The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-05-01
SOUTHERN SENTIMENT.

LII Is not true that the South is in
clined to be extreme in its political
principles or policies. On the contrary
when the opportunity presents itself,
the South will show the whole country
that it is conservative in the best sense
of the word, and is really anxious for
genuine national pacification, and the
obllteration of sectional lines.
The Southern States made most
vigorous war in the past, on local radi-
cal organizations, and would doubtless
actively and aggressively oppose re-
turn of the same class of people to
power in these local State govern
ments. Not so much, be it fairly said,
because they were, or are Republicans,
but because of their general personal
unfitness, to use no harsher term, to
act as the governors of civilized and
intelligent people.
In national affairs, and in all issues
concerning deeply the whole country,
we most positively assert. the South
has acted, since the war, with conser-
vatism and moderation and con-
spicuously in one most novel and criti-
cal juncture it acted the part of
great national conservator of the peace.
Northern people who hastily con-
denim the South as the home of bour-
boni,m, and all sorts of reactionary
ideas, would do well to remember this.
And it would be well for them to in
quire in a spirit of fairness, how the
South stands, and what she has to say
in matters of National concern to-day.
There is strong sentiment here in
favor of the tradition against the third
term, which comes out of a conserva-
tive regard for this established custom,
and which does not have its origin in
personal hostility to Gen. Grant.
Moreover, the predominant opinion in
the South is that it is wiser, and more
republican and American that we
should have a great civilian at the
head of government, than that any
military chieftain should be putin that
exalted civil station. Nobody Of any
consequence, in the South, would inn
pair the national credit, or put stain
on the national honor.
The receptions given to the EXPIRES
ident, can only be taken as an express
sion of respect for the general govern
ment, and Willingness on our part to
bury all the memories Of the war. 1t
is an expression of nothing else, for
certainly, nobody intended by those
demonstrations to express the desire
to have Gen. Grant President third
time.
Serious objection is made, by re-
spectacle class of Northern gentlemen,
to a re-inauguration of the old Grant
regime, with the circle of political ad-
venturers who revolved around that
chieftain. This objection has a vigor-
Gus and general support in the South.
Essentially it opposes personal gov
ernment, and imperialism in all its
forms and guises.
What more can be said of the pa
triotsm and conservatism of any sec
ton of the country?
1t may be confidently affirmed that
in the future, the South will be found
standing firmly by all the great con-
stitutional principles upon whicn de-
pend the life of this republican gov
ernment. If the counseis of the South
prevail this year, there will be present
ed to the American people as a candi-
didate for the Presidency, a patriot,
and statesman, in every way worthy
the respect and confidence of this
great nation; the representative-in
his own life and record-of the ideas
we have just expressed.
If he does not become the President,
the election at least will show, as one
of it's fruits, the conservatism and pa
triotism of the South, and moreover, it
will develop and demonstrate public
sentiment in the North, whose COM
bined strength will, as a moral force,
forbid effectually in the future the sec
tional and anti-Southern policy, that
has heretofore characterized Republi-
can administrations We will, at all
events, have taken a long step in the
right direction.