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

|
manner, and received great attention from
men who have since been most conspicuous
| in the conduct of affairs III the South. Ii was
| entitled, Concession, or How the LOST cause
"Mav he Regainedn Some passages in this
remarkable pamphlet deserve particular atten-
ton mt this time. It's authorship is not posi-
lively known. 1t has been attributed to Mr..
Stephens, and to some other prominent men
of that section but it is of the less cOnse-
quence from whose pen it came, inasmuch as
subsequent events have shown that 1t expressed
very accurately the purposes OF millions OF
people. Its ruling idea is that permanent
union of the North and South is impossible.
1t says:
what have VIC in common with the people Of the
North except a common language Nothing. iG Is as
foolish and untrue to speak of the people OF the North
and South as being Nation 1t would be to insist
that the English peoples are one with us for the
same reason The warm-bearted, whole-souled,
chivalrc Of the Sunny Sonth 10 no more Ike the
cold-hearted. calculating, purtanlcal Iankee' than
Hollander Is like freshman. We OF the South are a
Nation, and people distinct from the North We are
moved by different impulses. were reared under di-
ferent institutions, have different theory OF govern
ment, and marching forward 30 different and far
more glorious destiny. We, the people of the
Souih are "A Nation different and distinct from the peo-
pie Of the North and effort TO bind IA together by
force can succeed. Such union tc hui temporary,
and while it can have durab y it must as conse-
quence being unnatural and unjust, be injurious and
dangerous to both sections
These being the rudimental beliefs Of the
writer, he proceeds to advise his counirymen
as to the best mode OF attaining the desired
independence. Subserviency to Northern De-
mOcracy he rebukes. Formal resistance to the
party in power, on questions OF National poll
ties, ne deems unwise His advice is epitO-
mized in the following sentences
Concentrate all your energies aud attention upon
your own domestic political affairs Firmly and With
out faltering perseycre n your purpose until the last
state in tine South Is emaucipated from RidIcal rule
Use the powers yet lett you, end by pcaceab!e' yet
irresistible mea urcs seize upon the several state gov
ernmcuts, ana then unite and demand your riGs Inc
appeal viii not be in VAIN Permit me more IN
detail TO point out the mode in which tho lost cause
may be Icgained.
First Overturn by peaceablc means The Radical
State administrations, ana elect in every Southern
STATE Southern men Office, from the chief executive
ana legislature down to the lowest official.
Second-When this is done, cal Convention OF the
States elect a President for proposed Southern Con-
fedcracy, who is only TO be naugurated when the
independence Of the South is acknowledged.
TAiyT-AppOnt suitable commission 20 proceed 10
70
delce ana treat for peaceable separation.
Most faithfully and persstently the dOmi-
nant faction at the South has pursued the
course here marked out. Concession has been
the rule. If the South had any desire 1t was
for reconciliation" 1t could be recon
"ciled,r however. only by the choice of per-
sons active in the rebellion TO all Offices IN all
the Southern States. Clearly, the Southern
Democrats have concentrated all their en-
"ergIes and attention upon their domestic
political Affairs and they have "gone on
"without faltering, perseyerlnS III their pur-
"pOse until the last State in the South has
"been emancipatGd from Radical rule" Had
the people understood the end a little better.
perhaps there would have been less use OF
whips and shotguns, of rifles and tissue-bal-
lots. But the end was to be reached, no mat
ter what the cost. And one look southwark
shows that it has been reached-One step ex-
cepted The President is not yet Demo
crat and a tool Of the Solid South.
Hence, leading men of the South still advise
the policy of concession and cOncealment.
If hot-heads atany time begin TO talk too loudly
they are warned to wait until after the Pres
idential election. Why Because, if another
commission is to be sent to Washington to
demand the separation of the States, 1t will
be necessary to have in the Executive chair
man in sympathy with the Southern pur-
pose. When that time comes, a man of 10y
atty to the Constitution, or fidelity to his
oath of Office, must treat every step toward
separation of the States as an act of disloy-
atty. On the other hand, if the Solid South
can take possession of the White House and
retain its control of the House of Represen-
tatives and of the Senate, what is to hinder
the passage of an act cOnsenting on the part
of the Omitted States to that separation which
the South tried i'll VAN to effect by arms in
1861
Several things are to be done meanwhile it
is evident. The Southern people would like
meanwhile to have II large proportion OF pub
lie money expended for their advantage. They
would like to have leYees rebuilt. railroads
aud canals constructed, public buildings erected
and harbors improved. They would like to
have claims paid by the Government of the
United States, if possible, before they destroy
that Government, no matter how large the
debt which may thus be- fastened upon the
Union. The writer Of the pamphlet Of 1871
clearly explains his feelings and that of NIL
lions at the South in single sentence:
The south should be released from all participation
in tho payment Of the Northern war debt for 6rare
peolc ,eH rev,r consent 10 pay cent of debt contracted
10 furnish ne n.eans 10 er.ldrs them.
At this point it may be well to inquire
whether the people Of the North are expected
to help forward this plan 10y the continued
election of Democratic majOrtles IN Congress,
and by the election of "a Democratic Presi
dentf If they do, will it be strange if the
Solid South first sQueezes the Union as
thoroughly as it can, and then throws away
the empty skin 7 VIII it be strange in that
case if the South refuses TO pay any part of