Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-12-22

phase Of the Southern question, and
every one of them, from Lincoln to
Garfield, has had Southern policy
which was more or less detined MIR.
Lincoln had his attention called to
the Southern section Of the country
by very direct method, and SO had
all his Successors, until President
Arthur. The great rebellion and the
emancipation of the slaves turned
everything topsy-turvy in the South
and the period of reconstruction was
painful, vexatious, and prolonged
Secession was not contemplated by
the trainers OF the constitution, and
no provision was made for the re-
organization of State whose gov
ernment had been everthrOwn by
revolt, so that the experiment OF
taking State out Of the Union and
bringing it back again, was essen
TALLY new and novel one. Mr..
Lincoln's sole purpose was to save
the Union by the suppression of the
Rebellion, and since his day the
nation has been vexed with various
phases of the reconstruction prob
lem Hence, until now, Mr.. Lin
coins successors-Johnson, Grant
and Hayes--have devoted con-
siderable ported Of their messages
to considering the affairs OF the
South, hut President Arthur made
an exception to the rule, and wisely
as we think.
Some of the newspapers, fearing
that the South might feel sighted,
have referred to the matter in their
columns, which has caused the New
York Ecening Post to rise and sub
NIT the following:
In the first place, there was really nothing
To say about "lhe South as distinctive part
OF the country" What is going on there may
not in every detail be regular and commend
able, but ii cannot be made a subject OF solemn
criticism or warning in Presidential message
without calling for similar criticism and warn
ing With regard 10 similar things jnst as little
regular and commendable happening in other
parts Of the country. In the second place,
President Arthur, as u Republican partisan, Is
shrewd enough 10 see that, even if there were
material out of which paragraph about the
condition of the South" could be manuac
tureed, it would hurt his party more than help
it, because the people arc tired OF being tod
that there are dreadful dangers threatening
from n part OF the country which we, In point
of fact, know to DC simply struggling to get
on It's feet again economically, and which,
Notwithstanding some very grave mistakes aud
transgressious, has on the whole done as well
"a IN ight have been expected in bringing order
out OF the confusion and the conflict OF social
and political forces naturally following total
overthrow Of it's old labor system. President
Arthur undoubtedly remembers that con
spicuous after pit WAS made last year to put
the southern question forward as the great
issue at the last Presidential election, and
! that, if that kind Of leadership had prevailed
! the Republican party would have been gno
| miniousy defeated, and bo would not now bs
where he is. In other words, there is nc
longer ANY political capital in the Southern
question. Asa Republican partisan, President
| Arthur must also be shrewd enough 10 ser
that the time is past when the Republican
| party can be kept alive in the South by means
| of arbitrary governmental interference easee
upon reports Of awless and dangerous move
ments going on in the Southern states.
!, was in that way that the Republican party IL
| the South lost all its vitality. Neither can
recommend itself III the Southern people b.
constantly representing Southern society AS s
| hotbed of deyilish tendencies threatening Thu
| overthrow Of the republic. People do not biz
to strike hands with those who make 1t
business to revie them.
1t WAS certainly judicious in Presi
| dent Arthur not to make any specia
reference to that section. 1t is nov
! in = more prosperous condition ans
wears a more hopeful look than
! has since the war closed, and all i
needs is q little help from the Fed
eral Government to educate the chill
dren who are now growing up Il
ignorance.
| While the cotton crop this year
, reported to be less than in ten year
i before, their other industries has
had more attention, and there Is
t greater return from diversified ayr
! cultural labor. Increased interes
/ has been taken in manufacturing
e more money has been spent on Of