Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-12


African slavery has been abolished. Even
those who were Its most strenuous advocates in
the South assert that they would not have Il re.
stored. Consequently these States have no mo.
tive to imPel Them TO unite for the ACQUISITION OF
Mexico. Missouri and Kentucky as States can
have no more interest in the scheme of annexing
Mexico than Kansas and the other states in The
vicinity.-Bostoa Journal.
With due respect for our Massachusetts
contemporary, we are compelled to say
that its reply to our paragraph of Satur-
day. like many of its recent articles on the
same subject. prove conclusively that it is
an exponent of radically erroneous the
DRY of the cause, scope and strength OF
the Solid South-a theory which has pro-
duced a great amount of false statesman
ship and fearful calamity in the past and
is liable to result in serious mischief and
dangers in the future. To say that this
theory is false is not to deny that it has
had the support of many intelligent and
able men. Bourbonism and Bonapartism
have had earnest and effective advocates,
but their fundamental errors are none the
less injurious. The language Of the Bos-
ton Journal shows plainly that its writer
is disciple OF Robert e. Winthrop,
George Lunt, and Willard Fillmore, and
not of Garrison, Seward and Sumner.
This theory, always superficial and COM
promising, affords no clear insight into
the logic and enduring strength of the I'M
DERIVING causes of the Solid South. 1t
always has failed in our national politics.
1t always will prove but source of weak
ness and sad disappointment.
The influences which now make the
Solid South menace to the Nation, are
the growth of two hundred years. 1t has
a logic not changed by soft words, pacific
resolutions, or temporizing expedients.
Buckle indicated an important general
truth when he said that linen are the pro.
duct of their antecedents.' Jefferson
Davis, Robert Tombs, and James Blu
chanan, might have died in their cradles,
yet the history of the Solid South, the
sweep of its schemes and crimes, would
have been essentially the same. Twenty
years since the great statesman of New
York said there is an irreprsssble con-
1ict" between two great moral and politi-
cal tendencies in this country, and with
the patriotic instinct of genius Abraham
Lincoln in Illinois accepted and reaffirmed
the declaration.
To-day there is an "irrepressible con.
hict" between the civilization and polili
raj tendencies of the White Democracy of
the South and the dominating and Repub.
lican Unionism Of the North. These civ
ilizations are radically different in their
morality, their views OF the races, and
OF the powers and offices of the American
Union. They are as antagonistic as Bon
bipartisan and Republicanism in France.
slavery is abolished" says our contemp-
orary. So is monarchy in France, though
It's elements Of power and mischief still
exist, a terrible menace to the achieve
ments and hopes of the freemen and Re-
publican statesmen of e generous and
brave people. Chattel slavery in form is
indeed abolished Ia the South But the
false opinions and passions which forged
the chains of the bondmen and applied
the lash, live to-day with tremendous
power. and with logic which cannot bend
by prejadices which are not weakened