New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-24

II app,ars to General Bragg Democratic
member Of Congress from Wisconsin, that It
snlid AMI hungry South viii b. the death o.
IN, Democratic panty lis opinion, perhaps.
WAS not alf,gcii.r novel. In fact, it Is safe
to sag that great many other Northern
DemocratS have had the SINE idea. Nh III
den had il when he wrote Il memorable Letter
about southern war claims, winch cost him a
great many votes aC the south. Othcr Demo-
crafts. in a more or less indrccJ or prl-
vate wav. have limited that the South
had better DE lc.., solid, or less hungry. The
fact that every Southern Democrat las Ills
share in the cvcr-lcngthCning roll OF claims
and Jobs, and that his constituents, like flm are
"solld for Democracy and an appropriation
has made its impression upon the Northern
mind. Bat those who are most Disturbed
ah0ut II have usually thought II desirable to
say nothing, and there is il loud chorus OF
indignation at present, because Mr.. BldHg
"spokc out in meeting" and uttered thoughts
that have been burning in many minis.
Ii would be q mistake to suppose that the
Northern Democrat is governed by patriotism
only IN his objection to the chronic hunger OF
Southern Democracy. IL was wei observed,
during the last Presidential campaign, that
"tho.e Southern fellows could get all they
"want if they would only be quiet until alter
"the election" of Democratic President
Bnt the Northern Democrat Is perfectly aware
that Southern claims. ii granted, would bank
rupt the Treasury and that the average Demo-
cratic voter ut the South does not care whether
tie Treasury is bankrupted or not. lie Is
also aware, being III daily intercourse with
Northern voters who are not strictly Demo
cratic but whose votes are absolutely nee
cssary to Democratic success, that there Is
very strong impression among such voters
that the Solid South wants a very great
deal, and means to get it by voting solid
for Democracy. Hence the hcsitatlng or in
dependcnt Northern voter halts. Democracy
GETS beaten in several Northern States III Wis
consln. for instance. The Northern Democrat
wakes wrotlr. Like Mr.. Bragg he frees lis mind.
I'm effect he tells Southern Democracy that
its hunger for claims. jobs and appropriations
Is destroying the party aSdln, precisely ~ me-
irresistible hunger for more slave territory
defeated the party before the war.
1t is very true, southern Democracy is hun
cry. And 1t is sohd for that reason. But We
ask the impatient Bragg to consider one qres-
ton: What conceivable reason has the South
for being Democratic a. all. except THAI
il is hungry "DcmocratIe principles p
They are ~ stale aud empty as a
last years birds-nest. Slavery Is dead
The "grcat Democratic principlc' that
man has a night to take his chattrls
into any territory of the United State, sounds
AZ ancient as a passage from the hierogyphs
Iut,,
constructed the South has government,
by ballot or otherwise. TSqae at "oHse0'.
As for the tariff, Speaker Randall Is at least as
GOOD Pr0tectioniSt as Representative Garfield,
and Mr.. Gibson fixes his eye on sugar, and Mr..
Beck on hemp as If they never had heard of
any Democratic hostility to protection Re-
sumption has come, and the time Is not
far of when any Democrat who cannot swear
that he was "always in favor of resumption
will be regarded - not an eligible candi-
date of the party. But the jobs ana claims ]!
What chance has Southern Democracy for
these. as long as there il Il Republican Pres
jdcnt or Senate? What more natural than
that iobber, at the South and lobbcrS of Tam
many should strike hands
Mr.. Bragg strikes at the sole tie which con-
party. He threatens, 81 to speak, to cut the
mbiical cord Of Democracy at the South.
40 wonder a chorus OF Indignation
rises. If other Democrats at the North
were not more willing, more wise or more
rctccnt than he, the last great Democratic
"principlc - might completely vanish and the
marty itself break up in a grand row. When
ever the Southern Democracy becomes con-
WINGED that Democratic victory does not mean
paymrnt Of war claims, building of lcyces and
railroads. digging of canals, erection of pub
he buildings, improvement OF harbols multi
pIication of mail routes, and " due considera-
" ton " of the cotton tax and the value ct
euiranchscd slaves, then there will suddcnl'
be- no southern DemoOaoy.
NLU' fTPLO>IIFN
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