Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-02
BaiIp &enrebef Jonrrral.


Augusta, Saturday Hsrning, April 2.
Tho Irrepressible Conflict.
The discussion which has occupied the
Senate the last week brings into promi-
psncs the fact that the antagonism be-
tween the North and South primarily
caused by the institution Of slavery still
exists. The violence Of feeling which ac-
companied the conflict of ideas between
the sections previous to the war has sub
sided in large measure. but difference
still remains sufficientto hold the South solid
or nearly 50 in one political party. while
the North adheres to another Ben Hill
and Brown are representatives of the
dominant sentiment of the South,
which is opposed to negro suffrage
and TO negro advancement beyond
the condition of slaves. They still
hold that the negro is an infe-
rior being to the white man, created and
fitted only to lead life of servitude. and
their purpose is to keep him in that condi-
ton although under the constitution he is
entitled to freedom and all the rights to
which freemen are entitled. They sup
port the democratic party because that par
~ supports their peculiar ideas. With a
democratic administration at Washington,
they would find no opposition on the part
of the general government to their meas
ures for returning the colored people TO a
condition of bondage and riveting their
chains as securely as they were before the
rebellion.
The republican party is opposed to this
southern policy regarding the colored
people, hence it is the toe of the men and
the party whom Hill and Brown repre-
sent. The republican party maintains
that the negroes must have free ballot,
must have a right to be heard in the
courts, and should be educated as white
people are and elevated from the condi-
ton of brutishness into which slavery
plunged them to that Of intelligent human
beings. 1t is plain therefore that the con-
test between the North and South is the
same old fight, the same irrepressible con-
fiict. kept up by the reluctance of the
South to allow the colored people to cast
off the shackles Of slavery. 1t is because
Of this fight and the determination of the
southern leaders to keep their States solid
for the democracy that they so bitterly
assail Malone. Let Virginia break away
from the southern democratic column, and
It needs no prophet to foretell that the
beginning of the end of the Solid South is
here. The influence of such movement
would be powerful. It would not only
add another State to the hosts of freedom,
but it would weaken the democratic or.
ganization in every Southern State, and
strengthen and build up the republican
organization.
But whatever may be the result of Ma
homes fight in Virginia. whether he stand
firm for the right or not. whether he sue
coed or fail in dealing the Bourbons IA
tai blow at this time. there is no doubt
that the republican party will finally tri-
umph in the conflict. The principles
which ID maintains are bound to rule the
country from the great lakes to the gulf.
Slavery has been driven out of its in
trenchments, and its shattered remains are
no match for the elements that it feebly
and vainly attemps to stay in their march.
But, exclaim the leaders of the southern
democracy, you republicans are not con-
tent with having us acknowledge that we
are not in favor of another war and mean
to be loyal to the government. you insist
that we shall become republicans We
say. that whether these men call them.
selves democrats or republicans is of no
consequence, but that they must accept
and grow into the ideas of the republican
party if they desire prosperity Unnecessary
and we believe inevitable. This conflict
will 60 on until the darkness OF Bourbon
ism will disappear from the South and the
glorious light of Liberty and Republican
ism come in to illumine the places where
once the slave pen, the auction block for
the sale Of human beings. and the slave
drivers whip were known and cherished
institutions.
An imposing programme has been ar.