New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-17
4 SOUTHERN CONSERVATJTE.

Mr.. w H. FELTON,. an Independent Demo-
cratic Congressman from Georgia, has written
n remarkable letter on the habitual mlsbe-
havior of the Democratic party. He rehearses
the catalogue of its recent Offences the blum
ders of the extra session, the attempt to
coerce the Executive. the attack upon the
election laws, the ridiculous and insincere
clamcr about imaginary troops at the
"polls.r and the insulting treatment of Presi-
dent HAYES; AMI he does not wonder that
the North has become Disguised and alarmed
" The Northern people are afraid to intrust
" the administration of the Government to the
"hanas of violent men. They would rather
"rish the perils of Capitalization than
"aeam endure the horrors Of revolu-
"tion. They would as soon see the
" Government shot to death as to have 1t
O." starved TO DEATH Al this has been the
"worl, OF our sclf-coustiuted leaders" Mr..
FELTON, thinks that the Southern people are
very well disposed, and that they ought not
to be held responsible for the vapoling follies
OF hot-hcads; and he adds the sensible re-
mark: owe must recover tie confidence Of
the people before We can recover political
power"
This is encouraging so far rs it goes. Mr.
FELTON, must remember. however, that the hot
heads cannot lead unless the Southern people
are willing to follow The violent foolish and
passl0nlto men who havo brought so much
discrcdit upon their party cannot be put
down by Us ; they must be suppressed by their
own constituents, if they are suppressed at
all and so long as the South allows them to
speak for il, tho South must necessarily be
held responsible for their language. 1t really
makes no difference how wise, prudent and
kindly the people of that region may be in
their private thoughts and feelings we have
to 10 only with the character and conduct Of
their official representatives. Whenever tho
South will take the trouble to elect Congress
men capable Of giving expression to the bet
ter sentiments Of the Democracy, It's genuine
conservatism, It's fidelity to the Union aud the
Constitution, its love OF justice and equality.
it may depend upon being met by the North
in the irankest and most cordial spirit.
What Mr. FELTON, says about political out
RACES in the South is quite beside the
mark. We have no doubt that they
are deplored by a majority of the South
ern people; but they are not punished. and
they are allowed to be one of the most
powerful agencies in politics. While deeds
like the Chisolm murder are coTpmitted, and
committed with impunity, the North naturally
feels that the rufian class Is uppermost; and
we do not wish to be ruled by it,
How little even n man like MIR. FELTON, I'M
derstands the situation appears from the
course which he advises In the next Presi-
dental campaign. He insists that his party
ought to select q candidate who viii be ac-
ceptable to the Greenback interest; and
then he rambles off into the stock plat
tudes about the peoples money. and gets
lost in a financial maze. Now, there Is moth
ing perhaps which has more strongly i'm
pressed Northern business men with the
danger 10 be appreheDded from a Solid South
than the readiness of that section to ally
itself with any sort Of paper money fanatics
and consent to any sort of attack upon the
pubc credit, for the sake of carrying an
election. Mr.. Bayard made some severe and
Just remarks the other day upon this alarming
laxity of Southern opinion In money matters
The honor as well as the prosperity OF the
country is involved In the contest over the
debt and currency, and here stands a solid
phalanx of States without a conscience, ready
to Join whichever side offers it an immediate
partisan advantage. This is a peril to the
Nation even greater than the prevalence of
rife-clubs, and Mr.. FELTON, may be sure that
so long as 1t lasts the South will never Gre
"coyer the confidence of the people"