National Republican., 1880-09-04
soUrnERN HUNGER ron sro1Ls.


The Meridian (diss.) Mercury is probably
the most pretentious and hence the most
hypocntical Of all the blatant republican
haters in the south. 1t lives and thrives on
its hates, and yet it glories in the fact that
one of its proprietors has had fifteen months
Of employment under republican admin
istration as y clerk in one of the depart
ments, aud in reply % @ query Of The MA
TIoNAL REPUBLICAN," How Is thls ior
republican administration PIT reminds
us that " Mr. HAYES began his admmistra-
ton by taking democrat into his cabinet,
" Postmaster General KEY"
The Mercury rather has us on the abstract
historic circumstance TO which it refers,
but not OIL the merits Of the question in
volved. 1t does not follow, because the
president sought to conciliate and pacif-
cate one rebel brigadier by houoriDG him
with confidence and position, that every
unrepentant aud blatant rebel in the south
is entitled TO equal recognition. Ex-Post-
master General KEY was kind enough to
aid President HAYES in his work of recon-
ciliation by accepting portfolio in his I'D
ministration, and it is but just to him TO
sov a., - with the exception that he distrib-
pted a loroo or,o,rt &C republican patron
age among the democrats of tue -'-'''' Nv
was faithful to his trust and acceptable
with the people. But because the president
tried this doubtful experiment it does not
follow that every hungry, unrepentent and
abusive confederate democrat shall also be
tied up to a stall in the republican stable
to be fed from the republican crib. When
the democratic party gets possession of the
government then 1t will care for its own,
and no republican will find occasion for
muImuring thereat. When that day comes
no republican need apply, and, for that mat
ter, no republican Of consistency and self
respect will ever apply to or receive an
office at the hands Of party with which
he has nothing in common either in prin-
ciple or sympathy. One thing, however
we have noticed in our relations with the
democrats Of the south-they will sink
more self-respect aud consistency to secure
a paltry Office and its emoluments than any
set of men we have ever known. They
never seem to exercise any sense Of con-
sisteney or right in their hungerings fol
place. They will take all they can get and
then revile and curse the hand that feeds
them, and the Meridian Mercury is not al
exception to this rule.
1t is this want of principle-this destitu
ton of consistency and honor-this spirit o
depreciation that characterized the rebel
lion, and which is preserved now as ruling
principle of action by that people in theil
relations to the government-that ha
aroused general feeling of alarm through
out the great north aud west lest these con
trolling influences in southern action shal
despoil the whole nation, should the demo
cratic party attain to power. 1t is thi
feeling of insecurity, this fear of havin
the interests of this great nation trans
ferred to the care of party whose chic
inspiration is to capture the offices and sc
cure an opportunity to plunder, which /
rapidly rendering the north solid in thi
contest to prevent such national calam
ity. Northern political action Is noy
clothed in the same spirit with whic
men and women buckle on life-prC
servers when they are on board n shi
which is surrounded with peril. The sout
has taught the north that it cannot b
trusted. When it disregards human an
divine law and resorts to outrage, violenC
= and murder to secure political advantag
I it teaches the country that it will no MOI
e respect the law OF right when in than who
r out of power For this reason the peop
: have determined that the democratic part
shall be defeated in this contest. 1t is Il
time to give power into hands that a
S stained with treason and rebellion, and t,
D that matter with all the crimes that max
up the calendar of human denominations.