The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-12
sectionalism.


which Is The sectional party, the Demo
cratic or the Republican, by their works
shall, We know them. The Democratic party
never willingly carries sectional banner
The Republican party invariably arrays us
troops under oues The Democratic part!
would, n 1t could, have the President o.
the United States elected because OF MS
opjn,ons on politico-economic questions
and not because he sided with the one sec
tion or the other In war which ended more
Than fifteen years ago. The RepeS'can party
sinks all other issues and shows no nag ou'
the bloody shirt. The Democratic party De
ueves In The doctrine that each State ought
"a mind her own business ard let that Of
other States alone. The Republican party
Is a pauper in respect Of political capita',
unless 1t can lind something IN the manage
ment OF the affairs Of particular States upon
which il can trade in the political MAJ ke,.
nv the way, the so-caIied sectionalism OF
the Democratic party always acts on the de-
fensiye; whereas real sectiona'ism Is az
cressiye and acts on the offensive. THIS
fact proves that there Is no real sec'lonai'sm
in the ranks or the creed OF the Democratic
Marty. The solid South is solid only be-
cause she Is compelled TO be solid in self
defepce-for her own protection. Her peo'
ple are not all in favor OF ga tariff for reve'
nue. only" as the Cincinnati platform phrases
Il. MANY OF them are protectionisis. But
these people the sectionaism OF The re
publican party prevents from Joining the
ranks OF that party. They are anxious That
our industries shall be protected; but are
never allowed an opportunity TO cast vote
in favor OF a party fayoring protection.
They are, on the contrary, kept always
banded together with the anti.tarif men OF
the North. because these constitute the only
anti-sectional party Of the country. The
Republicans strive to make the North solid
as against the South in war upon the Gus
toms, habits, practices, laws, and usages OF
the southern people. The South is solid
only because, as LUTHER once said OF HIM
self, !" God help her, she cannot be other
WISE"
But the sectionalism even Of the North is
rather meddlesomeness than sectionalsm.
The former does not rise to the dignity OF
the latter. The latter is the fault OF bias ed,
lop-sided, and preiudiced patriots. The
former is the meanness of envy, malice, and
all uncharitableness. The busybodies Of
New England are not content to manage
their own affairs In their own way. They
III oil IL
morously said that the Pilgrim Fathers
came 10 this country 10 worship God in
their own way and make everybody else do
the same Ii is this Characteristic OF the
descendants OF the Pilgrim Fathers,
this disposition 10 order their own
affairs to suit themselves, and make
everybody else order theirs in the same
way-that is, TO please those descendants
that has caused all the troubles with which
this country has been afflicted, including
the late disastrous and unfortunate war be-
tween the States. Let any impartial man
ask himself why there Is nearly always
what is called a sectional issue made up In
every presidential campaign, and he VIII md
himself obliged to admit that it is because
OF the disposition Of the Yankees to inter
NEEDLE in the business OF the people OF
other States. They deny the white foreigners
Of Rhode Island the right to vote because
these own no land, yet they insist upon it
that in Virginia and Texas every negro
man must vote whether be pays cent OF
taxes or not. They require educational
qualifications OF white voters in Massachu-
sets, yet they denounce US in Virginia for
requiring the prepayment OF capitaton
tax OF one dollar from negroes incapable of
intelligently exercising the right OF suf-
frage.
Let the meddlesomeness Of New England
come 10 an end, and what is called section
alism will also come to an end. The peO-
pie Of every State, North and South, will
then be able TO divide upon politico-eco.
nomical questions, and no longer waste
their energies in lighting one section an.
other. The southera people long for such
a day to dawn upon the country. They
disown all sectional feelings on their own
part, and asl; only to he permitted to man.
age their home affairs in their own way,
They will ask neither Rhode Island nor
Massachusetts to change her laws OF GUS
toms to please the Sosath. They wish in a
word, for the time to come when they shall
be as free 10 join the Republican as The
Democratic party.
Let all therefore, North and South, who
wish to STE the solid SSata dissolved, and
peace, prosperity. and fraternity prevail
and ENGLISH.