New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-17

are n great many people at the North whom
it is difficult TO convince that man VINO
talks in the way he did, in newspaper that
has subscribers and readers. represents no.
body but himself. They are not disposed 10
magnify the importance OF 1t, ana no
one has undertaken to " fire the Northern
heart with it. 1t was looked upon
rather as an amusing ontburst OF
very sincere and very glowing ana
rapturous enthusiasm over what is actually
looked upon 10y the Democrats OF the South
az the capture of the Capitol by the Con-
federacy. THE TRIBUNE, and, so far as
we can Judge, other Republican newspapers
which published the rhapsody, gave 1t
| circulation partly az literary curl
osity and partly as illustrating South
ern Democratic sentiment. Our purpose
was not to excite anybody's indigna-
ton, but simply to show the people who
assisted in putting down the rebelliOus con-
spiracy called a COnfederacy, what construc-
ton the defeated party in the war put upon
Democratic success. And we did this in order
that there might be intelligent voting here
after
But our Democratic friends in Congress and
| in the press made haste TO disOwn the Oko-
Iona editor-apparentl much to that PERSONS
surprise. They would have us believe that
his sentiments find no echo in the breast
of the Southern Democracy. 1t may be
| so. But here comes another Democratic
paper The Times, published in Portsmouth,
| Virginia, which we presume has circulation
and readers and some influence, and
must stand for something besides in
coherent raving; and we published an
extract from it yesterday of precisely SINH
lar import to shat from the Mississippi
paper This paper speaks of " the grand
and amazing upheaval Of affairs which has
resulted in placing the Southern people in
" triumph In the chief places Of the National
Government" language which differs little
from that in which the Mississippi enthusiast
| spoke of the capture OF the Capitol
and with a compacency which can
not fail TO excite admiration, gives as
the "real reason" for it, "the grand
superiority of the Southern race" Then
this writer, too, breaks into panegeylc.
Never were such people seen under the
sum- he says; so grand, so steadfast
$50 faithful and true; so full OF sublime
"patience, so quiet under unmerittd OPP
"pressions so generous, so brave, so
full of all forttude, temperate wisdom
land exquisite knowledge how to act
"An these qualities, combined with that
wonderful Tecuperative faculty winch
"is so emlnently a Southern characteristic,
have produced their natural result, so that
"now the precedence and power of the South
" in Congress is like any other established
"fact" Now we take it that this person is
not talking entirely at random, but that he
represents some sort of local public sentiment
1t is, to be sure, a provincial view of affairs,
but it is the sort of provincialism that pre-
walls so largely throughout the South
that we shall not he far out of the way In
describing it as the predominant sentiment.
With amusing candor this writer gives free
and exubeant expression to the popular be-
lief OF Southern Democrats in the grand
"supcriority of the Southern race" ConsId-
eratons of policy, or perhaps in some cases
sense Of modesty, may hinder others from
such candid utterances, but it is nevertheless
the prevailing belief.
The people of the North-not TO say the
Northern Grace n-withOut taking offence ut
this assumption of superiority, which is after
all a mere matter of opinion, are not disposed
to admit it. They have not seen in the his
tory of what the Virginia writer calls " the
Southern race any such signs Of superior
ity Not in the system of labor which they
str0ve so long, and in the end unsUcceSsfully,
to maintain not in the development of ma
telal resources; not in the direction of
literature and the arts and sciences not
in the spread of intelligence and the diffusion
of broad and diversified culture; not in COM
mercial and industrial progress not in their
contributions to the science of political econ
omy, nor IN the practical results OF their OK
perimcnts in finance; not in their philosOphic
temper, nor their calm patience, nor Their
sagaclous forecast; not in their construc-
tive craftsmanship, their clear diplomacy,
nor even in their military prowess on
land and sea, do the people of the North
discern the signs of this boosted superior
itv. They do see that what is called " the
Southern race" has and exercises a certain SUI
perionty in the Democratic party, of which it
Is the chief Ingredient They may lord it over
that party, rs they always have, to their
hearts content. They did it always before the
war. But that party isn't the country, by
any means. The war should at least have
convinced them Of that. No, the Virginia
editor and his constituents are mistaken as to
the cause Of the grand and amazing up
"heaval' 1t Is due TO the fact that Northern
voters who helped put down the rebellion
were moved by appeals to their sympathies
for the oppressed Southern people" to vote
the Democratic ticket in sufficient numbers to
give that party both branches Of Congress.
Now that they understand the effect
of their votes they are coming back to the
Republican party. They feel just as friendly
as ever to the Southern people. but they are
not now cecting Southern Democrats to rule
over them because of their being "a superior