The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-11-11
a NEW DEPARTURE INVITED.
A Stalwart Organs Frank Talk with tho
South"

From the Ne,u York Tribune, November S.
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 Sec
tional question. The right OF every citizen
to express his own political views without
prejudice to his social standing or business
relations is not sectional question. Pro-
lection to American industry is not Sec
tional question. The maintainance of q
sound currency and the public credit is not
q sectional question. These are the issues
upon which the Republican party made its
fight and won its victory. Whatever Of
sectional feeling there is 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 action
of their Representatives in Congress. The
Southern Congressman attacked the election
laws because they trenched upon the old
beaten and discredited theory ofState Rights
"a theory that oil patriots supposed was
drowned in the sen of blood poured out
during the four years war. They tried to
take away the constitutional right of the
President to command the army, and pro-
posed to make of the National. troops an
alien force, powerless under certain condi-
tions within the borders Of State. This
action raised q 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 rcsuscitated.
Then We honestly believed, and had good
reason for believing, that the men control
ling the politics of the South systematically
suppressed large portion of the Republic
can vote in that 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
now2 The foolishness of its past political
action must be plain to oil its intelligent
citizens. Why not take new departure?
Northern Bourbonism has done nothing for
the South, and never will do anything.
The Democrats have recently had control
of both branches of Congress. What ben
eficial legislation have they adopted affect
ing the Southern States? They have frit-
tered away great deal of money in petty
local works of small good to anybody save
the contractors but what important i'm
provement for the advantage OF Southern
commerce can they point to? The opening
of the mouth of the Mississippi was Re-
publican measure. So was the Texas Pacific
Railroad and the great undertaking of max
ing frst-class seaport Of Galveston Bay.
When the Republicans went out OF power
in Congress they had already given earnest
attention to the vast problem of improving
the chanrel of the Mississippi, conlining its
current within its banks and recaiming the
millions ofacres of rich alluvial lands rem
dered worthless by its overflow. No one
was more interested in this problem than
General Garfield. He required to it in his
letter of acceptance, and spoke of the vital
importance Of the great river and its tribu,
taries to the whole country, and the need
of giving exceptional consideration to the
safety of their navigation.
The south will find in General Garfield o
liberal, broad-minded, patriotic Chief Mag
istrate, without particle of sectional preju-
dice He will be just as ready to aid wise
and proper measures for the benefit of the
commerce of the South as for that of the
North. Why not take the hand he offers.
and accept him cordially as the President of
the whole country? Northern capital and
Northern industry are ready to flow into the
Southern States. They only wait for assur-
ance that they will meet the same conditions
found in the West absolute security, hon.
est, friendly treatment, and equal rights,
social and political. Now is the time to be-
gin new era in Southern affairs. In every
State there are men of brains and large po-
litical influence who see the folly Of contin-
uing the alliance with Northern Bourbons.
Will they have the courage to break away
from it? The nextsfew months will show.
We want to assure them now that the Re-
publican party bears no ill-will toward them
or their section, and is ready at all times to
give them hearty welcome to the broad
platform of National principles upon which
it stands.