Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-04
The Southern Opportunity.

1t is exceedingly important that to the
people of the South the late democratic
defeat should not be barren. They realize
just now quite clearly the monstrous folly
of their leaders for twenty years past.
They have seen the United States of
America repudiate the demoralizing prin-
ciples which have Tor half century been
maintained and caressed by Southern
statesmen. principles in the support OF
which they plunged wildly and blindly
into a terrible fraticidal contest. that re-
suited only in their overwhelming defeat
principles that recognized only sover
eighty of States, and in whose composition
the element of nationality did not appear
They see that slavery is gone. never more
to return They see the marks of a trea-
sonable history. never to be efficed. They
see Solid North confronting Solid
South. They see determined. bold. gal
liant crew aboard the ship of State. They
see one of the peoples statesmen at the
helm. The see the grand old Union flag.
emblazoned with the record of hundred
victories over treason. flying proudly atthe
fore. They have seen every scheme to gain
control of this government by party ofsec-
tionalism and fraud fail. They have seen
the States of the North increase in wealth
and population. while their own territories
are being depopulated. They have seen
that putrid, decaying remnant of Jackson
ian democracy crushed. buried They
have seen the continued march of i'm
provement and culture in the LOYAL States.
while the old slave holding precincts still
retain their hold upon the relics ofbarbarous
bourbonism, They have refused an arbitra-
ton of differences at the ballot box. and
have paraded their counties with armed
men. They have not suppressed lawless-
ness. They have not protected all citizens
in the equal enjoyment of their rights. All
decent southern men know these things
and feel ashamed of them. They really
begin to doubt If prosperity can come to
the Southern States until the reckless.
lawless. desperate men who lead and con-
troll the democratic party can be put down,
can be hurled from the power which they
have usurped, by fraud and crime. which
in any other country would cousign them
to eternal infamy. and put them under the
ban Of responsibility. They be gin to real
ize, that until the republican policy of
strict and equal enforcement of all laws
can be made as effective at the South as
at the North. the South cannot
regain its former prosperity. But their
difficulty is prevalent lack of moral
courage. They are brave enough in bat
tie, but the courage which calmly con-
fronts hostile clamor and bitter memories
how many Southern men can show that
they have got it' But if the South waits,
soon the fierce heat of another political
strife will melt away all better and more
reasonable determinations. and the gol-
den opportunity will have passed once
more, and the unhappy South will be
again committed to another four years of
sectional agitation. bitterness and fraud.
Public opinion is plastic at present,
few brave men can mould it and create
for the South new era of honorable
prosperity and progress, but the chance
will have passed if they wait but little
longer.
Perhaps the most singular instance of