Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-01-31
Solid South and Solid North.

This is a government of ideas. When
the Tribune pointed out, many months
ago, that the worst enemies of the South
were those political leaders who were
trying to make the South solid, there
existed at the North a strong feeling of
kindness. Because the people of the
North wished to see the South fairly
trusted and fairly tried, troops were
withdrawn; Southern leaders like La
mar, Hampton, Gordon and Nichols
were taken at their word; every at
tempt to control elections at the South
by Federal interference was stopped,
and the duty of protecting every citi-
zen of that section in the exercise of
all his constitutional rights was def
nitely cast upon the Southern Demo-
Gratis, and by them as distinctly ac-
cepted. That was the situation when,
with no other feeling than one of good
will and kindness, the Tribune warned
the South that it had no longer, as a
section, any common interest which
was assailed or menaced, and therefore
could no longer, as a section, give its
solid support to the party which had
sympathized with the rebellion, except
from motives which would inevitably
arouse Solid North. Since that time
the South has become solid. The eX-
cuse given by Mr.. Lamar and others is
that. the South must unite because of a
"menace of Federal interference
Whatever Mr.. Lamar may think, the
people of the North know that the ex-
cuse is false; that there has been no such
menace, and that the solidity of the
In AanA,,1.x.I,-
two of the most influential journals of
the Northwest hold this language:
Now, If it be a fact that slavery is abolished; ;
If it be fact that there prevails among the
Southern people no wish to reinstate that bar
barrie institution, nor to revive any of its
methods; if it be fact that the Southerners
have honestly accepted the Northern free
policy, which is henceforth to be the policy Of
the Nation-then 1t is not a fact that they
have any longer, as a section, any common in
terest which stands in any possible danger Of
hurt from any menace of Federal interfer.
ence.n Then 1t is nonsense to assert that the
present "Solid South" manifestation is "re-
action against prescription attended by mis-
government - and no less nonsense to speak
no prescription of Northern civilization or
polity In the South by the national agency, or
by any other agency, unless 1t be a Southern
agency. There is no misgovernment of the
South by any agency, unless 1t be some Solid
Southn party machine Chicago Times.
II the Republican leaders are selfish and
narrow, the Southern leaders are infamous I'm
their selfshness and narrowness. While the
Radical Republican leaders do not want the
sectional question to drop out of politics,
while they do not want peace which would
leave them without a chance to appeal to
prejudice, the Southern leaders are deter
mined they shall not have peace. AS II is to
the interest of the Northern leaders to keep
up the sectional strife, II is equally to the sell
fish interest of the Southern leader that the
strife shall continue. The disposi-
tion of the people of the North to give the
South every constitutional right, asking only
in return the protection of the colored man in
his rights, has not been honestly met by the
Southern leaders. And because the Southern
leaders believe their hope Of "political trade'
lies in a solid South based on antagonism to
the dominant party of the North. II, IN their
efforts to keep a solid South, the Democratic
leaders have brought down upon their section
the adherence Of the Northern people, IL is
their own fault.-MiiWalttee Sentinel.
These observations are the more i'm
portant because the only Northern ele-
ment with which the South has shown
any disposition to unite is at the West,
and because the intensely Democratic
Times represents men without whose
aid it would be utterly impossible for
the Democratic party to carry any
Western State except Indiana. In re-
ply, the Louisville COurier-Jonrtidl as
serts that the leading Southern men
have said nothing imprudent or vicious
in Congress, but, "for the sake of Civ
ing the extremists of the North no
ground to go on, they have held their
peace" The people of the North are
aroused, not by Southern words, but by
Southern deeds. The fluent promises
and mild words of Hampton and But
Ter have not prevented cruel massacre
and wholesale fraud in South Carolina.
The soft speeches of Lamar and Mich
oils do not turn away wrath, when it is
seen that witnesses are assassinated in
Louisiana, in order to prevent testimony
in Federal Courts which might bring
law-breakers to justice. These are facts
which no amount of lying avails to
hide, and these deeds are plainly seen
to be the means by which solidity at
the South has been secured. But, says
the COurier-JOurndl:
The assumption on which the Republicans
base their continuous agitation being,
as we know, absolutely false, 1t has but one
effect, that OF iniuring the business OF the
South by the damage done 10 its reputation
and credit, a loss which, up TO this time, can
hardly be computed, and which the next twen-
ty-fve years will not suffice TO repair.
This is wild language for any journal