The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-12-20
THE SOUTH IN CONGRESS.

THE SOUTH IN CONGRESS.
New Orleans Democrat.]
The Southern members of Congress
appear to have very unanimously con-
ctuded that 1t is about time for them
to lay aside their excessive modesty
and begin to assert the rights Of their
section and of themselves as constitu-
ents of the most powerful and reliable
wing of the dominant party. The
wonder Is, not that they have reached
this determination, but that their com.
plaisauce has lasted for so long q time
| and under such grievous provocation.
For the past ten years every effort
| they have made to assert their fiehtful
and legitimate influence in the national
councils has been regarded a. an evil
dence of treason and denounced
throughout the land, In the party and
out of it, as manifestation of disloyal
| and rebellious spirit. The people OF
the North have been taught to regard
| them not as Congressman representing
large constituencies of American citl-
zens under the same constitution which
guaranteed the people of the Northern
tsConfetlerate Brigadiers," who were to
be treated with AS the chieftains Of
sort of military organization of traitors
known rs the ssSolid South" Their
seats in Congress were held by toler-
ance and not by right; indeed, they
had no rights any one was obliged to
respect, and their sole use as members
Of tho body polite was to sit still aud
be badgered for party effect In the
North, while Congress, the executive
| and the Judiciary were devoted to per-
scouting their people to desperation,
and collating perjured testimony for
Christendom as q nation of murtlorers
and savages.
These are the taunts and provocations
our Representatives In Congress have
been subjected to for years, and which
they have borne with dignified pa.
tience. The time for them to end has
come; but whether they cease or not,
it Is the duty Of our members of Con-
gress to assert themselves AZ tho equals
of those Of the North, as loyal and
patriotic citizens, and to accept without
regard to tho clamor about their cars,
whatever responsibility may bo Inn
posed upon or attributed to them.
But, In taking this bold position and
assuming these grave responsibilities,
the Southern members should not for
get that they will have to account to
the whole country for the manner In
which they shall discharge them. 1t
is, therefore, necessary that they should
assert their power, and in order to do
this they must jealously insist upon
D the fullest recognition In the party and
In Congress, and on all important com.
:. mittees. When this Is done, aud n
;, proper discipline established, they can
} y confidently take up the business o.
II legislation, assured that tho record they
shall make for tho country's approba
Q ton or disapproval will DO their own
. and nobody else's.
Never had a political party grandel
opportunity, but 1T will require states
lnanship of tho highest order to put II
, to n good purpose. The people arc
!, weary of tho politics OF prejudice and
hate, and they are awakening to keen
:, sense of the neglect of national affairs,
: and the consequent poverty and de-
preston resulting by such agitation.
, Instead Of the Southern question and
. slander, abuse and resentment, they
want a reform tariff question; instead
:, of Il Southen policy, they want a fnan-
:, cial policy and, in place Of the colored
, voter, they want our foreign commerce,
our shipping and our internal i'm
, provcments to bc the wards Of the ma
!, tion.
Inc pubic mind Is already en-
crossed with these questions, and in
taking hold OF them and doing what
it can, wisely, literally, earnestly, to
lift the politics Of the country out of
. the rut in which they have fioundered
, for the last decade, lies the opportunity
of the "Solid South" The necessities
, and expectations of the people are very
great, and 1t will be difficult task to
satisfy them but lot our Congressman
make an honest effort in that direction,
. and before the next two years have
expired, whatever 1t may be on tho
tongues of demagogues, the "Solid
South" will not be synonymous with
treason in the hearts Of the people-it
will not be an epithet OF opprobrium
or u menace. On tho contrary, it will
have left n record to which our allies
in tho North can point with pride, and
which they can uphold before their
constituents.