The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-11-18
Frank Talk with the South.

The New York Tribune of the 9Th has the
following kindly and pertinent editorial article
under the above caption:
The Southern newspapers are in error in
| saying that the result of the election shows
that the North draws the line of sectionalism
| deeper than ever. The North draws no new
line, and would gladly obliterate the old one
drawn by slavery and rebellion. The right of
every man to free ballot is not sectional
question. The right of every citizen to ex-
press his npoltical views without prejudice
to his social standing or business relations is
not sectional question. Protection to Amer
lean industry is not sectional question. The
maintenance of sound currency and of the
public credit is not sectional question These
are the Issues upon which the Republican
party made its fight and won its victory.
Whatever of sectional feeling there was in the
contest, we beg to assure the people of the
South came from the solidity of their own
section, pledged in advance by their delegates
to the Cincinnati Convention, and from the &C
ton OF their representatives in Congress- The
Southern congressman attacked the election
laws because they trenched upon the old
beaten and discredited theory of State Rights,
theory that all patriots supposed was drown
ed in the sea OF blood poured out during the
four years war. They tried to take away the
constitutional right Of the President to com
mand the Army, and proposed to make of the
National troops an alien force, powerless under
certain conditions within the borders IF a State
This action raised serious apprehension in
the North that the power of the Nation was
not fully recognized in the South, and that the
State Rights heresy was to be resuscitated
Then we honestly believed, and had good rea-
son for believing, that the men controlling the
politics of the South systematically suppressed
q 1ar Oft ha
section, and thus deprived that party of much
of the power which its voting strength entitled
it to WELD.
Well, the struggle is over, and we need not |
look back to the past to discuss its causes and |
motives. Let us rather look to the future |
What is the South going to do now? The fool |
ishness of its past political action must be
plain to all its intelligent citizens. Why not
take new departure? Northern Bourbonism
do anything. The Democrats have recently
had control of both branches of Congress
w That beneficial legislation have they adopted |
affecting the Southern States? They have
FILTERED away great deal Of money in petty
local works Of small good to anybody save the
contractors but what important improvement
for the advantage of Southern commerce can
they point to? The opening of the mouth of
5he Mississippi was Republican measure So
of making first-class seaport of
Bay. When the Republicans went
yiut OF power in Congress they had already !
nven earnest attention to the vast problem OF
ioproving the channel of the Mississippi, con-
lining its current within its banks and reclaim
ng the millions of acres of rich alluvial lands
'endered worthless by it's overflow. No one
vas more interested in this problem than Gen
,ral Garfield. He required to it in his letter
IF acceptance, and spoke of the vital impor-
ance Of the great river and its tributaries to
he whole country, and the need of giving ex-
;eptional consideration to the safety of their
The South will find in General Garfield
liberal, broad-minded, patriotic Chief Magis-
rate, without a particle of sectional prejudice
He will be just as ready to aid wise and proper
measures for the benefit of the commerce of
he South as for that of the North. Why not
AXE the hand he offers, and accept him cor
lially as the President of the whole country?
Northern capital and Northern industry are
.eady to flow into the Southern States. They
only wait for assurance that they will meet
he same conditions found in the West-abso-
ute security, honest, friendly treatment, and
equal rights, social and political. Now is the
lime to begin new era in Southern affairs
n every State there are men of brains and
arge political influence who see the folly OF
continuing the alliance with Northern Bour-
)ons Will they have the courage to break
way from it? The next few months will
how We want to assure them now that the
Republican party bears no ill-will toward them
>r their section, and are ready at all times to
rive them hearty welcome to the broad plat
orm of National principles upon which it
stands