Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-15
MIN the said South Ra Divided /.

Will the SoIid South Be Divided.
The late triumph of the coalition be-
tween the Repudiationists and Republi-
cans in Virginia has evidently inspired
the dominant party in the United States
with new hope, on the ground that at
last 1.-THE solid South" is divided, and
that henceforth the Republican party,
with the aid of a few Southern States
and an almost solid North can retain
power indefinitely. Indeed, so conf
IDENTIFY is this calculated upon, that
already we are informed the administra-
ton is about to consult with prominent
Southern Republicans, with the view of
effecting other coalitions in this section
similar to that in Virginia, in the hope
that Federal patronage may prove as
powerful controller of elections else
where as it has been shown to be in the
Old Dominion.
While it is to be admitted that the Re
publicans have reason TO feel exultation
over the success of Reputation IN Nir-
GINA, still there is good ground to hope
that they are being carried away too far
by their feelings, for when all the pecu-
liar circumstances connected with the
Virginia election are calmly and care
fully considered, there is considerable
cause for the belief that the South is not
so divided politically as it might be
after all. True, it was the aid and
comfort given by the Republican party
and the administration to the cause OF
reputation in Virginia which defeat
ed the cause of honesty in that State,
and furnished the escutcheon Of the
commonwealth, and which defeat
will result in seriously impairing both
State and national credit, and defraud-
| ing a large number of Northern citizens,
holders of Virginia bonds, Of their just
dues. Nevertheless, it is by no means a
certainty that the Republicans have f.
nally and lrrevocably captured tie State
In the first place it must be remem-
bered that Cameron, assisted by Federal
patronage and the Northern money
power, and with the almost solid negro
vote of the State-estimated, we believe,
at about 60, 0OO-on his side, was, after
all, only elected by the very small ma
iorlty of about 5000. This is a decided
cutting down of the majority with which
Mshone carried the State four years ago,
when he had nothing like the same pow
erful element to assist him as he had
during the recent canvass, and therefore
it Is shown that thousands who voted
with him before had become disguised
with his treachery TO his party and had
awakened to a full sense Of the odium
which, for selfish personal ends, he de-
sired to fasten upon his State. There
were, however, many others who, while
entirely disappearing of his desertiOn OF
the Democratic party, and who evidently
desire the success of that party in the
country, voted with him this time simply
and solely because of the
State debt question. Such as
these acted with him on Tuesday last
not because they despise Malone the less,
but because thereby they hoped to get
their taxes reduced, and because they
conscientiously believe that Virginia
does not really owe more than the repu-
diationists profess themselves willing to
allow her creditors. This class will,
when national issues are presented,
probably return in a body to their old
Democratic faith, aud when they do
Cameron's small majority will disappear
as chat before the wind
For this and other we'll kn0 n rea-
sons which we will not now take
space to enumerate, we believe
the Republican party is calculating
without its host when it jumps
at the conclusion that because the
Democracy were defeated in Vir-
GINA on Tuesday last the South will
henceforth be largely divided, and that
several Southern States can be captured
for the Republican Presidential candi-
date in 1884. If the political condition
of affairs remain then as they are at pres
ent, the electoral vote of Virginia, and
every other Southern State, viii as surely
be cast for the Democratic standard
bearer as it was last year for General
Hancock. 1t is therefore by no means
unlikely that Mr. Arthur and the Repub-
lican leaders will find that they have
seriously compromised the public credit
without securing what they are ever so
willing to make any sacrifice to secure
party supremacy and Republican sue
cess.