Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-27
From the New York Tribune.
Northern Democrats and Southern
Claims.

OI0lUlS.
1t appears to General Bragg, democrat
ic member of Congress from Wisconsin,
that a solid and hungry South will be the
death of the democratic party. His opin-
ion, perhaps. was not altogether novel.
In fact it is safe to say that great many
other Northern democrats have had the
same idea. Mr.. Tilden had it when he
wrote q memorable letter about Southern
war claims, which cost him a great many
votes at the South. Other democrats, in
q more or less indirect or private way,
have limited that the South had better be
less solid, or less hungry, The fact that
every Southern democrat has his share in
the ever-lengthening roll of claims and
jobs, and that his constituents, like him,
are .'solid for democracy and an appropri-
ation." has made its impression upon the
Northern mind. But those who are most
disturbed about it have usually thought it
desirable to say nothing, and there is a
loud chorus Of indignation at present, be-
cause Mr.. Bragg "spoke out in meeting"
and uttered thoughts that have been burn
ing in many minds.
1t would be mistake to suppose that
the Northern democrat is governed by pat
riotism only in his objection to the chronic
hunger of Southern democracy. 1t was
well observed, during the last Presiden'
tial campaign, that "those Southern fel
lows could get all they want, if they would
only be quiet until after the election" of Q
democratic President. But the Northern
democrat is perfectly aware that Southern
claims, If granted, would bankrupt the
Treasury. and that the average democratic
voter at the South does not care whether
the Treasury is bankrnpted or not. He is al
so aware. being in daily intercourse with
Northern voters who are not strictly demo
cratic. but whose votes are absolutely nee.
essary to democratic success, that there il
= very strong impression among such
voters that the Solid South wants very
great deal, and means to get it by voting
solid for democracy. Hence the hesitat
ing or independent Northern voter halts
Democracy gets beaten in several North
ern States in Wisconsin, for instance
The Northern democrat wakes wroth
Like Mr.. Bragg, he frees his mind II
effect. he tells Southern democracy that it
hunger for claims, jobs and appropriation
is destroying the party again, precisely
as irrepressible hunger for more slave ter
ritory defeated the party before the war.
It is very true, Southern democracy il
hungry. And it is solid for that reason
But we ask the impatient Bragg to con
slider one question What conceivable rea
son has the South tor being democratic a
all, except that it is hungry? Demo
cratic principles ?" They are as stale ant
empty as a last years birds nest Slav
cry is dead. The great democratic
principle" that man has right to TAX,
his chattels into any territory Of the Unite'
States sounds as ancient as pas
sage from the hieroglyphs ofEgypt
The war is over; the Union is recon
structed the South has selfgovernment
by tissue-balloto or otherwise, ,tsgae ad nau
seam. As for the tariff, Speaker Randall
is at least as good proteetionist as Rep
resentatiye Garfield, and Mr.. Gibson fixe
his eye on sugar. and Mr.. Beck on hemp
asif they never had heard of Democrat
hostility to protection. Resumption
has really come, and the time is no
Ear OF when any democrat who canno
swear that he was always in favor Of re
sumption" viii be regarded as not an eli
gible candidate of the party. But the job
and claimss What chance has Souther
democracy for these. as long as there is
republican President or Senator VIII,
more natural than that jobbers at tn
S,uth and jobbers Of Tammany shout
strike hands ~ gF>tr e.f rlf
Mr.. Bragg strikes at the sole tie whic
connects hungry South with the demo
cratic party. He threatens, so to speal
toeust ~ unbilicai cord Of democracy
the South. No wonder that . ehorps