Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23
Southern COngreAsmen vs.. the Southern
Press.

The New York Times devotes leading ed
itorial to a careful consideration of the peril
nent enquiry as to whether we are to accept
the Southern press, or the main body of
Southern Congressman. ms giving the more
correct expression of the predominant feel
ing among the Southern people. For be-
tween the South as seen at Washington and
the South as seen through its newspapers,
there is a marked Misunderstanding, of
course, with exclusive reference to the parti-
san matters uppermost in Congress and to the
possibilities presented by Democrats in both
houses. So far as these are concerned, the
press appears to SO much better advantage
than the politicians that II may be necessary
to modify the judgment passed upon the
South on the basis of the speeches and tao
tics which have received the approval of
Southern Senators and members.
There are three or four trumpery sheets
printed in the South whose violent language
has made them infamous Mississippi has a
couple of this sort-without ability or char
acter or anything emitting them to notice.
Their rawlings have been quoted i'll the de-
bates as evidence of Southern opinion. No
sane man would propose to hold Northern
State responsible for the trash printed in
some of its Greenback papers and it were
Just as unfair TO make the South accountable
for the stuff printed at Meridian or Okolona.
If we were TO take the newspapers of a Sec
ton as the gauge by which we may estimate
the tendencies of opinion, we must adhere TO
the safe rule by which We should desire the
Northern press to be judged, considering it
as a key TO Northern opinion. Thus tested,
the general result casts doubt upon the rep
resentative fidelity of the Southern majority
in Congress they may represent the profess
sional politicians of the South, but certainly
they do not represent its reputable and inlu-
entail newspapers. The contrast is refresh
ing While the politicians are vehement and
threatening, the journals are temperate and
conciliatory. Instead of the wild talk which
circulates in Washington, we have calm pro-
tests against extreme tactics, and sharp criti-
cism of the laundering which led the Demo-
cratic party into its present dilemma. Such
nonsense as that which Senators and men,
bers employ to indicate the possible use of
the power of the majority meets with no IA
NOI huOuB the SbltOIb luey SCOUT lut luth
of stopping the supplies, and deprecate as
dangerous the obstructive suggestions of the
stalwart Democrats In a word, (says the
Tines the Southern press, SO far as we have
been able to follow its discussion of the prac-
tical questions raised by the vetoes, is far re-
moved from the Southeners in Congress
it is moderate and withal sensible in its inter
nratatinn nf the sifuatiOn
Not that the general political complexion of
the Southern press has undergone any change,
Its democracy is positive and universal. But
its conductors are evidently in advance of the
party in Congress as regards the policy to be
adopted in the present juncture. They de-
clare that the extreme measures advocated at
Washington are not sustained by Southern
sentiment. They insist that Southern inter
ests require the repression of violent coun-
sells and the cultivation of an alliance with
Northern conservatism. They urge that
nothing be done that can encourage sectional
agitation or otherwise antagonize the South
to Northern opinion. They ask why, if the
Democratic party were only intent upon
making record, it could not have waited
until December and why it listens to plans
that would render its overthrow inevitable
In connection with all this there is, neeessa-
riiy, much that would justify Northern criti-