Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1880-10-18
SECTIONAL HATRED
And the Bloody Shirt-are these thing.
Wrong.
Harpcrs Weekly, 18th

Harpers Weekly, 18TH
We are sometimes asked whether we
thing sectional hatred is good basis OF
political and party action, and whether
we suppose that the republicans can win
by shaking the bloody shirt. We have
no difficulty whatever in answering no
to both questions. Sectional hatred is
the worst ground of party division, and
bloody-shirt shaking is useless. And
now let few more questions be asked
and answered as plainly. Who
fosters sectional feeling? What section
OF the country is now, and for half a cen
tury has been, distinctively sectional,
and why? Has any party or school OF
politicians ever spoken or thought of
"the north" as country" or separate
community opposed In interest to the
Union, and why? Is not the appeal of
southern democrats always local and
sectional? Did not the war prove this
deeply rooted sectionalism, and has any
thing since the war shown that it was in
the least degree removed? Is there any
such sectionalism, in the political char
acter, theories, and traditions of that
section, which makes it probable that its
absolute control of the government would
be wiser, juster, more national, more eco
nomical or progressive, than the present
control? And why is it waving the
bloody shirt to ask these questions, or
to place these facts before the country :
Is there any doubt that the democratic
leaders controlled their party before the
war, and that they have controlled il
since? Is there any question that DEM
ocratlc success and the election of Gen
Hancock are impossible except by a
solid southern electoral vote, and that
that vote can be made solid only by vio-
lence and fraud.
Any sensible man would be perplexed
to show why it is unpatriotic to look at
such facts, and to take heed of them.
Questions of finance, of reform, of Indian
policy, of the tariff, of education, arc
pressing and vital. But if it be true
that in half the country it makes nc
dltferance what arrangements may be
advanced. because the result sis fore.
gone conclusion with those who control
the ballot-boxes and the count, why
should any argument be made? The
only conclusive answer to such q ques-
tion is complete denial of any such
purpose. But who will make that deni.
al? What honest republican or demo.
crat will deny that the republican voters
in many districts of the southern states
have been terrorized and practically driv.
en- from the polls by democrats? This
crime is denounced by republicans, and
he is q recreant American who would
not denounce it, just as the Garcelon
frauds in Maine were. denounced. Ought
the denunciation to cease because il
fans the embers of old strife," and fos.
ters sectional hate? What is that but
saying that revolution and anarchy
should have their way, lest unpleasant
feelings should be excited? Our politics
have been necessarily sectional ever since
they turned upon slavery, which was 9
sectional wrong that the democrats trieG
to makeinational. They areIsectional,now
because the democratic party IN the old
slave section, defeated in the wal, suppress
ses local opposition in order to obtair
control Of the government. If this were
not so-if republican organizations, dis
cussions, and voting were as free in Ala
bama and Mississippi and Louisiana anl
Arkansas and South Carolina as demo
cratic action is free in New York ant
Iowa and Observation-Disclosures woulC
be no other sectional question than thai
arising from competing industries.
All the censure of sectioualism implies
that there is to be perfect freedom o
choice and of voting everywhere in til.
country, that there is nothing to do bu
to hear the arguments and then decide
It implies that the Arkansas republican
may vote as freely as the Vermont dem
ocrat. If this were so, we have no doub
Arkansas would be contested by the bes
republican speakers IN the country. Mer
denunciation, indeed, whether of tn
north or south. like merely blackguard
ing the other party, is despicable. Blu
there can not be more superficial, peri
lous, and unphilosophical' views of poll
tics than to assume that because ther
is no longer open war between the sec
tions, there is no civil contest. Mr.. Sum
ner fell into this error in 1872, when h
said of remarks in some democratic pa
pers and Of some democratic orator
respecting "the south" and its conduct
"On this open adhesion and these declf
, ration l act, and to the complete fulfil
ment of all the obligations assumed fet
that | may confidently hold tho party
If "the SOUTH" by which is meant til
democratic party Of the southern state
:, has no purpose, why does it vlolentl
suppress the republican vote in order I
, make itself "solid, ,'and give 13s elector;
votes to the democratic candidate?
has apurpose. 1t is not the 1estoratio
! of slavery nor the payment of rebel deb
but it is Its old purpose Of control of IL
government for the benefit of southor
interests; and should it obtain comple
!. control both of the executive and legi
: lative departments, it will do whatey,
:, is necessary to secure the continuance
= that control. Now the objection is IL,
l that it seeks this mastery, although i
4 success would be great disaster, b,
:, |, that it seeks it by fraud and violcnc