National Republican., 1878-08-09
THE SOLID SOUTH.


1t is conceded on all hands that the South,
politically, is solid, aud no doubt to too great
an extent this is trr Owing to several
causes the contendiug forces in politics in
the late insurgent States are dormant, and
hence the want of active antagonism leaves
the Bourbon element in a consciousness of
power that for the present feels secure from
mOlestatiOn. Not but what there are di-
verse sentiments and motives of action that
ifvitalized and brought into vigorous activ-
ity would show distinctly that the South is
not really rs solid as it appears and claims
to be. The South appears to he solid for
the Democratic party, for the reason that
Republicans and Republican sentiment
have been pursued with brutality of hate
and persecution that have literally cowed
them into inaction and silence but
there are, nevertheless, Republicans
who cannot be crushed out, and
Republican sentiment which will
yet live to assert itself in the very dark and
strongholds of Bourbonisn of to-day. They
may not manifest themselves distinctively in
the coming elections, and it may be wise
and best that they should not. 1t is best
at present that Republican men should pre-
serve their lives for future usefulness, and
as for Republican principles they cannot
die any more than truth can be crushed to
death. We can afford to trust time for
their vindication, and wait for the passing
by of the storm of barbarity hate, and Os-
tracism that now RACES throughout nearly
all the Southern States with great fury.
This condition OF things cannot last always.
A kind Providence will yet interpose to
teach the Southern people lesson Of justice
which they must heed, and then, rs during
the war, under Divine direction, the perse-
cuted Republicans will find way out of
the wilderness without q desertion or aban-
donment of principle.
The leaven Of disintegration is already at
work upon the solidity of Bourbonism in
most of the States of the South, and there
are points where it is rapidly weakening
and falling apart 1t is the duty Of Repub-
licans everywhere where they have not the
strength and courage to assert their politi-
cal power independently and to win vic
tories under the Republican banner to lend
their influence in behalf of every movement
calculated to break the crust and power OF
the Bourbon element. When these are
broken when the Democrats are disinteg-
rated aud the elements OF the Democratic
party riven asunder, then the door will
he opened for triumphal march Of Rcpub-
licanism to power amid the ruins Of the
Bourbons. The Republicans can afford to
wait and husband their strength and re-
sources until ls-O, when the bugle blast
will call the Republican army into the
field under leader and an organization
which will move on to certain victory.
In the meantime, wherever II is not ju'
dicious and wise to suffer the party to rest
, on its arms and await more favorable op.
portunity-wherever point can be made
aud local victory can he won in the name
of Republicanism in the South, let 1t be
done iearlessy and vigorously. But where
, greater advantages can be gained by uniting
with the disatiected elements Of the Demo
p cratic party in the way of independent
= action in behalf Of men who dare defy
. the Bourbon organization, give them aid
=, and comfort and in that way break up 1
Democratic prestige that Is now held only
=. through barbaric measures and the ruth les
tumpling under foot by the heel Of intimi
dation the dearest rights of American
= citizens, We regard this as the wiscst anC
, best policy, where the Republicans decid
I not to do battle under their own flag. Hell
s to divide and then comes the assurance thu
: BOurhonism can and will he conquered
: Wherever Republican, member of Congress