Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-08


New York Herald (edltoriaD: eve pro-
pose to show to our southern readers why
the northern voters may, with good reason
and without any ungenerous thought toward
them, refuse to place the Federal power in
the hands of the Democratic party while 1t
has for its ally the So called solid SOUTH
And we preface what we have to say on this
head With the remark that the Republican
pretenss that the solid south is as such, and
necessarily, peril to the country, which
all patriotic men IN the north should unite
to resist, IS nonsense. When the south was
solidly Republican, some years ago, it did
not occur to the tl&epublican politicians
that its soliditg involved peril to the country.
Only now that it is solidly Democratic they
are hOrror-struck and anxious about our lib
critics and the Union. If it should become
sOldly Republican tomorrow, we should
hear no more from that party about IT'S dan
gerous intentions; but we dare say in that
case the Democrats would very quickly take
up the Republican cry, and Mr.. Thurman
would initiate, as well as he could, Mr..
blaine's lively and irritating attacks along
the southern line. All this talk about dan
gers to the Union, or to liberty, or to equal
rights or what net, from the solidity of the
south, is mere partisan twaddle. 1t has been,
time cut OF mind, the sincere belief OF the
more enthusiastic and less discriminating
members OF each political party, not only IN
the United States, but In all free countries,
that the ascendancy OF the other party would
bring the country to ruin; and while
Democrats will presently destroy the
country, many Democrats just as sim
cer9ly believe that longer continuation OF
Republican rule would plunge US all into
chaos. The plain fact, however, Is that
neither party's asceadancy will hurt the
"A = inst tutio Of N
fragile nature that they depended for their
security upon the continued care of only one
of the two great parties, and must be shIv-
cred by the handling of the other, they would
be already, as all sensible men comprehend,
past saving. The Republican view of the
solid south is, therefore, as we have often
pointed out, mere foolish and, in some
respects, mischievous party fable. The south
is an integral part of the Union; the people
Of the south are the fellow-citizens of the
northern people; We all 1--we under
the Same flag, AID obey the same laws; and
the Republi IAN cutlery against the solid
south is mischieyous, becau e it spreads
alarm IN che section about the motives and
purposes Of the other-an alarm for which
thete is no ground at all. The real reason
why the country should not, and We believe
will not, trust the Democrats and the solid
south with the Federal power is quite differ
ent. 1t lies not In the motives or purposes
Of the south, but ia the subservleney OF the
southern politicians to the worst element of
the northern Democratic party. 1t is not be-
cause the south rules, but because 1t does not
rule and override the northern Democrats,
that the north may justly condemn 1t and re-
fuse to trust it with power. The south has
clear majority OF tbs Democrats in both
houses In the present congress; It had the
same in the last congress. It had, therefore,
the undoubted power to rule the party, to
make the policy which the party should pur-
sue. The southern members and senators had
and have the numerical strength to control
the northern members and senator's; to reject
their policies if these seemed unwIse; to pre-
scribe better policies and carry them into
effect. This Is so true that In Washington
DO southern man pretends to deny it or re-
fuses to confess openly that the solid south
unwilliDgly followed the commands of the
extreme wing of the northern Democrats,
protesting at every step, but following never
tneless. 1t is because the south is thus sub
servient and obedient; because 1t has made
and continues Co make itself merely tool in
the hands of northern demagogues; because
it is willing to be used for purposes and
policies which are repugnant to 1t, and which
Justly alarm and disgust the country and
keep it In turmoil and uneasiness, and
which yet could not for a moment
become prominent or troublesome with
out the help of the south-lt is for
this reason that the great mass Of
thoughtful and sensible voters In the north
have, during the last miserable three months,
( slowly come to the conclusion that the solid
| south ought not to be trusted or even sympa-
! thizsd with. We ask southern men to reflect
| a little, and decide for themselves whether
! they have not given sufficient reason for this
| feeling? There is abundant proof that while
! the southern representatives and senators
were not unanimous, yet by far the greater
number OF them, and all their men OF inlu-
ence and Character, were from the first OPP
| posed to the scheme OF an extra session
! were, when congress met IN March, opposed
| to putting political riders on appropriation
bills ana to the threats of coercing the execu-
| tive, and that, in fact, every step of the last
three months folly has been taken against the
protests of the greater number of southern
men. But they have only protested; they have
meakly followed the lead and obeyed the
commands of the northern extremists, and
they have done this when they could have
stopped it all, at any moment, and had the
support Of the best element of the northern
| Democratic party IN doing 80. In our judg-
ment there is no adequate excuse for thu,
course OF the south; it is a blunder which ha!
! lost them the confidence of their sinceres
! friends in the north. Northern men say, auC
| say justly-the solid south makes up the ma.
joruy OF the Democratic party. We have en-
tire confidence IN men like Lamar Gordon
or like Atkins, Blount, Gibson, ouug, Eel
ton, Soeer, or Wells; we grant they arr
patriotic, honest, able, capable. But We
see In the northern Democratic party
two elements contending for predomt
nance; he one conservative, instructed
| wise and trustworthy; the other ignorant
| reckless, turbulent and urscrupulous-
such elements as there are in the Republican
party as well, and in all parties; but we SCI
the solid south deliberately and continual,
lending its support, no matter how unwill
ingly, to the worst element OF the party, anl
so seeing, We cannot trust it or support it, O
give our vote toward placing greater powe
10 its hands. 1t is no answer to say that TIT
Republican abuse OF the south has made AM
kept IL solIdly Democratic. That is tru
enough; but it does not bear on our com
plant. 1t Is, we believe, a mistake for tn
southern people that they have not divide,
into two parties; but it is a still graver blum
der, one fatal to their hopes In many respects
that choosing to remain sohdly Democratic
they have then allied themselves not with tn
best, but with the worst element of tina
party. This is to condemn them
selves in the eyes of all sensi
bic and patriotic northern men, n
matter to what party these may lean. Fo
such men say to the south, 1T you choose t
exercise your political power IN q mass yo
are bound to show the utmost good sense an
patriotism, and to ally yourselves only witt
the soberest and wlsest men In tue north
BE solid if you like, but so being, you mus
be exceptionally wise, else you compel us t
unite against you; because by massing you
votes you become formidable, either for goo
or bad, and as you have chosen weakly t
follow and support the bad you condem
yourselves and force US to deny you the con
idence you ask That is why the solid sout
Is a political bunder OF the gravest kind, an
we hope the southern people will bear it i
mind"