The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-12-04
0 QUE EXCHANGES.
WHY TIT SOUTH rs SOLID,
New York Sun.

The Southern States have been
kept united politically by the agrees
sive course, the gross injustice, and
the willful Misrepresentation of the
Republican managers, whose scheme
is to solidify by exciting sectional
prejudice, and thus prolong their
possession of power. 1t is a game
they are playing, and nothing but a
game. Take away this pressure and
ALLOW natural fuses to operate in
their own way, and it would be en-
|tirely beyond the power of the De
mocracy to hold the South together.
Even now on the eve of a Presiden-
tial election, there are elements at
work which threaten disintegration
in some of these States.
The Republican organization has
been kept alive since its mission was
ended by the use of the public pat
ronage and a sectional crusade
against the South. Its leaders are
now struggling with desperate ener-
gy to hold to the Treasury and to
the offices four years longer. They
will not scruple TO employ any
means, however violent, corrupt, or
dangerous, to retain this power. And
they have the whole machinery of
the government to operate with, a
creature of their own in the White
House ready to obey orders, and
John Sherman to manipulate the re-
turns, with the experience of 1875
to guide him. j.
Virginia was recently convulsed
by a bitter controversy between the
honest men of the State, willing to
pay her debt on a basis which the
Legislature had accepted, and a fac
tion of so called re-adjusters, who
proposed to repudidate this obliga-
ton and to repeal the law. The Re-
publicans made capital at the recent
elections in the North by charging
the Democrats with abandoning
their old hard money faith and
adopting strange gods to worship.
The main body of the Republicans
white and colored, voted for the re.
pudiator's ticket, and were thus en-.
abled, by going over to the anti-deh;
faction of Democrats, to carry a ma
jority of the Legislature.
Fortunately for the character Of
/ the State, the Governor of Virgins
, may be relied upon to veto any OBJ
noxious measure that the scalawas
combination may pass. But the dis
grace of an attempted violation o
; the contract will remain to damage
: the credit of the State, If not to con
/, sign it TO the dishonor which attach
es to Louisiana for a fragrant breach
of good faith.
Here is a cause of serious dissen.
. sion in Virginia. There are differ
, ent causes operating in North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mis-
: sissippi, Tennessee, and other South
!, ern States, which if freed from tn
artificial "solidity" produced by tn
assaults of the Republican manager
: would break loose from the trammel
of party, assert their independence
and vote on all other questions &C
s cording to their merits.
It is at least comforting to know
that after the next Presidential con
test there will be and a be no so
id South, a opposed to a solid North
The politics of the country must b
changed by natural laws, and there
3 after the country will divide in opin
. ion as to the best mode Of p%rotectini
the material interests connected wit
national growth and development
The census Of 1880 VII eliminat
sectional strife from the struggle TO
future ascendency.