The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-20
p J !. of parties.

be truly said OF the two 81 eat political par
ties into which for q quarter OF century
the country has been divided. Since the
war party organizations and contests nave
settled no principles, nor Quoted anlmosi-
ties between the lately beliigerent sections.
Hopefully. however, there is growing de-
sire for unification Of sentiment, as well as
OF territory. EXacerbations OF feelinS ana
sectional strife are distasteful to patriotic
and thoughtful men, both North and South.
The true men OF the South, who constitute
q large majority, are tired OF strife and
alienation, OF ostracism and distrust. They
have accepted the issues OF the war in their
full logical import, and wish to labor, in CO.
operation with good men elsewhere, forthe
prosperity of the whole country, for the de-
yelopment OF material interests, for the pre-
seryation Of republican institutions, for the
maintenance of national honor, and for the
Derpetuitv OF the Constitution and the
Union. Letting the dead past bury the
dead, regarding their Confederacy efforts rs
q disastrous failure, they coVeta restoration
OF fraternity, and desire to look upon the
country and its flag with the same affection
and reverence rs 10 former years. They do
not wish their children to grow up as the
Irish OF the land, cherishing suspicion and
dislovalty toward the Government, but pre-
fer they should feel the old Roman amorpa
trig-the quick pride that resents national
insult as Il personal wrong.
Thousands ut the North reciprocate these
feelings. Soon after our bloody conflict
many of our late antagonists, NStrustful OF
professions of love Of country and desire
for restoration Of peace, demanded some
assurances and proofs OF pacific Intention.
Grating rs this was to our sensitive honor,
Confederates should remember that the re-
quirement was not unnatural. By eXem-
plary, conduct, by constitutional guarantees,
by votes for northern men, for abolition
leaders, by numerous proofs, the southern
people have demonstrated their purpose to
adhere to the Union and make tue Govern
ment as good as possible. 1t is creditable
to the northern heart that so many accept
these protestations and proofs, and are
willing to strike hands in friendship and let
bygoneS be bygones.
This reconciliation of feeling has been
greatly promoted by the wise and concilia-
tory policy of the President. Instead OF
treating the southern people with distrust,
he has declared his confidence in their legal
and patriotic purposes. They respond gen
erousy to his trust, and he has won them
by his iranknesS and kindness. Venture
the assertion that since General Jackson's
time no President has been more popular at
the South. An era OF good feeling is hap
PLY dawning upon the country.
All the distinctive vital issues that called
the Republican party into being and kept
up a compact organization have been set
tied. Not one single question connected
with slavery or the war survives as queS-
ton OF party difference. In 1872 there was
a strong protest against the perpetuation OF
obsolete issues, when such men as Evarts,
Schurz, and others, gave their support to
Greeley.
A comparison of the platforms OF the con-
ventions at Cincinnati and st. Louis, when
stripped OF electioueering clap-trap and the
stump speeches injected into them, will not
disclose any substantial differences. To
belong to the Democratic or to the Repub-
lican party does not suggest such antago-
nism Of opinion as to justify the keeping up
of these hostile organizations. On the
tariff, currency, cipil-seryice reform. in
ternal Improvement, and debt questions
party lines are not drawn. To be a men,
Der OF either party does not raise a pre-
sumption rs to opinions on these and other
measures Of practical legislation. TO diff
ferentiate the two parties is an impossi-
biIity, and caucuses are held in Washing
ton in which Democrat and Republican are
Gin hand glove" Why keep alive organ-
izations which have ceased to be political,
or to mark broad and well-defincd differ
ences? Mere personal parties are baneful.
Organizations vitaizcd by principles are
essential TO a republic. Those who con-
cur on great questions OF principles may
we'll combine for putting principles or pol
icy into practice; but mischieyous are these
wranglings when, on the character Of the
Government, the construction OF the Con-
stitution, finance, bouhties, or questions of
foreign or domestic concern, the two par
ties in their membership are not distin-
guishable. AS existing parties do not re-
present any distinctive and separating
living issues they had better die. Possibly
it would be we'll If for decade We could
have lull in national politics, so as to allow
local elections to be determined by other
than Federal issues, and to afford q needed
opportunity for looking after home affairs.
Ii, as seems certain. national parties are
not. to be temporarily intermltted, they
should be formed upon practical and living
issues. It is very desirable that there should
not be sectional parties. Geographical di-
visions, even when there were geographic
cal questions, generated and intensified
personal and local bitternesSes. BetwiXt
North and South there are now no Sec
tional political differences, and there is
no just ground for sectional feelings and
tendencies. In our political and party yo-
cabulary thcre is no more need for North
and South than for East and West. The
late Sc solid South - is easily accounted for.
Under the old party prejudices and issues
The South is irreyersibly Democratic. rms
adherence to the Democratic party grew
chiefly out Of two causes: l. me South
was oppressed and crushed by alien rule
Sy CARPET -baggers, manipulating the colored
vote: and these foreign mercenaries were
sustained by Congress and military authori-
". The party which sustained such tyranny
,rraved against it, in unbroken phalanX,
he white vote, representing the property
md intelligence of the section. Time and
he craftsmanship OF the President have re-
moved this consolidating influence. 2. The |
Radical party at the South is composed al |
most exclusively-the exceptions only |
the truth-of carpet-baggers |
and negroes. These carpet-baggers are |
men who came not. as permanent |
citizens, ato identify themselves with |
our people; but as vagrant Adventures, to /
lespoil and grow fat, and then to fly away
With their ill-gotten gains. This party has
been regarded as the southern wing OF the
party, and the South knows
he Republican party only through its ally |
md pensioner. 1t were as easy to turn
back the Mississippi as to induce southern
people to act in party fraternity with the
Radicals in their midst. The Republicans I
II the North, il they aspire to nationality
nd desire southern support, cannot too
oon nor too emphaticaly disown the vii
;}ipias of their southern ailies -