The New York herald., 1878-12-19

ture: they fear all questions and so far as one
learn here. know other way to win in 1880 ex
cspt to alarm and array the North against the South
AMONG THE DEMOCRATS.
Among the democrats there has been good deal
of quiet but earnest discussion about the future
When Congress adjourned last June the southern
democrats had been persuaded that their true
policy for 1880 was to ally themselves with
the West. The Western democrats. of course,
zealousy fostercd this notion. but they demanded
their own terms. which were that the Southern wing
of the party should join them in resisting resump
tion in aboshing the national banks and in the sup
port. generally, Of the grecnback movement. 1t
in consequence Of this bargain between the West
and the South that the Southern democratic
platforms almost all favored the most extreme
currency delusions and that many individual
democrats of whom better things expected. be-
cause they were known to have perfectly sound cur
rency views. surprised and exasperated their North
friends by submitting to standing green
back and imitation platforms. Mr.. Thurman became
the head and focus of this alliance but the
fall elections showed tho Southern men
that he and those who urged him on
had totally mised them to the strength
Of the movement They at once that tho fail
campaign which they had made at the instance Of
their Western allies for soft money had in fact. ser
ousy endangered the democratic in 1880 and
it is secret here that Senator's Lamar and But
Ter, who persistently resisted this movement. are
now acknowledged by their friends to be iusti-
fed by events. further Western alliance
is now out of the question. The Southern
men most of whom originally for sound money.
returning from their wanderings and con-
sidcring whether they not of prosperity for
their own section and of success in 1880 if they
shall form an alliance with the Eastern dem
ocrats and unite with these in placing their party
firmly on what are called "old democratic prin-
ciples."
SOUTH.
The argument il that the East and the South
united control the convention in 1880 and carry
sound PLATFORM that the nomination u an unexcep.
tionable man. one in whose character and principles
the North would have confidence, good platform
would give better chance of carrying the country
than any other way that offers. and that in fact vr
tue may turn to be profitable than multi
tude Of greenbacks.
Privately some of the Southern men acknowledge
that they did not comprehend the real meaning of
the grcenback movement until they found them
selves part of it. Then they discovered that the
greenbackers meant nothing less than rcpudation
e. said one of thece men, "did not mean repu.
dation. and the people generally have no
such thought, and when 1 discovered what
as could and made up my mind to have to
do with the grcenback leaders, but to help get the
country back to sound money fast possible, for
this thing is too dangerous to be trifed with
LESSON OF THE FALL CANVASS.
The experience of the fall canvass has
therefore given the Southern democratic lead
ers cause for serious thought and for
earnest consultation. What they will finally
agree on remains to be seen, but it is certainly
possible that they will that their course is
close alliance with the Eastern wing of their party
and the adoption of Eastern and not Western ideas
and policies. This would include Of course an
abandonment of ali currency deusions. and oppcsi-
ton to every part of the currency programme of the
West with union policies which would
force the old questions out of the way.
AVERAGE CONGRESSMAN.
Three things mainly prevent the immediate adop-
tion OF such programme. and these are timidity
ignorance and a curious respect for empty and
vicious traditions. 1t is amazing to see the mud
died condition Of mind into which the
average member Of either house and of either
party regards the currency question. and how
incongruous and absurd are the expedents
suggested. Moreover. almost everybody wants to be
reelected and stands in the agonizing fear of
what his constituents may think. Leaders of public
opinion are few in number. and they lack bold
of the most mischicvous character is the South
ern statesman's regard for local and State banks
He forgets that the old social and bush
ness system Of his section has disappeared
and that the State banks. which all solid enough
quarter of century ago.. cannot be revived He
has o vague suspicion that the national banking sys-
TEN must be wrong. mainly because he remembers
that Andrew Jackson had fight with tho National
Bank of his day. totally different affair. and then
come the spectators among his constituents and
promise him new era of good times by the help Of
real estate, banks, &C.. and the poor man
hcsitates and wonders if he cannot de-
wise system of whipping the devil
around the stump" and having sound money
and yet not having sound money. But matters haJN
gone far that there is little doubt that il a bold
leader summoned the Southern democrats to follow
him for sound currency and sound and national
policy he could sweep them all in with little diff
Guilty. So far the lead is lacking and the
mschievous return of the republicans to their old
Southern sectional policy may by forcing the South
to continued attitude Of self defence pre-.
vent any movement looking to the reformation of
either party. That is what Mr.. Blaines resolution
may accomplish. and it is purely mischicvous for the