The Portland daily press., 1879-11-27
THE SOUTHERN SITUATION.
Views of g. Southern Republican
Editor.
NO SHOW FOR AN INDEPENDENT
MOVEMENT.

WARRINGTON. Nov. 26.-Mr. William Rule,
the editor and proprietor of the only Daily Re-
publican newspaper south of the ONO river,
has been spending few days here, ana talhs
very freely of the political situation IN the
South. He differs very materially from tne
enthusiasts who insist that a break III the SOM
South is imminent, and that the results ol ehe
fall elections indicate the ultimate dlsSoIutlon
of the Bourbon Democratic party III the Sou.n'
Mr. Rule sends warning word TO tne Nortn-
eru Republicans, telling them not TO be deceiV-
ed by gush and advising them to stand Dy
their colors and keep the lines In perfect order
until after the Presidential election OF next
wear. Then it might be that, If the Republl-
cans should be successful, the control of sue
ceeding Congress should pass into the hands OF
the North and the Republicans, as a conSe-
auence of reappointment under the next CEN
sus, an independent movement III the South
would be successful. But until after the re-
suits of next year are known there is no earth
ly prospect of such disqualification among the
Bourbons of the solid South as will contribute
in any way to the success OF the Republican
national party i'll the Presidential campaign In
the course of an informal talk with this South
ern Republican editor he gave expression to
the following views
The talk of Alexander Stephens ana OF ".
FELTON,, and all that class OF men, is simply
sensatonaism, so far as comfort to Republl-
canism is concerned. 1t is only protest OF
discontentment on the part of some OF the
Southern Democrats at the Bourbon ring man
agement which controls politics IN the South
IL is to some extent protest of the ms against
the outs, and it is also the echo of the clanor
raised by the ten thousand aspirants for office.
Bob Toombs, with his cry OF death to the
Union represents really more Southerners at
heart than DR.. FELTON, does with his protest
against Bourbon rule. Take DE-. FELTON, HIM
self, and Spear of Georgia, and Alexander
Stephens, who now talk SO much about
independents. They have acted i'll Congress
with the most pronounced of the ultra Bour-
bous; have attended Democratic caucuses, and
have Joined in all this sensational hue and cry
against Republicanisn. 1t undoubtedly is true
that there is large class OF people In the
South who would welcome the disntegratlon
of the party of the sold South This class is
| composed of business men and OF the better
element of the people generally, but 1t is not
strong enough to give practical direction TO IT'S
sentiments. These people are lost Ill the great
mass. which is controlled absolutely by the
iron rule OF the ring managers There is no
prospect of any combined effort which Will be
| strong enough to overcome these managers OF
the ring until after the Presidential election
and the results of the next census. There
might be chance for Republican success in
the States of South Carolina, Florida and
Louisiana in the Presidential yearT chances
are worth fighting for. Northern Republican
speakers ought to go there and make desper-
ate effort. But the prospect OF a fair election
and fair count in any OF these States would be
very dubious, and the hopes that Gen. Grant
or any Northern leader could receive the cleo
toral vote of Southern State are certainly not
cherished by those who best know the South.
Gen. Grant is popular in the South to be sure.
but if he ran he would run as a Republican
candidate, and might not, perhaps, be able to
do anything that any other Repubhcan nom
| inee could not do