National Republican., 1878-12-03
What tho "solld South" Really Is.

7u Nit ItRpr Of Nr NPiDHdi R,IultiluW:
sIR The stuiwurt editorials IN yuur paper In dc.
Ecnsc Of those principles 50 deep rooted in the
patriotic heart huYc 80 attracted my attention and
met my appreciation that have presumed TO pre-
sent II few thoughts on Il subject TINT we have
hCRrl q great deal Of lately, 20 much 50, IN fuCt
that It may be questionable whether It Is wise in
me 10 give utyfunce to my feelings. a solid
South" Webster defines the word solid rs hay.
iug the constituent parts so hrnly udhrrns as to
resist the impression or penetration ofolhCr bodies;
irrn, compact strong worthy Of credit, trust, or
esteem substantial, as opposed To frivolous or fal-
laCious; wcIghty valid just"
According to my ideas the term solid" should
never have been applied to the south unless the
definition IN that section has another meaning than
that given by Mr. Webster. My reason is as follows:
The conduct Of the southern people since tho
late uuplCHsnutIIcss hn, had no principle Of right
foundation. aud the logical deduction Is that
that which Is moi founded uu right must be GuInl-
ch "n wrong aud anything which Is founded on
The question will undoubtedly be asked by what
nuil"r.ly make ihl' pirsimrliuu' Ny answer Is
by thCir fruits sc shall know them" hut what
do you know alput their fruits" know that. 10
reasoning minds, newspapers. as q rule either
mould public opinion or are reflex Ui il, aud,
Reasoning. nay deduction is that hatred of tho
Yankee. (Which mean. all luiunIsts Who diTc adj
vCcatC the principle, for which they fuuglu Is tho
RH'qUr nov ofciupu,hip IN that section. / know
that the lHHN ui thu uitci states are dclvd, aud
those ilulN appointed 10 execute them miIr rrrl,
Ill. that bHyu,tvt rule, "A, Il Il tCrmul W. de-
nnnnrcl 10y Tia. southern pru.s and 10y their a. al.
hcrunL In the North Us being the auxiliary nf tho
Republican PARTY, know that nOsuCh dunuuCiUt,uu
has cmiunigl from tho same source In regard tu
the Red Shirts Hnd IL IL was WRONG tl have one or
two regiments Of soldiers distributed IN the South
over mn arH Of SNnI square miles, although vested
Win the authority OF the General GDyCrumunl was
II lesser wrong tn have similar number Of Rcd
shirts acting ns uuNiliRrlCs Of the DumuCrHC party
cpngrrgacl-tO say nothing nf their HctS-wher-
ever there was to he II Republican meeting. and
not shaving vCstigrOf uutlnriIy Ulhrr than hatred
of Yankees which seem, to hc an authority for any
act IN that section, huNcNcr unlawful such act
might be elsewhere
With these faci. patent to all who will take tho
trouble Ia invest gate for themselves eau we, i'm
tho light Of the definition Of Mr. Webster call the
south solid Can thusc acts, which In conformity
with reason, are wrong In principle aud COnsc.
qucntly wrunv Ia conception aud wrong IN eNccI.
ton and which pcTmeate the south 10 day, 10
called solid?
When, throughout the length aud breadth Of our
land freedom OF thought and speech freedom To
exercise the elective franchise according 10 the
dictates of ones conscience, when "thC self evident
truth thnt all mcu are created equal! that they
endowed 10y their creator with certain unnllenHhlg
rights that among these are life liberty, aud tho
pursuit. Of happiness shall he Acknowledged or in
other words, when love of country und of those
principles represented by that starry dCckCd gem
for which sU many have laid down their lives
shall pCrygde all hearts then. and not ill then
can the Rppcutun solid be applied. and that moi
to Il section, but to our whole county.
SOLID.