San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-09-25

pfcsSlOu OF ~ nus ucNcE pocu WVuutuWu
but when the democratic party nov
asks mo to consider its claim to my con
fideuco, am 10 brand 1t as q party O
Rebels because traction Of il embark
Cd in a reasonable conspiracy nearly {
generation sgoP As reasonable men
loving our country and seeking its VOL
fare with unbiased minds, It is our du-
ty to consider what is best in the light
of existing and irreversible facts, and
above all things, not to make shipwrcck
OF our common sense at the bidding ol
party leaders.
For myself, instead Of seeking pre-
texts for prolonging tho old quarrel be,
tween sections, l am anxious, above all
things, to avoid them. Instead Of ly
ing 10 wait for some unguarded expires
sion or rash utterance, or studiously
provoking it, | am ready to welcome
with gladness and thanksgiving, every
token of reconciliation. plead fol
this spirit, because just SO long as par
ties are marshallcd against each other
on the balcful memories OF the war
the issue Of sectionalism will be the
stalking horse Of every form of politi.
cal abuse, and no remedy Tor our polit.
ioal disorders will be possible, The
first and indispensable step in the path
way Of reform Is the rearrangement OF
parties on questions wholly disconnect.
cd with tho settled issues of the past
The solid North" aud Solid South, f"
for which reckless demagogues are now
laboring, would be a National calamity,
Both should be divided; and questions
of practical administration arc not
wanting on which such DIVISIONS are in.
vited, involving, of necessity, the d.
vision of the colored vote. and thus
clearing the way for the end Of section.
al agitation by diverting attention from
it's cause. quarrel with the Republ:-
can party to day, because its machinery
is kept in working order by unholy .ap'
peals to passions and animosities that
need nothing so much as forgetfulness.
1t lives upon the consuming fires OF
sectional hate, and makes crimination
and recrimination respecting dead issues
the fuel of our politics. If anything
could drive the people of tie South in
to the madness of treason it would be
the policy of the Republican leaders in
pcrpetually branding them with it, and
arraigniug them in tho language and
spirit of 1861. How can quarrel ever
come to an end if tho parties to it, alter
a formal settlement, make it their con
slant business to taunt each other with
their mutual accusations If the ashes
of the past are to he constantly stirred
and our parties rallied on the memories
of the war to day, who can predict the
time when n real union of the sections
will be possible? If tho North and the
South are to be dealt with MS two hos
tile camps, who can expect emgra ton
10 fluu .hs States. .,nh;-i, --~..ia
invite it. and thus work out their re-
demption through an intelligent and
homogeneous population?
CRAFTSMANSHIP WANTED. NOT Pas
SION.
Gentlemen, let mo deal fairly with
this question. 1t undoubtedly has It's
difficulties. Its just settlement de-
manos stateshiapship' ho. paosion'
people of the South are the product OF
their political and social antecedents.
They have behind them history radi-
cally different from that of the people
of the North, and the impress OF that
history can only pe eHaced py cultiva'
ed patience and good Will IN Dotn soc-
tions. In dealing with 60 vital ana dell
cate proDiem we are opiiged 10 acccp'
the lnVitaple condiilons OF progress
and nave no right TO upprdid Whole
communities. with the great facts Wnich
have made them wnat 'hey are. W I'm
out the intervention ofa miracle tne un :
likeness OF the TWO sectiohs can o5,y
disappear gradually, and under friendly
conditions, IL could scarcely DC eX-
pected that the people OF the ooulh can
all now feel precisely the same nttach-
ment Tor the Union tncy fought TO oes
troy which Is felt by the people VINO
fought to save lt. Ihey can NOT heip
remembering their sunerings ann sac
rliices in the struggle and hailowlng the
memory OF their slain. They are a
different people, with dlifcrent histor
ic record, and imbued with corresp.nd
ingly different IDEAS; ana these amer
ences should be dealt with IN a irlenaly
and tolerant spirit, instead OF beinr
eagerly laid hold OF as the occasion foi
strife. Our hepuolican Leaders endeaV-
or to awaken sectional anlmosiiy py
their Inventories OF the ICon'ederate
Brigadiers In Congress VINO are no"
sharing In the Government they iough'
to destroy. But these dangerous cnar
acters are there by the express iegisia'
tive permission OF the Republican party
which made haste to remove their disa'
biliiles and hurried me secedsd ota'e'
back into their eonstitutlouai relations
TO the Union, They were thus armed