The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-12-08

iNNiNH INV iH' H''Ilf WIZ NNN' f'''W'ff
enough 10 DO fthey will only waich TIC
passing events with sunlolont olosencss to
see that their real interests are not swnl-
lowed up IN personal and party movements
Tho two chief incts IN these recent elections
have given strength and spirit to. certain
questions which will in all probability
change for better or for worse" the politi-
cal complexion of the United States. These
questions referred to are not many, and
have only so far been incidentally noticed
Ny the press at large. But "a straw too often
shows which way the wind blows" and
the success OF Mahoneism II Virginia, and
tue election of It Democratic Legislature in
New York, are matters Of vastly more sg-
nilicance in the light ofpresent and changing
party tactics than might AT first be sup
posed. One OF the first and most moment
GUS questions affecting us as q people, and
that will come up for consideration in the
next Congress, will unquestionably be the
matter of apportionment. We all remem-
Der what a muss was raised over this mat
ter last winter at Washington, and 1t was
| lIllDDSSlDlc w IcuCil u uSiiiiibc NOhNlioiOii
relative thereto. Party maiorities are
affected by changes in the constitu-
ton of the House, and as the
South had grown more rapidly than any
other section ofthe Union, the proposal of
the Democrats to increase the House to 310
members would have given Z them the
coveted majority. This was opposed
strcnuously by the Republicans, but then
they had New York, the pivot upon which
our national elections turn, and districted
most advantageously for the Republican
party, and they, of course, desired no
change The Democrats were willing to
adopt q basis of $40 members, under which
New York would retain exactly its present
representation for the sake of gains else
where Now the conclusion Of the whole
matter" Since the Democrats have
secured the Legislature of the Empire
State and have it in their power to redis-
trict the great battle-ground in manner to
suit themselves and the exigencies of their
party their opponents are perfectly willing
to adopt the former proposal, in fact insist
that it is the only just and proper appor-
tionment. In the language, indeed, of an
exchange, this party of progress" and
great moral ideas" has, it seems, entirely
''revised its views on the subject, and
"Republican opinion is rapidly crystalizing
in favor of that number" 1t may be
seen from this that local election with
purely local questions may have
q national influence and change the entire
complexion of party purposes and the Ma
tional Legislation. 1t is subject, indeed,
that is OF paramount importance to Texas
and the South, and it is source Of grauifi-
cation that the Republican party is begin
! ing to adopt the views and drop opposition
to the purposes of the Democratic
party in this particular. But there is an
other phase of the late elections and grow
ing directly out Of the success of the Read
iusters of Virginia that is not so well calcu-
lated to subserve either the future success OF
the Democratic party or comporl
with the better judgment OF the
honest men of the South. We refer to the
evident intention of disafected and ambi-
tious men in several of the Southern States
to inaugurate similar movement They
have been disappointed in the past and
lately emboldened by the victories of Ma.
hone. and have suffered themselves to be-
come possessed ofthe idea ola possibility
of political 'bossism." The Charleston
News and Courier of recent date says that
Judge Mackey is evincing his determine
ton and re diness to play the role of Ma
hone in South Carolina, and the same dis
position is manifesting itselfin Alabama
and Mississippi and perhaps Other
States. The cry in each case
is the same, Illegal debts, bur
dcnsome taxation and intolerance of free
dom of opinion. 1t is not the independence
ofthe movement we object to, but the fal
sity of the protested principles, the dema
gogucry of the protested leaders and the
tendency to corrupt the public faith. By
combining the ignorant negro vote, the
minority white vote and the disaflected anc
croakers of the controlling party, such ode
partures" are rendered successful and tn,
fair fame of the South, filled with as good
and honest people as ever lived under the
sun, is traduced and the impression created
that her people do not know the sacred
ness of an obligation. These are the com
mon views of the North and Europe regard
ing us and spring directly from the mongre
condition of politics in Tennessee and Vir
ginia. If the old parties are to be broken
up let it be upon principle; if division
must come let il arise from all honest dit
ference upon some controlling article o.
sincere belief, and not by scheming dema
gogues without principle and indeed in
open antagonism to such. Still sue
cess is always initiated and 1t is possible
that the victories of Malone may give
rise 10 considerable trouble and political
agitation in various sections Of the country.
All good citizens have but one thing to do
and that is to exclude politics as far as pos
sible from consideration in the South. We
have had too much in this line already, and
the two great commonwealth Of Tennessee
and Virginia are suffering to-day from the
want ofinternal unanimity Of opinion and
devotion to vexatious political rather than
maten,l questions. These two results Of
the late elections are likely to yet produces
the most widespread contentious and con
j sequences, and bring about an entire change
in party tactics.
ADIGNIFIIzD POSITION.
/ There IA 20 much party and 90 many per