The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-12-01
southern Sentiment on the Pres
idcnpY.


Southern Sentiment on the Pres
idcnCy.
We preGent to our readers to-day u
very complete reflex Of opinion in
the "Solid South" on the Presidential
issue for 1880. 1t shows, SO far as it
is possible to show at this time, the
drift of public sentiment that is like
.ly to be manifested in the next Pres
idential campaign, both upon prin-
ciples and upon men. The South is
generally more apt to be solid on
questions of policy than the North,
because in every campaign it follows
the leadership Of one or two OF It's
great men, selecting usually the most
radical of them, while the North has
generally an oversupply Of leading
men opposed to each other, aud each
struggling for the mastery. This is
equally true Of both Republicans ana
Democrats in both sections, and our
aim has been to get fair expression
of Southern sentiment on both sides
In presenting these views OF the
leaders Of opinion in the South, there
is one fact that is more noticeable
than all others, and that is their dis,
claiming all ambition for men OF
their own section. Not a Southern
man is presented on either side as
the choice for President, if we except
Senator Bayard, Of Delaware, and
many of the gentlemen who are In
terviewed expressly state that the
South will ask nothing at the hands
of the National Convention, but will
cheerfully support whoever chances
he comes from. Among the Demo
Gratis the first choice seems to be
pretty equally divided between Thur
man and Hendricks, a Western man
being preferred. Bayard, however,
has many devoted supporters through
the South, and may be reckoned a
good second. Tilden, who went into
the ST. Louis Convention two years
ago with the Solid South at his com
mand, has, in a great measure, drift.
ed out Of notice, while Hancock and
Pendleton, the former Of whom was
reckoncd rs third in the Convention
of 1876, have both few Jealous sup
porters who yet believe in their des'
tiny. 1t looks now as though the
race in the Democratic ranks was be.
tween Thurman and Hendricks, and
was q very even race at that. Thur
man has the advantage of his seat in
the Senate to assist him in his fight
this winter against the banks, while
The failure to carry Ohio this fall
tends to cripple him. Hendricks
has the satisfaction of having car
ried his State with u magnificent
burst of success, though he has tc
endure the disadvantage of being
retired statesman, out Of the ranks O.
public life.
Among the Republican candidates
Grant has the advantages of position
and fairly leads them all. Next t
him, Blaine is entitled oplace, while
Conkling follows the man Of Maine
at some distance. This will be re
garded us singular, perhaps, as Conk
ling has been regarded as the bes
representative of Grantism in the no
scarcely spoken 81, and H fT1;' is to
tally left out. Southern Republic
canism is too radical a quantity in
politics to be satisfied with any thing
else than Grant or a bloodyshirI
campaign. The conservatism of Pres
idcnt Hayes, which seated Hampton
ton and Nichols as Governors o
South Carolina and Louisiana, find!
no support there.
The views which we give to-day
possess value as showing the drift 0
political affairs, and will be read witt
interest by men Of all partics.-Cin
Eng.