Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-10

SeHdtor- Words Of Warming
AGAINST Sectional STye.
Special Dispatch to tho Post
JEFFERSON Cry. March 2i.--General
James Shields, the retiring Missouri
senator, an his return home To day, was
rendered one OF the grandcst ovations
the c,pital of the state has ever wit.
no ,sed. Both houses OF the Legislature
adjourned to do honor to the old hero,
and the state officials and many promi
nent persons from st. Louis and other
portions of the state participated in the
demonstration. After the enthusiastic
formal reception was over, and fitting
speeches of welcome made, Gen. Shields,
in reply, referred TO his recent senate.
rial career. aud said the same irrepres
sble conflict confronted him IA in the
days of yore, and the sectional contest
between the North and South appeared
to him as fierce as ever. Against this
un.American policy he protested. The
North and South must go up together
or down together. Providence ha-
bound them together by ch tins forged
by nature, which are as hard a. adj,
mant and as strong as iron. IT, IN all
excess OF madness, this people ever
break these chains, they will all 20
down together. North and South, East
and West, will all sink down together
to the dead level OF the other uuiortu.
nate republics of this continent. But
there are political leaders who tell IL
that one of the causes of this sectional
struggle is "Solid South" 1t ought
not to be forgotten, however that the
South has been compelled by circum
stances to become solid in sell.de'ensc
that the Southern people considered IL
their duty TO unite to save themselves
and their families from what they re-
garded AS moral, social and political
degradation. Then there are states.
men, and able statesmen, too, who look
upon the solid South as something hon.
orable at this time to American chRrac.
ter. They think 1t demonstrates to the
world that the grand old American
spirit still lives amongst the American
people. They say that the spirit Uf
l776, which united the thirteen colonies
into a solid America against the threat.
eued injustice OF England, is the spirit
OF 1879 which unites the Southern
states into solid South against threat.
ened injustice from any quarter. -
long as this spirit lives amongst our
people so long will wc BE- able to pre-
sent solid America against all cnemic.,
and n solid America, if true TO itself,
will be always able TO bid defiance TO
the combined powers of hostile world.
But to my notion Southern human
nature is the same in all respects a.
Northern human nature. Insult and
injury produce alienation and di.con-
tent, while kindness and confidence in
sure 1nciliation and goodwill. Would
it not be well, therefore, to hazard the
experiment OF treating the Southern
people, for some time at least, with
kindness and confidence, and with that
which is due even 10 the South--Com.
mon justice! The result, in my opiu-
ion, would fully justify the experiment.
a historical incident occurs To me at
this time, which will illustrate what !
mean in recommending this policy. In
1899 Napoleon BouaI Iarte was chosen
First Consul of the French Republic.
Soon after his appointment he called
his couuselors together and Informed
them, in his frank and fearless way,
that France had to prepare to make
head against q coalition Of all the great
powers OF Europe. "To fight all Europe
successfully" said he, the complete
paciiicatiou of the province of La Ven.
dee is absolutely necessary. Gentlemen.
what course ought this government
pursue to effect the paciiication Of that
province ?" "Pacify IL Vendee :" an.
swered his counselor; "that is a task
which is simply impossible"
"La Nendee cannot he conciliatei.
The people are incorrigible rebels, aud
they will seize upon the first opportuni.
ty to aid in overlhrowing the republican
government. We have no alternative
left but to crush them. This govern.
ment will be compelled to destroy Ia
Vendee in order to save the French
Republic
al hopenot," said Napoleon. "France
needs all her sons, and | will not be the
man TO destroy the children OF France.
shall try an experiment upon these
Vendees and will have TO change my
estimate of human nature If IL does no;
prove successful. | shall send for the
Vendean leaders and meet them alone
in the Bois de B)ulogue, and couciliate
them by doing them and their people
complete justice"
heet tnese TeDets alone IN tHHt tOT-
est :" said his counselors. THE traitor.
will assassinate you"
NO." said Napoleon, "there is no
fear of that. Men who fight for a con-
viction, however erroneous it may be,
are not assassins."
lie sent a safe conduct to the Ven
dean chiefs. lie met them alone in the
Boulogne forest. lie told them frankly
what he had told his counselors before
that France had to prepare to battle
against combined Europe, and that the
reconcilement Of the people Of La Ven
dee was absolutely necessary To enable
her TO encounter the coming storm.
"I might be able" said be, to destroy
that province, but | cannot reconcile
its people to a republic. You can, how.
ever. You are the natural Leaders oI
the people. You can aid France and
save your native province. There Is a
pledge under the seal Of state that you
H.. Inf a., III