Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-25
TIE SECTIONAL QUESTION.

lion - I0Uk - kOAB - eA1s R~Ass
er there cannot be . real reunion Of the
States Every republican newspaper, every
repuhIican speech adds fresh evidence tnat
The hope d The party is in alienating seisd
North from solid South, made solid by re-
publican misbehavior.-Ner York World.
The proposition of the World in the firsf
sentence shove is that the reunion OF the
States cannot be accomplished while the
Government is under the control OF the
party which alone prevented the destruc-
ton of the Union. Stated briefly, it is
that the party which prevented disunion
cannot effect reunion. The proposition is
an absurdity. There can be no reunion
of parts of that which was never disunited.
There was an attempt made to divide the
Union, but it did not succeed, because the
republican party successfully resisted it.
But suppose we consider what is proba-
bly, the intended proposition ofthe World.
that there is alienation OF feeling between
the North and the South, and that the des-
truc.ion of the republican party and the
installing of the democratic party in pow
err is the corrective that should be tired.
This is strange proposition. 1t is to say
that the men and the party who saved the
union by pouring out blood and treasure
for it must yield up their political exis-
tence and the helm Of government
to the Southern rebels. just to pacify and
restore to good nature those gentlemen,
offended at the rough usage which the re-
publican party bestowed upon them be-
cause they would have it 80. A burglar
breaks into a mans house, and the owner
finding the scoundrel trying to get away
with stolen property, knocks the rascal
down and beats him until he surrenders
would the World then advise the outraged
owner to hand over tine keys Of his strong
box to the robber. and install him in COM
plete possession of his house, to placate
him for the beating which he had justly
received on account of his attempted vii
lalnv We think not. But if this would
be folly, what shall the proposition to
surrender this government to the rebels to
please them be called ? There is not an
evil which has befallen them on account
of the rebellion but they themselves are
responsible for it. They assailed the
government. They tore down the flag.
They fired upon and captured lis forts.
They drenched the country with blood.
They proved their unworthiness to be
trusted with power. They were soundly
whipped as they deserved to be, and il
they can only be restoredto good nature
by the destruction of the republican party
and having full control of the govern
ment in their hands, we think they had bet
ter remain in their ill-natured mood d
while longer, until they can show better
cause for being entrusted with power. The
North is generous but it is not foolish. II
cannot be cajoled or bullied into succumb'
ing to the Solid South Just yet.
The assertion of the World that the
South has been made solid by republi
can misbehavior" is what might be ex.
pected of a Northern doughface sheet
In what has this "misbehavior' consisted
Is it because when the rebel States at
tempted to secede the republican party op
posed and crushed the seceders?
Is it because after the rebels were con.
quered they were treated with greater
generosity than any like offenders were
ever treated before-not one of them being
hung or expatriatcd or deprived of liberty
or property as they justly deservedP
Is it because they have been admitted to
seats in Congress and permitted to have a
share in governing the country they did
their best to destroy?
Is it because the greatest rebels in the
South can come up into these northern
States and spout for Hancock
and solid South while republicans are
not allowed to speak their sentiments in
the Southern States under fear of out
rage, or death, or being driven out of the
countryP
Is it because the North objects to ku-
Klux plans and bulldozing methods OF
carrying elections, to false and fraudulent
counts after the votes are deposited in the
ballot boxes, and to such shameful results
as have lately been seen in Alabama
1t is because we are unwilling to have
our Presidential elections and the control
of the government turn upon ballot box
stuffing and the effective use Of the shot
gun?
If the North has in any manner misbe-
haved toward the South it has been in its
extreme leniency toward that section.
Like the rustic who warmed the serpent
to life it has suffered from its kindness.
And still more severely will it suffer if
Hancock and English are elected to the
offices for which they are candidates. The
logical necessity of a solid democratic
South is solid democratic North. The
first is the creator of the second, and the
result of the conflict is not in doubt if the
North is fully aroused to the situation.
Political.
A flair count" in democratic dictionaries,