The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-11-22
A NEW PARTY SOUTH.

We are firm believers in the prediction
of President Hayes that q new party Is
springing ND in the South. The with
drawal of the forces destroyed the car
pet-bag faction entirely, aud it Is quite
true that while the carpet-bagger was IN
power in the South, the native white
population was united in opposition.
Now the circumstances are different.
The Southerners were united simply
against the hordes of adventurers and
robbers who settled down upon their
war stricken land. They were not LIE
cessarily agreed upon any settled pollt1-
cal policy, and the room for divergence
in the South is as wide as in the North.
This has begun to appear since the with
drawal of the troops and the restoration
of domestic quiet. The negro vote is SO
large an element that its tendency III
these States will have great influence.
While the white people all ranged upon
one side, it was very difficult for the ne
groes to unite upon any ground differing
from them. The reasons for this are
evident in their inferior education and
ability, and from the fact that their en-
ployers and actual leaders were ranged
in solid phalanx. The present sltua-
ton is widely different. The State Gov
ernments are IN the hands of the people
of the South, as they should be. The
people are called upon to look at nation
al affairs unbiased by the appearance OF
troops or the presence of obnoxious
Governors In their judgment they will
now be simply governed by the facts
and their interest in the questions at
issue. It cannot be doubted that this
will draw many thousands of votes away
from the present Democratic organiza-
ton. There are no reasons why they
should remain there. The voters of the
South are chiefly interested now in
restoration of the commercial prosperity
of that region. They want their lands
again under profitable cultivation, and
they desire such legislation as will pro-
mote their chief interests. The ordi-
nary differences of men, who are not
actuated and melted by some overpow-
ering local interest will naturally give
rise to party divisions in all of these
States. Whether the Republican party
Southern people to it depends upon
whether the measures of that party are
acceptable to those people that are to be
attracted. The issue of slavery IS dead.
The sectional line between the North
and South is being rapidly obEterated.
We are through with the questions of
the war, and no political party can live
upon its memories. 1t is therefore q
fact that the sooner we address ourselves
to actual issues the sooner will be built
upa strong political alliance in theSouth.
To do this, however, the course of the
Republican party must present itself
favorably to the people there. 1t will
not do to ask their allegiance to party
that refuses them every boon they ask
for. They are poor and struggling
They are like the farmers of the West
in their opposition to forced contrac-
ton of the currency and the adoption of
the gold standard. They are opposed
to inordinate protection, and to numer
Gus other measures that find Democratic
and Republican advocates upon the
Atlantic coast. The Republi ,an party
can get numerous adherents in the
South, and can retain them in the West
if it takes a proper stand upon these
subjects, and if it does not do SO it will
not get the accessions of strength, and
does not deserve Gic0g0 Post.