of power.
This appears to be the view of Senator
Blaine and those who sympathize with
him in his opposition to the Presidents
policy. In anticipating what does not
seem probable, but is certainly among the
possibilities of the future-the attempt on
the par, of the South to extend its borders
by the annexation of part of Mexico
Senator Blaine doubtless reasoned from
what had already taken place when, in
Iurlherence of the same policy, the Next
can War was inaugurated by demo-
cratic Administration. 1t may seem a
wild fancy to suppose that the the present
Administration has any designs upon Mex
leo, such as Senator Blaine seems to inti-
mate but with his distrust of the South
and his dissent from the policy of concii-
alton, ii is not strange that he should look
beyond the immediate results of this
strengthening and building up of the
South as political power, 10 the proba-
blities that lie beyond. Mr.. Blaine is not
without practical sagaclty; he has often
shown great wisdom in forecasting politi-
cal events. and he may be wiser than his
opponents think in sounding out his warn
ing, and preparing the public mind to re-
sist the beginnings of policy OF terrific
rial extension South.
Whatever may be The real purposes Of
the Southern leaders, no one will deny
that they have given good cause for the
suspicion that they mean to keep up the
sectional division in politics and to make
the South sooner or later the dominant
section. The "solid South" has no other
reason for being. 1t aims at power and
the control of the Government, and its
unbroken front has no other meaning. 1t
sought the same ends thirty years ago,
ostensibly for the preservation of its own
peculiar institution to-day it seeks power
Tor its own sake-ior local advantage and
personal gain. 1t is not so wild stretch
of fancy, then, that when it has the
strength and opportunity, it will repeat
the history of Folks Administration, and
reach out for neighboring territory.