National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-10-10
The Southern Question of To-Day.

The Southern Question of To-Day.
The administration Of President Ar
thur is confronted with Southern ques-
ton, but IL is not the one which has per-
picked his predecessors. No longer is it
one of repression and force. The mas
sacre of blacks and whites for political
opinions by violent armed bands has
ceased. The Government became 80
pusillanimous at the South after 1876 that
it was not even an irritant to law-break-
ers. It clasped hands with them, and
prescribed its friends. This was bless
ing in disguise The forsaken friends of
the Government found among the ex-
confederates large element impatient of
the stupid policy and arrogant methods
Of the Bourbon party. When treachery
had benumbed Republicanism at the
North and extinguished it rs political
factor at the South new movement
began in the latter section. The progress
of it in Virginia has been remarkable,
and presages rapid growth in other
Southern States. 1t demands nothing
but obedience TO law and fair elections.
Its original purpose in Virginia was to
take from imbccile and faithless hands
the management of the State finances,
and TO redeem the honor of the State by
fair and open dealing and the payment
of obligations to the very EXTREMIST capa-
city of the revenues. A United States
Senator was the first fruit of this liberal
movement, and now it is auoass . choose
another and the State government.
Tennessee elected a Republican Cover
nor in November, and liberalizing policy
will make future successes certain. North
Carolina and Arkansas are most promis-
ing fields for similar work. Mississippi
is now making her first showing in the
same direction. Indeed the time has at
last arrived when the Southern States are
to make general struggle for redemp-
ton from Bourbon servitude under the
lead of Southern-born men who fought
the battles of the South during the war.
To encourage these struggles is the only
policy which offers any hope for the ex-
panson of national ideas at the South.
There is no other Southern question. The
carpet-baggers, scalawags, and niggers,"
as the Bourbons call the Republicans of
that section, are, with few exceptions,
heartily in accord with the ex-Confeder-
atcs who dare to lead in this work of polit-
ical regeneration. The old regime dies
hard but die it will. In the Senate to-
day are able and enlightened men on the
Democratic side, who move along with
King Caucus because they dread the ex-
communication which follows resistance
to his edicts. Why can they not raise in
their States the standard of revolt as Ma
hone did in Virginia. They would find,
as he did, a great army of men whose
Democratic natures revolt at the insolent
arstocracy called Demnc,r.".ccy; in in the South,
ana they would find, as he did, the Re-
publican party ready to follow if patriotic
Southerners would only lead.
The men who could do this and whose
instincts draw them toward the good
work have but to inaugurate it to find
influences of a powerful character ut work
to aid them.
1t will be fortunate if in the selection
of his Cabinet the President shall find
Southern-born man who has always been
a Union man, but who is big and broad
enough to realize the necessity of recog-
nizing the new departure among the ex-
confederates, which is to restore the Ma
ton. 1t should be man who made his
patriotism conspicuous in the times that
tried mems souls, but who did not burn
his heart out in hatred of the misguided
men with whom he contended Such
man would give courage to the national
cause in every Southern State. Through
him the President could be informed Of
the acts and intentions of men, and the
South would realize that it was not for
saken and abandoned portion of the ma
tional vineyard
From many names that tcan represented
from the late Confederate States the
President might select one whose char
acter and ability would justify him in in.
trusting to him the conduct of Depart
ment. These words are written in no
mans interest.