New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-15
WHAT IL I

The Southern Democrat whose conversation
was reported in a letter from the White sulphur
SPRINGS i'm a recent TRIBUNE undoubtedly eX-
messed what is going on in the minds OF many
Democrats. North and South. This gentleman,
who is large plantation owner and was high
in the Confederate councils, in reply to The
question "What if Hancock is elected = said:
"Well. then we will enter into n long lease o
"power from which nothing but internal dis
sensOns can dislOdge us. We have now l3S
eectota votes, and this proportion, think,
"wll be increased by the new census, especially
"if we keep control OF Congress. We VIII then
" only need to carry two Northern States-New-
{" York and Indiana. for instance-to retain our
"power. We would be relieved of the necessity
" of any strong canvass in the South; ana GER
"tainly, witt the whole power OF the Admins
tration, and all our energies concentrated IN
d" two States there would be no doubt Of our
success" This is very direct and plain an
swer to the question what would happen IN the
event of Democratic success in the Presidential
election. 1t exactly states the situation. Their
is no avoiding the logic of it. The election OF
General Hancock means not merely his personal
trinmph-that is the least of its significance
u,
"powerr for-whOm Not for the Democratic
party simply, but for the Solid South. This is
the light in which everybody at the South views
the question ana they make no secret OF 1t.
Now it hardly need be said that, in this aspect
OF it, the election is o most momentous conSe-
qucnce to the whole people OF the North 1t Is
q question whether or not we shall surrender
the Government which we lately rescued from
destruction to the very men who attempted TO
break it up and destroy it. The election OF
Hancock can have no other meaning. Inc
Southern people interpret 1t correctly. 1t Is
no more nor less than an appeal from the de-
csion in the field to the forum OF the people
upon the question whether the South shall
control the Government. 1t may well set the
Northern people to serious thinking when they
are called upon TO give the Solid S0uth Il long
"lease of power" Bat there ale Southern
Democrats, too, who are III doubt rs 10 whether,
upon the whole, Hancock election and long
"lcasc OF power" to their own section would
he desirable. The gentleman to whom We nave
referred. though a Democrat and Southern
Democrat, was by no means clear, even from
his OVID point Of view. that liancpcAs election
would be an unmixed good to the South. If
I'VE lose this election, Salu ne, " IL VIII nave
" the effect of breaking up orr party III the
South. II will be evident then that we cam OF
q take that place in the Nation to which we are
by right entitled" After Il pause he added,
musingly: "But then / sometimes think it
"would be better for us in the long run. 1t
"would make our people depend more on their
Gown excrtons uC build up the South, and it
"would invite immigration and draw capital
.that now keeps away from us. II would
"rcmaye the sectional cry that will always be
"raised AGAINST us 50 long as the South remains
I" solid, and it would iii the end 1emOye the
"bitte1 feeling which our people entertain to-
Z" ward the Month"
There is great deal in this that the people of
both sections would do well carefully TO con-
slider. IL is serious question in the minds OF
some, even Southern Democrats, whether the
aScendancy of the South would not in the long
Inn be to its disadvantage. We have no doubt
of il, for our cyn part. Ii would certainly keep
sectional questions open and renew the Old
issues II is "a much for the advantage of the
South as of the North to have the sectional
questions permanently disposed of and pat out
of the way. 4 long lease Of power to the
Solid South would not only be disastrous to the
prosperity and welfare of the whole country,
hut especially disastrous to the South itself
We commend to every thinking citizen tie
consideration in all its bearings of the question
which tie Southern Democratic planter was 50
much in doubt about: What II Hancock Is
"electcd T.