The Rock Island Argus., 1879-11-22
Saturday, November az. 1873.
The Solid South and the Republican
Party.

For years the hepuDHcan party mas
achieved its success on sectional issues.
and by the policy of alarming the people
and keeping alive the spirit of sectional
hatred. This policy has been the only
theme which Republican orators have
dwelt upon. The solid south has been
the political bonanza of the party of Sec
tional hate and the leaders of stalwartism
have proclaimed from every stump in the
country that no Republican dared go
south: that to do so would endanger his
life; that the southern people were set
OF bloodthirsty rufdans unfit to be ad-
mitted to fellowship in the cultured north
SO persistently has this doctrine been
preached that from sheer force of imagi-
nation born Of constant repetition. hun>
dreds and thousands have actually begun
to believe it true. But all falsehoods will
sooner or later be overtaken by truth and
80 with this unjust condemnation OF the
southern people by the Republican party.
The leaders of the south have denied it;
the Democratic party has denied it, and
the Democratic press of the country has
raised its voice repeatedly and uncovered
the lie in all its rottenness. but still the
damnable falsehood travels. Now,
however, the timo has come
when the Republican party leaders
must either verify their statements or
cease their utterauces. A cordial invita-
ton has been extended to the Republican
ieadets-to Blaine. Sherman. Garfield.
Foster, Hale, Conkling and all others who
can to come South and stump Louisiana
for the Republican party There is no
restriction as to the style of argument
they must use: they are not to come
handicapped by any prescribed manner OF
argument or speech. but the invitation is
free to all who desire to come. 1t is more
than an inyitation-it is an urgent appeal
to come and see for themselves what Is
the true condition of affairs, and how much
truth or uutruth there is in the stories OF
southern brutality. But the mighty
Blaine. whose stentorian voice resounded
through Ohio and Maine in solemn notes
OF warning against the solid south, and the
terrible. scenes there enacted; who
preached the disloyalty of the southern
people and held them up as examples of
what was to be expected if Democratic
supremacy occurred; he who told his
hearers In Maine that there did not
breathe a truly loyal sentiment
to-day. within the breast of any
southron declines. Sherman, who
has been particularly stalwart and who
stated at Cleveland that ito give the south
power meant TO give the Union to the
dogs, that there lived no man of Repub-
lican sentiments. il the south who dared to
call his soulihis own even he, presIdeB
tiaI aspirant that he is, declines. And so
We might go on down through the entire
list Of the stalwart leaders who have told
the people that no Republican dared avow
his sentiments in the south. and there is
not one who has had the manhood to
accept the Invitation to 60 south aud
preach Republican doctrine free and un-
impaired. Why do they refuse? Why, If
the case is as they say it is. and as they
have taught the people to believe it is,
have they not accepted the opportunity
offered to visit the south and see for them
selves how affairs really are? They have
asserted that an uDholy condition of affairs
exists; that murder aud bloodshed ruled
the people; that the south was
disloyal; that Republican dare
not aver his sentiments; that if he did he
would be hunted to death; they have said
and still assertsthat. but for the bulldozing
of the cursed bloodhounds" as one Of
their sanity stump orators called the
southern people, the south would be Re-
publican TO day. Now then Mr.. Blaine.
and Sherman and the rest of you who
have tanght the people to believe that
iA~iessne~s is the rule ia the south a1d
that no Republican dare express his senti-
Dents, If you have not been wilfully lying
you will go to Louisiana aud help to carry
that state for the Republican party, But
they won't go-not one of them and Why :?
Simply because they know that they have
lied to the people; because they know that
the condition of things which they have
pictured does not criSt They realize
that, IT they were to go Louisiana, and
after vigorous stumping the state vas
carried by the Republicans. that when
they next addressed northern audience
and undertook to repeat tho stories
OF bulldozing and terrorism In the
south, that the people would see them in
their true light; that the republican party
would be bereft of argument, and that it
would awaken such reactionary feeling
that no power on earth, not even the mon
ey of the ringsters could save the Repubn
ican party from utter anniEiIation. This |
Is why Mr.. Blaine and his iIk refuse to 20
south. They..do not want the sonth to break |
ts political solidity. nor do they in;end |
. allow the Republican party to succeed |
n single southern state il they eau help
t. The solid south is the stock iu trade !
# the Republican sectional hatred advo- |
;ates. aud they will not Willingly resign |
he only issue they possess. This is the max
I'd truth. and there ia not a stalwarr leader
anywhere who dare deny it. The Repub-
lean leaders are now forced to the alterna-
i've OF either accepting the invitation TO