National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-10-26
NOT MUCH CHANGE,

The state OF things to-day rs regards |
sectionalism is not unlike what it was !
twenty years ago, Notwithstanding slavery !
has been abolished. Now, as then, there is
solid south, and democratic party |
north acting with and for a solid
south, willing and pledged to carry
out the policy which the south demands. |
1t was formerly supposed and taught by |
the leading statesmen and philosophers of
the old ant-slavery party that if slavery
was abolished the interests of both sections
would be the same thereafter, and as men
are governed by their interests in the main,
perfect harmony would in very brief
period prevail when slavery was out of
the way.
Mr.. LINCOLN said This country will
have no rest until slavery is put upon
course of ultimate. extinction" CARL
ScHURz in the greatest speech ever made
by him, said: THE antagonistic element
which continually struggled against the
vital principles of our system of govern
ment, once removed, we shall be q truly
united people, with common interests, COM
mon hopes and a common future" This
was the general belief, but the antagonistic
element has been out of the way sixteen
years, and the sectional discord remains in
full and highly dangerous activity. 1t is
very serious condition of things-more
serious than the people and the politicians
are aware Of and growing worse all the
time, apparently, instead of better.
To- 10, IL Al,
of affairs we must first understand why the
expected results of the abolition OF slavery
were not realized-why things predicted
failed to come TO pass. The solid south i'm
plies, of course, the desire on the part of
the south for something which the north
has and enjoys, or expects to have and en-
joy, which the south is deprived of; or it
implies state of feeling growing out of
outside matters, and independent of in
terests of a material nature. Which is it 2
We do not find any laws which bear upon
the south which do not apply TO the
north as well. There is now no question con-
corning fugitives from labor, no question as
to the right Of master to take his work
men into the territories, no complaint of in
reference with southern domestic institu-
tons, and no supposed intent on the part
ofnnybOdy TO get up a servile instruction.
Those were the old causes of complaint, and
they were all done away with by the aboli-
ton of slavery, and all the laws apply to
the west, north and south alike Still the
difficulty is not removed. The south howls
with the same ferocity as formerly, and de-
mands what it calls paciiication in n voice
OF imperious tone and shrillness. Why {
The answer is not fur to find. The great
pecuniary interest which the south had in
slavery was not the sole interest. Slavery
created q social caste, ruling class, and
was n convenient political lever which en-
abled the slaveholding families to dominate
and control social and public affairs, ant
they did it. Their pecuniary interest be-
ing gone by no means destroyed their love
of power or their determination to dom
nate. Their loss only made greater the
necessity of cingng to their hold upon
Office and power with u firmer and more
desperate grip, and it is this which make:
the south solid now, aided by the memory
by the hope that if they can still succeed
in controlling the government the los
cause may b. rcgained, or, ut least, tn,
losses incurred IN its defense may be re
covered and the future be within their owl
control
In this endeavor they find an ally in th,
democratic party which gives them all tn,
hope they have Of success. The soutl
keeps up its fight because it has this ally
Let it be once and finally understood tina
the north is solid against keeping up tn,
sectional issue, solid against paying south
crn war claims, solid against placing al
the political power Of the nation into tn,
hands of those who tried to destroy tn,
nation, solid against fraud and bulldozin,
at the polls, and solid against a ruling elias
anywhere in the country, north or south
and all this sectional strife will end, unles
itbe kept up on former hate or the force 0
old habit, which does not seem possibl
should be done for amy length Of time,
The movement in Virginia under tn
lead of MALONE is Of immense sgnil
cance. 1t strikes directly at the old rulin
class, and seeks their dethronement. Tn
bourbons alone stand in the way Of com
plctc harmony of the sections. Destro
them and you destroy the only vital ami
mus against rule by all the people. De
slroy them, and class aud race distinction
fall. VIVA is COOL for the colorcd laborin
man will be good for the white labodn,
man. Destroy them ami various autago
nisms will subside. Destroy them and ih
democratic party will have no excuse 10
existing Destroy the bourbons and ia