The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-29
The True Policy of the South,


The Washington correspondent of the
Alexandria Gazette, of last week, has the
following paragraph
"The break in the line on the Appropri-
alton bills, it is now said, will be made at
the first opportunity, South Carolina, as in
1860, being the bell weather, her senators
and representatives alike joining the move
ment, with the certainty of being followed
by a sufficient number of Democrats from
other portions Of the South to secure the
passage OF both the Appropriation bills
without the political riders, thus showing
that the extra session was unnecessary and a
fiasco. One of the reasons ascrbed for such
course is the suppositious one that if the
army should be disbanded Mr.. Zach Chan
dler and the radicals of that ilk having in
stigated the hostile. Indians to massacre the
frontier people, would attribute that massa-
ere to the Democrats for withholding the
necessary supplies, and thereby raise such a
Juror of indignation against them that they
would be swept out of power at the first
opportunity, and radicalism again be ena-
bled to fill the places it has so lately vacat-
ed. Several Of the Georgia members, Mr..
Stephens among the number, are in favor
Of furnishing the necessary supplies, and
there is no doubt that Democratic spirits
are sadly depressed, for the wisest men
among the party see little to hope for. They
know that defeat now presages defeat in
1880, but are utterly powerless to prevent
what they almost deem to be the inevitable
at present."
OF course the allusion to Mr.. Chandler is
purely partizan spite and prejudice, with
no color of truth to warrant it. The fact
as to the Generalization of the Democracy
actually exists, and there is no reason to
question the accuracy Of the surmise that a
break in the column will soon be recorded.
The truth is, Congress will not dare to adj
iourn without voting the necessary supplies
for the support of government in all its de.
partments. The reckless folly which has
gotten the Democrats into their present pit
liable position must produce its frlits-a
square back down from the revolutionary
attitude they have assumed. The South
cannot afford to shoulder the responsibility
of Gripping the operations of either the
civil or military branches Of government
and the statement that the South Carolina
delegation will lead in the break is reasona-
BILE. The truth is, rejecting men from the
South begin to see that it will not do to fol
low the Northern Democrats. The South
has material interests to subserve-the
Northern Democrats nothing but partizar
schemes to encompass. They are not look
ing to the peace and progress Of the coun-
try, and especially of the Southern States.
They are seeking to use the South for their
own selfish purposes, and the recognition
Of this fact must sooner or later force it.
self upon the better and more intelligent
class of Southern representatives. While
protesting to be the allies of the Southern
Democracy, the policy of the Northern
Democrats can result no otherwise than tc
the injury Of Southern interests. Sectional
issues are sprung and sectional feeling in
famed, through the instigation of these
willy Northern politicians, to perpetuate
solid Democratic South, and in this lies the
greatest danger to Southern prosperity
Partizan devices are made paramount to
the business health and progress OF the
country, and the Southern representatives
selves to be thus deluded. The wealth, the
intelligence and the conservatism Of the
North are with the Republican party, and
it is those with whom natural and IA
tional alliance of the South should be made
Rejecting men must see this, and act upon
it before long. The South cannot afford to
be in constant agitation and turmoil to graf
ify a few greedy, selfish politicians. We
must seek such political utilization and CO
operation as will bring. to us the enterprise
and capital and sympathy Of those who cal
help us in our material development. Pc
litical association and organization based
entirely upon prejudice and distractions
has nothing in it to commend it to people
struggling to recover from the wastes OF
war and build up their commerce and trade,
and develop their material strength and
power. We must unite with those who can
help us while they are helping themselves:
and thus contribute to local and national
prosperity and power.