New-York tribune., 1879-02-01
N1TTR4L ALIIiNCI.

ton of the payment of Southern war claims,
is attracting the admiration OF several semi
Democratic newspapers, and occasionally OF a
pronounced Democratic organ at the North.
! These agree il saying that ne attitude of the
gentlemen named ought C. br held aS con
elusive of the whole matter, and that upon
the strength of it the country should accept it
rs a fact that the intelligence and patriotism
of the whole South, and consequently of the
National Democratic party. are enlisted III rppo-
sitlon TO the Southern claims. They say it sets
at rest finally the charge that the advent of
the Democratic party 90 power will he the
signal for raid upon the Treasury Of n great
herd of Southern claimants. with demands
sufficient to cripple and almost bankrupt the
Government. On the other hand II has been
noted that very large majority of Demo-
cratic newspapers at the South have been
provoked by the remarks oi these gentlemen
to very savage dcnunciatiOn. They have
called Mr.. Bragg an "ass" and an IDIOT"
and ndulgcd in various unfrlrndly comments
upon McsSrs. Hill and Morgan, intmating
quite broadly that they were guilty of dcIna-
gOgism, and stating that they dd rot
honestly represent their constituents upon this
question This outbreak of dissatisfaction J.
very much like that which greeted Mr.. 1ildcn's
letter on the same subject duing the Prc>
dental canvass. It is "A singular circumstance
that while they are affected in this way by
anything that looks like opposition to South
crn claims, they are themselves protecting
that the whole thing is buGbcnr. and that
there is 10 dancer whatever OF the dreaded
flood Of claims from the South. This being
the position of the Southern Democratic press,
the Northern organs are for tac most part
silent or .ulcn on the subicc'. If they say
ANYTHING 1t is only 10 deprccatc present agi-
tanOn OF tbc question rs having Il tendency to
distract and DIVIDE the party.
We should he glad to believe, with our
credulous friends of the scmi-Dcmocratic
press. that the real sentiment Of the Southern
Democracy was echoed by McS>rs. Hal and
Morgan, and Chat the party al the North had
really as suff backbone as Mr.. Bragg III
opposition For we should rCjoIcc to know
that this great peril which seems 10 lis to
menace the credit of the country is imagn-
airy. and that even the remote contingency of
Democratic triumph in 1850 would not be
fraught with such ruinOus consequences az
would be entailed by the anticipated on
heretofore to point out that the patriotic
uttcrances of a few Southern statesmen, who
we doubt not honestly desire 10 rise
above sectionalism and partiSanship, must
be received only as the expression, at
the most of Individual opinions; that they
are not the opinions of their party or of any
thing but small and insignificant minority
Of thc party. The great majority Of South
Crn Democrats are looking to Democratic Sue
cess in 1850 for indemnity for the LOSSES sui
fcrod IN the war; and the party ut the North
is So eager foi the spOil' of Office that no OBJ
lection is, or will be. raised 20 any proposition
coming from the States which will give
them the necessary votes. We may give all
credit and there certainly is credit due, to
the Democrats in the Senate and House who
have taken a manly and outspoken stand
against the yeIy beginnings OF the payment oi
Southern war claims, but we should not for
get that they are, in so far As that action is
concerned, AT odds with their party. They
are exceptions to the rule. And it might be
well 10 consider the fact also that in most
cases the opponents OF the Southern claim,
are also opponents Of initiation and rcpuda-
ton and III favor Of honest payment in honest
money of the National debt.
The two questions are closely related. They
both -ourh the National credit. The payment
of Southern war claims, as has been repeat
edly shown, wou!d cripple the Treasury and
set the country back in its efforts to continue
sprcic paymeuts. The initiation schemes of the
fiat money advocates would end In bankruptcy.
Both tend TO the same disastrous issue. The
alliance between the Southern Democracy and
the Northern Greenbacktrs is the most nat
ural thing in the world. They have common
purpose. and that a most miSchcvOuS one,
party of the country. Here and there at the
South is Democratic leader who has states
manshlp enough to foresce the effect, and
patriotism enough to oppose the payment
of Southern claims. So there is here
and there at the North Democratic
leader wise aud patriotic enough TO fore
see the effect of initiation and oppose
it, But they are not the controlling
spirits of the party; they are leader, with but
few followers. The party proper is an all-
ance between the advocates of Southern
claims and of fiat money. The alliance Is
natural and the bond strong, and it means IN
the bIiefcst terms-a grab. While We admire
the courage and patriotism. Of the men who.
in the House and Senate, stand Out from the
party. let us not by any means mistake them
for the party, or their opinions for the party
platform.
GINBETTi 4ND THE FCfCRE
No sooner is new President elected in
| France than thc succession is virtually dc,nr