Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-08-21
Southern Claims as an Element in
Politics.

We are told that the cry about
Southern claims is a bugbear. Is it?
Recently the Democrats of South
Carolina held state convention. One
of the clear headed among their number
offered series of resolutions, which in
effect pledged the members Of the par
ty in the state to drop all war-claims
against the General Government. The
convention refused to consider them.
1t was urged that the North was al
ready frightened about the amount of
these claims and the pertinacity of the
South regarding them; that it was
necessary to deprive the people of the
North of their reasons for suspecting
the people of the South; that only by
the adoption of the resolutions or 9TH
ers similar to them, could the South
be set before the country as accepting
the results of the war in good faith.
10 these arguments, based on common
sense, the convention turned deaf ear
Not even in empty words, would the
convention attempt to deceive the
country. South Carolina is too deeply
interested in the subject. Sherman's
boys not only marched through Geor-
gia, but through South Carolina, and
strip of that State fifteen miles wide,
was swept clean. The arrogant multi.
fcationists, who were first to pluck up
courage to fire on the old flag have not
forgotten the losses that war brought
upon them. Nor have they lost hope
of making those losses good from the
General Government.
Southern claims, then, do not form
a dead issue? If We recollect rightly,
the aggregate amount of the bills al
ready presented to Congress of this ma
ture, is something like 100000, 900.
Are the people of the North prepared
to settle these claims of the South?
We are entering upon a changed
condition of politics. All over the
country, discontinued elements are
forming themselves into new organiza-
tons and finding fellowship with those
who heretofore have been steadfast op.
ponents. What these elements amount
to, or what cohesion they have, no one
can as yet tell. All we know is that
in California, in Virginia, in North
Carolina, in Michigan. in Ohio, in
Tennessee, party has sprung up
which ignores almost every principle
involved in politics, except those of the
imitation of the currency, and the en-
ployment of men on public works.
They will undoubtedly elect number
of Congressman in the West. The
principles advocated by them are held
dear in the South. The payment of
the rebel claims by the Government
would impart an impulse to the indus
tries of tie Southern States, which for
themselves they will not be able soon
to obtain. An alliance between North
ern Nationalist and Southern Demo-
Gratis is therefore not improbable.
Northern Democrats willing or un-
willing, must sustain their brethren
south of Mason and Dixon's line.
Thus in the next congress there is
liable to be a clear majority in favor of
the Southern claims.
Mark another point. The Senate of
the United States, after the 4th of
March next will be Democratic. This
is the fact that makes the Democrats
of South Carolina SO unwilling just
now, to renounce the hopes of con-
pensation that they have cherished so
long. With the control of both bran
ches of Congress in their hands, they
expect their pay: They are not "solid"
for the Democracy for nothing. They
mean to be paid s30O,OOO,0OO for
their fealty.