Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-05-28
The Political Attitude of the South.


In the June .itlaatic is an anonymous ar
ticle which Is attracting considerable atten-
ton on the political attitude of the South
considered in its relations to the coming
Presidential contest. The political history
of the South since the war is briefly reviewed
and the dangers of Southern supremacy
clearly set forth. The writer contends that
the question at issue in the Presidential cleo
ton is whether the men who sought to de-
story the Union shall get full possession OF
the National Government, and SO escape the
political consequences of their disloyalty-
The policy of the Southern leaders, he says,
is to keep their own section riveted together
by the bolts of old war memories, State
rights theories and local pride and prejudice,
while seeking at the same time TO divide the
North. The South has been growing more
and more solid since 1868. and in the next
Congress there will in all probability be no
Southern Republican in the House, and but
one Republican Senator from that sec
ton. The solidity of the South, the Allan
tic writer believes, is a deliberate political
aim lie does not share in the feeling ell
tertained by some Republicans that their
Presidential candidate will receive the cleo
toral votes of any Southern State. line ex-
rebel section is too solid to be broken into by
any man the party can select. The South
intends to remain solid and with the aid OF
Northern minority. TO carry out the follow
ing purposes First, to obtain the power
that attaches to the control of both the legis-
lative aud executive departments Of the
Government Second, to justify the rebel
lion on the pages of history, through the
means afforded by obtaining control OF the
Government so soon after conspiring
against it. If they can get con-
troll of the executive department, as they
now have of Congress, by triumphing al
presidential election, they think that history
will be rewritten, and that the whole world
will say, THE Americans were wrong in
fighting down secession, the same generation
which waged the war against the South has
taken a second sober thought, sees its
error, and now it makes amends by placing
the Southern leaders in power" Third, to
wipe out in the public mind every distinc-
ton between loyalty and disloyalty during
the war, involving the pensoning of rebel
soldiers, admitting them to the regular army,
etc. establish the State sovereignty theory
As the orthodox constitutional Interpretation
by reconstruction of the Supreme Court
repeal laws authorizing the supervision of
elections by the Government, so that the
negro vote may be manipulated at will; off
set the growth of the Northwest by making
three States of Texas and annexing Cuba
and part Of Mexico.
Upon the accomplishment of these objects
the South has set its heart. and it looks to
Democratic victory at the coming Presiden-
tial election for success. The only way to
prevent that, the Atlantic writer urges, is
TO continue the Republican party in power,
at least until the new census transfers to the
strong Republican States of the West much
of the power in Congress and the electoral
college now possessed by the South By
the time the next Presidential term is ended
the danger may have passed. Until that
time, at least, it will be unsafe to entrust the
Democratic party. controlled by its Southern
wing, with power.