The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-01-01


by its becoming convinced. through re-
peated failures. that it could never sue
ceed in its ambitious dream of power
1t now looks as if the defeat OF the Demo-
cratic party in the recent election has
started the process of disntegration.-
Many of the leading Southern journals
are disposed to give up the fight, and
hint at the wisdom of abandoning the
alliance with the Northern Democracy.
Wise politicians in every Southern state
see that political scheme based upon
the weaker section of the country is a
mistake. because its inevitable result is
| to unity the stronger section IN opposition
to it. The new administration will be
able to do much towards stimulating the
growth of this sentiment. First. it can
let it be understood that there is to be
complete amnesty for past political action
in the South. and that men Of character
| who are now willing to come forward
and help build upa new Republican party
i'll that section are to be treated with cor
diality, and are not to be Gistyusted be-
cause of the former party connection.
There will be trouble III taking this
course. because old Republicans, who
have borne hostility and ostracism for
their opinions sake for many years. will
want to monopolize the fayors of the
| President, and will naturally object to
! the immediate recognition OF new con-
verts: but necessity OF bringing new ele-
mentS into the Republican party in order
to create Il strong opposition to Hemoc-
racy in the South will doubtless be fully
! understood by the President. Gratitude
, to heroic men who have been faithful to
| loss and danger must not stand in the
way of the accomplishment Of the great
end of bringing the South up to the
Northern level of political. tolerance.
1t may be that something more will
have to be done than giving hearty well
come and recognition to all elements
"iIliS u HeIp III Il new oibei Vi tllihSo
at the South; it may be that a suhstan-
tial earnest of Northern good will to-
wards the beaten and batfled section will
| have to be given in TIE form of Internal
| improvements, carried on with money
| appropriated from the national treasury
by Republican votes. Not that the
l,o lr;I,nI 70, Il 10 70
two parties. but because it is distrustful
| of Northern feeling. and needs to be
convinced by some conspicuous act of
generosity that the stronger section
cherishes no hostile sentiments. The
Democrats. since they obtained the cun-
troll of the appropriations. have expended
a great deal of money on petty river and
harbor improvements in the South, but
they have inaugurated no important
work. like the Mississippi .jetties and the
Texas Pacific Railway. both of which
are the fruits of Republican legislation
1t is not difficult to say what works yet
remain to be undertaken. that are eSsen-
TALLY national in their character. and yet
would be especially beneficial to the
South One, at least, will at once occur
to mind. namely, the improvement Of
the channel of the Mississippi, and the
retaining of the vast areas of swamp
land now rendered worthless by the over
flow of its waters. This work would
| take long period of time and cost Il
very large amount of money, but in the
end it would enable vessels of heavy
draught to go up to st. Louis. and it
would gain for agriculture an area of OK
ceedingly rich territory. capable of sup
porting five millions of people. To plan
and carry on an undertaking of such
gigantic magnitude would he task
worthy of the highest craftsmanship
Another project might be mentioned.
which, though not ranking in Importance
with the Mississippi Improvement. would
still be of far more than local value. 1t
is ship canal across the Florida PENN
sula. which would save six or seven hun
dred miles ef navigation between New
York and New Orleans. Mobile and Gal
weston.
Next to the Southern question. finan-
cial matters are likely to be the most i'm
portant subjects occupying the new ad
ministration. The public debt is in eX-
cellent shape now, and the policy Of Sec
rotary Sherman will no doubt be sub
stantially the policy of his successor
Some legislation will be needed to meet
loans falling due and to carry on the
work of refunding, but all will he plain
| sailing. The principles governing the
| management of the debt-a scrupulous
| fultillment of all obligations, and re-
| duction of the interest rate to as low a
| point as will command a market for the
| bonds at par-have been fixed with the
| cooperation of General Garfield as a
member OF Congress, and will of course
| suffer no change during his Presidential
term. The future of the greenbacks is a
| question not so easy to determine, and
one which may lead to great deal of
controversy. In the absence of other
financial issues, this may come to the
front of political discussion. We may
be tolerably sure that the Republican
victory in November disposed of the pro-
| ject for the destruction of the banks,
which was advocated by the Greenback-
ers and by considerable majority of
the Democrats, but the question of the
permanency of the present system Of a
mixed currency of treasury notes and
bank notes is still an open one. The Re-
publican party is divided upon it. \
| considerable portion believes that the
government should always keep atloat a
| large volume of redeemable notes. :" to
steady the currency" as they express it,
Another portion believes that treasury
notes are positive evil, and that the
government should wholly retire from
the business Of furnishing the country
with a paper circulation. General Gar
| fields action in Congress has been in
the direction of an ultimate withdrawal
of the greenbacks. but it is very doubt
full whether majority can be got in
| Congress for the passage Of any measure
of the sort. The new administration
may not be required to face the ques-
ton, from the want OF sufficient force in
| Congress. and thus it must drift over
another four years period.