National Republican., 1880-06-30
Southern Schemes and Hopes.

To tie Editor of The National Republican,:
SIR: The last clause, third resolution, of the
democratic platform Is, in double sense, well
worthy the serious thoughts of the voters
throughout the north and west. and particu.
larly OF the voters Of the keystone state
Taken in connection with the well.known
antccedents of that party, 1t is very signif-
cant. No one will presume to doubt that, in
tho event of democratic success, the solid
SOUTH will and must rule in the political af-
fairs of tho country rs they did in antebel-
lum days Thinking men OF both parties are
very well aware that tho nomination of Gen
eral Hancock is mere cats-pawa All who
have given any attention TO political history
know the extreme free-tradc sentiments of
the southern leaders. What American citizen
but knows tho free-trNde and notification
acts of the south in 1882? The clause alluded
to pledges the democratic party to "a tariff for
revenue only" which means nothing less than
that they would destroy our domestic indus.
try, aud give to England market worth
moro than the tradO of her colonies and the
lndias. Says the London (EngEnd) Mining
Journal: ",rho constitution of free.trade
league in the United States is a very hopeful
sign. The representatives OF the south are
sure to vote for it, Should these
anticipations prove truo we may expect u
very large trade with that country"
But this is not the only importance Which
should be attached 20 tho clause referred to-
The recent uttcrancCs of JEFF. Davis, Bradley
4. Johnson and Others who represent the real
sentiments of the "sOid SOUTH" warn us in
unmistalsabo language that rebellion is mot
dead but s'ccpcth." This being the case, hear
what Il saglcous rebel general remarked somo
time ago. 1--WE made two great mistakes.
Had wo avoided them we should have cou-
quercd you. Tho first was that we did not
substantially destroy tho protective features
of the tariff in the winter session of 1867 and
1858 by an act which provided rapid sliding
scale to free trade. As democratic measure
we could have passed such law and hold it
tight on you till it closed the furnaces, work.
shops wooden and cotton mills and steel and
bar.irOu works of the whole north aud west,
and scattered your worlImcn over the pruircs
aud territories. When the war was ready for
you you would not have been ready for the
war. You could not havo armed aud equipped
aud put in the field u large army nor built u
navy. You would have been without
supplies, machinery aud workmcn, and
you would have been without money
and credit. Our. second mistake was in with.
drawing our senators uud representatives
from your congress- Had we left them there
their votes, combined with the democratic
vote of the north would have thwalted every
military and financial measure necessary to
enable you to carry on the war for sutlicicnt
length of time 10 have enabled us to seize tho
government, occupy some of your states, oh.
tain recognition abroad, aud dictate hard terms
to you. How the h-ll wo blundorcd in these
Two respects | cannot understand, except upon
tho hypothesis Of an ovorrulng Providence"
Couple the clause In tho democratic plat.
form with the foregoing and We have II
unique monument TO the sinister political
genius of the so.caled democracy. fhc work.
ngmen and every loyal American citizen in
whose soul renaus Que spark Of patriotism to
kindlo into II fame, should think well of
these things before making choice as to
whom and what party he will aid in lining
into the controlling power Of administering
tho political snairs of his country. W. S. G.
sm this instance, the fable OF the monkey may
bo taken in the converse. 1t is to pull union
chgstuutS into the fire.