Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-10-02
A VIGOROUS REPUBLICAN, PROTEST
From the New York Uerald.l

The Herald has repeatedly told the
republican managers and organs that
they only endanger their success and re-
pei sensible voters by the manner in
which they have been conducting their
canvass, and especially by the way In
which they have cried out about the
.'solid SOUTH" We have not, as our
readers know, thought the political So
lidity of the southern states d wise or
statesmanlike policy but it's one which
can do no possible harm to the north or
the country. 1t is, as we have repeated
ly said, passing phase in cur politics,
mainly brought about by natural re-
sentiment of the republican maladmn-
istration and robbery in the southern
states. which, to their shame. the north
crn republican leaders have always con-
doned. We repeat what we said so
long ago as the 4th of September:
publican misrepresentation OF the south
is rank folly land is apt to do them harm
If it IS continued. They cannot persuade
thoughtful! voters that region is given
up to lawlessness which raises tins year
six million bales OF cotton, beside other
valuable products, or that black men
are systematically robbed, abused and
wrouged, when black labor produces
these enormous crops year alter year.
1t is pleasant to see that at least one
influential republican journal. the Eve
mig Post, of this city, agrees with the
Herald on this subject. We reprint
elsewhere the chief parts OF a leading
article in its issue OF yesterday in which,
taking Senator Conkling's recent extra
ordinary diatribe against the south for
its text, the Post reads the leaders of its
party a vigorous lesson in common
sense. 1t demonstrates how absurd are
the fears of those who see source OF
danger to the country in the solid south,
and adds, what we believe to be entire.
" true, that this foolish misrepresenta-
tion by the republican leaders of a part
of the American people and continuance
Of sectionalism in politics. will only
quicken the departures of thinking
men from the republican ranks.
The plain truth Is that the republican
party has been forced entirely away
from its safe policy. in the last two or
three months. by the indiscreet and ig
norant zeal of it's leading organs and
stump orators. and with the too easy
consent OF men and Journals like the
| Evening Post. This now at last feels
compelled to protest against the att empt
to turn the republican ship on an entire
| ly iase aud, as our contemporary sees,
a dangerous course. The nomination
OF Gen. Garfield was regarded by the
whole country at the time it was made
as Il wise and truly conservative act OF
his party. He had been conspicuous as
q moderate man, and the friend OF sound
and patriotic policies. The conservative
sentiment of the country rallied about
him with enthusiasm. Thoughtful
voters, south rs well as north, and in
the democratic as well as the republican
party, remembered with pleasure that
he had expressed himself on many occa-
sions strongly and ably against the con-
tinuance OF sectional agitation and for a
thorough reform OF the civil service as
one OF the most needed of all our re-
forms.
The American people are always con-
servative. 1t is one OF their strong
points as free people, managing their
own affairs, that they are averse to ex-
treme methods and extreme counsels. Ii
the republican leaders had determined
to carry on the canvass on the moderate
and patriotic policy which was implied
by the nomination of Garfield. they
would have rallied to them before thi.
no, only the best sentiment OF the north,
but of the best people OF the south. They
might have lost some northern votes OF
extreme men in their own party, but they
would have gained great many more
votes from the other side in al! parts oil
the country. and they would have been
in Il condition to make vigorous and
successful canvass in at .eaSt tour OF
, five OF the southern states
But what happened' Gen. Garfield
apparently cowed by the threatening
attitude of the extremists in his party
) publicly abandoned the two postum:
the maintenance oi which alone had
made him conspicuous enough to gair
the nomination. He had written il
1877, what every thoughtful voter il
l the land, Of both parties. felt to b,
e profoundly true. concerning the c'vi
service =
To reform this service is one Of III
= highest and most imperatiy~ duties u
s state-mauship. This reform cannot b.
, accomplished without complete divorce
+ between congress and the executive il
matters OF appointment.
But in his letter of acceptance he re
9 canted and wrote in precisely the oppo
. site strain: =