National Republican., 1880-09-21
SOME SOUTHERN TENDENCIES.

SOME SOUTHERN TENDENCIES.
The failure of the late democratic confer.
ence in Richmond to produce harmony
between the funder and readiuster fac
tions of Virginia proves that there is
moro radical difference between them than
could possibly grow out of the disposition
of the state debt. No one outside the state
can see what influence the election of either
electoral ticket can have upon such n purely
local question rs appears to divide them.
In fact, very few outside of the state can
tell what fuuder expects 10 do with the
debts Of Virginia or in what way a read
jusor would treat them if he had exclu-
sive power A careful reading of the Nir-
ginia papers will not much enlightcn the
seeker for information. Neither party says
much about paying the debt, aud each
party denies that it favors reputation.
There is no lack Of the war spirit, however,
in the editorials Of the respective organs.
Instead of being sorrowlul over the abortivo
result Of the conference the funder news
papers vie with those of the readjusters in
joyous shouts over an escape from forced
union with hateful rivals.
To republicans there are many features
of the conference and its results which cam
not fail to be encouraging. The proposition
of the funders that the negro voters of Vir-
giHia should be excluded from the primar-
les slows that that faction cings TO the ex-
treme bourbon traditions of the southern
democrat, while the rejection of the propo-
sition by General MAHoNE's followers
proves that a very large number Of white
democrats OF Virginia have advanced far on
the way toward a thorough recognition OF
the equal rights theory, which is the basis
Of true republicansm.
1t is evident that great step has been
secured toward ample protection here.
Riter to the colored voter. The days OF
bulldozing, ku-kluxism and false counting
directed to the maintenance of the color
line have passed away, so far as Virginia is
concerned.
The influences which have produced thi,
hopeful state Of affairs in Virginia arc
working toward n similar result in Other
portions Of the south. Tennessee, Georgia
md Texas will, ere another presidential
election comes around, be in line with Vir.
ginia upon tho subject of an untrpmmellcd
suffrage. This is only TO say that one OF
the other faction is to be brought into rela.
lions with the national republican party
its opponent remaining with the domoc-
racy.
The factions may eagerly repel The asser.
ton now made. The readjuster in Virginia
now repels it. The boilers in Georgia and
Tennessee vociferously assert their simon.
pure democracy. The independents in
Texas and elsewhere arc claiming to be
oven straightcr democrats than the rcgu
lars. None Of the faction leaders now con,
template more than war within the party
for its control on some local or persona
issue. They think that when that is at
tanned or decisively lost there will be re-
turn to party harmony as of old
A very slight acquaintance with Amor
can politics will satisfy the locker on that
this expectation is not likely to be realized
TO look forward to such result is counting
against the probabilities.
The liberal bolt against the republican
prty during General GRANTS first admin.
istration was composed largely of men who
were devoted to the original principles of tho
republican party. They had, many ol
them, spent q lifetime in hating the very
name Of the democratic party, Their great
leader in 1872 may be said to have been the
Schoolmaster of the republican masses
They were radicals by nature. They had
differed with President LINCOLN because
he was too slow for them in attacking slav.
cry and because of his leniency TO rebels
They very nearly boltcd his nomination in
1854 in the very midst of the war Ifthey
had done so the probabilities are we should
have had two conlcdcracics, if not half q
dozen. When such men began to be in op
position they did not dream of the posyi,
bility Of events landing them in the demo.
cratic party And yet that is whore thcy
did land very shortly, and that is where
many Of them are to-day,
Practical men acting in political ufluir,
demand success or some measure Of sue.
cess The number who arc able to 20 on
ior long time in n hopeless minority are
few. Consequently botiug parties grad
nally coalcsce with other minoritics in ordcl
that united they may be majority and
lhus yet at least that half loaf which !,
better than no bread,
We are, therefore, sure that the appear
Rnce Of these new parties in the southern
states means an ultimate alliance between
The national republican party and one Of
The other of the factions. IN Virginia the
readjusters are forced to take an advanced
position on the question Of suffrage, declar
nglornn untrammelled exercise oftho right
hus liberating the voters from pecunary
qualification and any tamporing with the