Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1878-11-20
The Postmaster Generals Views.

telegram: Mr.. Key observed
"The result of the election, in the
North, at least, is largely due tc
the fact that many Democrats who
still adhere t. the Jaeksonian and
Bentonian doctrine of hard money,
either would not vote at all or voted
with the Republicans. I regard it
as a singular occurrence that DEM
ocrats who opposed soft money In
the beginning, and insisted upon
their time-honored doctrine of hard
money, should now, as a party, ad-
vocate the reverse. But many of
them, who are well grounded in the
old theory, still adhere to it so
tenaciously that they will not vote
with their party. I think that the
communistic movement has had "a
great deal to do with the result of
the elections. l believe that
the cry raised against the
bondholders and the rich
man by the communists in
a fallacy. The effect has been to
call the capitalists of the country
into the field of politics, and their
influence has naturally gone to the
Republicans. The influence of cap
ital, which is always potent when
used in elections, has contributed
largely to the general result Mr..
Key attaches a good deal of weight
to the idea very prevalent in the
North, that should the solid South
come into power, the rights of
Northern people would be disre-
garded. He says there is great
fear that an effort would be made
in that event to pay the millions of
Southern claims growing out of the
war, and that this has had the effect
to unite the North. He does not
think that the result of the cleo
tons in the North necessarily in
dictate an antagonism toward
the South. On the contrary,
their friendly feelings were mani
tested by the generous contributions
which were sent with such prodigal
llberality to the yellow fever suffer
ers of the South. On the other
hand, Mr.. Key thinks that the
money question has had a great
deal to do with the present con-
lition Of politics in the South. The
fallacy of soft money has more dis
,iples in the South than in the
North. He admits that there is an
feeling prevailing among
SoutEerners, who have lost every
thing they had on account of the
war, which will not be eradicated
during. the present generation. Men
whose wealth consisted largely in
their ownership of slaves were
made to feel very
bitter when their slaves were
taken from them, and this bitterness
will continue to the end of their
lives. As these men at the present
time control, to a very large extent,
the politics of the South, the result
has been solid South But /
predict continued Mr.. Key, that
this sectionalism will dwindle away
as the control Of affairs passes into
the hands of the rising generation.
A division of the white race in poll
tics is absolutely necessary before a
different state of affairs in the South
,an be brought about. This will
doubtless occur after a time. |
,rant that there has been intimida-
ion in portions of the South; but
IS prevalence has been largely ex-
Immediately after the
var great many white
,eople in the South were disguised |
With politics, and would not have
to do with it. In time,
However, they took part, and infu-
'nced, in legitimate way, the votes
If the dependent classes, especially
hose of the colored people, who
we're easily swerved and controlled |
~ their former masters. l am
cry hopeful as to the final breaking
Up of this political unity in the
outh.' Mr., Keys opinions on this
ubject are worthy of more than
usual Importance at this time, be-
cause it is understood that they are
in by the President. The
after shares in the general enthusi-
ISM over the great Republican VIC
DRY, and said to your correspond
mt that the people yesterday sum-
narily disposed of Potterism, But
.erism, fanaticism, communism and
Tammany."