Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-02-27
Senator Hill CT Georgia On the Wicked Re-
rphlicars.

The Springfield Mass Republican prints
long letter from Senator Ben. II. Hill, of
Georgia, purporting TO be addressed to some
body in Vermont, whose name is not limited
at, but who, it would seem, desired to learn
from Mr.. Hill ~ whether he favors Gen.
Grant for President under any consideration
Gas some people claim }; (2) whether Grant
has any following among Southern Demo-
Gratis, and 80 whether in case of his
Grants nomination by the Republicans he
(Hill) thinks he Grant could carry single
Southern State Mr.. Hill responds to this
inquirer with alacrity, and tells him that he
does not favor Grants election to the Presi-
dency under any contingency he can now imagg
inc. He admits however, that there are three
classes of Southern Democrats who are for
Grant viz, first, some of the most intense
secessionists, who, having failed in dissolving
the Union, now go 10 the opposite extreme,
and will welcome the extreme of centraliza-
ton which they expect under Grant sec
ond, those who despair of the preservation of
the Union, and think its subversion will be
reached under Grant with less shock than
through any other man and, third, those who
believe Grant will be elected and hope by
announcing themselves as his friends tocom-
mand offices in his gift. NEARLY all the
Southern people" says Mr.. Hill, 'have a
kindly feeling for Gen. Grant. Heis strong
er at the South than any other Republican.
Our people will never forget his manly and
magnanimous conduct toward them at the
close of the war. If he had manifested the
same malnanimiiy in his administration
of the Government he would have
become an idol With the Southern people"
Nevertheless, he does not think Grant can
carry Southern State-and he would be
very likely 10 say the same even if he had
considerable apprehension that Grant might
carry two or three of them. And then Mr..
Hill branches off into argument. at is a
National calamity that the Northern people
are not permitted 10 understand the real
views and feelings Of the Southern people. ="
But are they not permitted to DO SO? Are
not the words Of the Southern Congressman,
the editorials Of the Southern papers, the
acts of the Southern Legislatures, fully pub
lished and commented upon in the Northern
papers: Is not the Democratic press of the
North in full sympathy with the South, and
eager to correct any Misrepresentation into
which Republican newspapers may fall
Taking it for granted that ''our constitu-
tional system of free government is in very
great peril OF final and complete overthrow"
Senator Hill insists that the South is NOR.
anxious than the North 10 avert such Il
calamity and this hecauso or its sense Of
responsibility for secession, which, he says.
strengthened the sectional heats which had
Heretofore prevailed. Secession was, in his
words, "a mistake and madness" 1t unset
during which the South retaliated by some
excesses rcsorted TO some temporary violent
remedies; but, after all, he thinks the world
at last will stand amazed at the patience,
1ho iolDCdIdH't anu lht sci -tOHlTol bl tut
Southerncrs II il docs it will have to be
because the new histories will leave, as Sena-
tor Hill leaves them, out Of sight, the
kuklux atrocities, shotgun policy and tissue
ballot frauds, by which the Southern Demo-
Gratis haze secured once more a solid South.
Having acquitted his own section, Sena-
tor Hill files an indictment against the North.
The Republican party is sectional, very sec
tional, and desires ubovc all things to keep up
a sectional feeling, not for the public good,
but for purely party purposes. Nothing
would be more Idle than to combat this feel
ing. The whole history of the party is an
swcI to il, but not to use who think with
Senator Hill that "outsidc of sectionalism,
the Republican party has neither history nor
policy, nor purpose, nor prospects" Was
the preservation of the Union sectionalism?
Was the resumption of specie payments in
accordance with no policy? Is not the main
tenance, Or the attempt at maintenance, of
the rights Of the citizen worthy pur-
pose 1t is the South that is banded to-
getber in an imprcgnablc and solid section
alism. The South does not ask whether its
Presidential candidate is to he for honest or
dishonest money nor whether he has been