National Republican., 1881-12-10
Tho President and the South.

NNl''g JobA F" tAisfifNNN
degree of satisfaction over the fact that
the President omitted wholly from the
message what has long been known as
the Southern question. This applause is
not loud and genuine, but rather SUBJ
dued and experimental. 1t is an evident
effort. 1t is but dismal attempt to
smile through tear. It is out of tune
with the rawlings of Jubal Early's organ
at General Arthur's support of the great
Liberal movement in Virginia.
And yet it is true that the Southern
question was omitted by the President
Perhaps it was because the Southern an
swer has come to the question. The
period of Force which unavoidably eX-
listed after the war for the suppression of
violence and disorder which followed in
its train yielded TO period of national
pusillanimity and gush which gave the
Bourbons absolute control in the South.
This rule was so disastrous to the we'll
being of Southern society, and so heathen-
ish in IFS blind devotion to the dead Past,
so demoralizing in the methods
it employed to force minority rule in
order to defy the enfranchising
laws of the Nation, and so resolute in its
hostility to popular education and politi-
cal Freedom, that il has commenced to
crumbe. There is no doubt that it was
long made strong by the effort to enforce
national lawsamong people not trained
to feel their binding force. 1t is certain
il,at fr,,,, ,,t,tl,t,, orN,, To
TO come the power which will lead the
opponents of that party to its extermina-
ton. This has already been accomplished
in Virginia. The President is known to
have given his cordial moral support
to the coalition in that State,
He was not wheedled or deceived
by the old Bourbon foxes. He was not
susceptible to their assurances that he
was gentleman. 1t probably never oc-
cured to him that any doubt existed on
that point. Would that every Republi-
can official might be able to dispense
with the enemy's assurance of personal
regard, when such regard can only be
won by treachery to the cause to which
he owes his elevation.
Our President is now known by all the
public men of the country. They see in
him one who is full of gracious courtesy,
but also one who seeks not the approba-
tion of others by betrayal of a cause. The
Democratic party cannot forage upon him
for supplies. He knows where to draw
the line between official and political re-
lations. In vain will political enemies
attempt to run their bad politics through
official favors sought os;ensibly in the pub
lcimterest. He will be respected because
he will not be played upon. lie will not
have his political sword drawn at inn
proper times, but he will know who has
Il political stiletto for him while purringly
vouching for the responsibility of some
Bourbon serving man in Republican uni
form.
The President rejoices in common with
all patriotic men at the breaking up of
the Solid South, which has now COM
menced. He believes the Liberal victory
in Virginia is an event of great import
ance, and hopes to see it succeeded by far
reaching consequences, beneficial. to the
whole people. He has no party spirit,
except what is directed against tyranny,
prescription, ignorance, and lawlessness.
Whoever is opposed to these cannot
make that opposition felt in the Demo
cratic party. We believe the coming
contest is to be between the friends of
Law, Order, Education, and Progress
on the one side, led by the
Administration, and, on the other, those
who still adhere to the Bourbon Democ-
racy. The Democrats are better than
their party. 1t will be impossible for the
masses of them to be much longer held
together by leaders half of whom pine for
spoils and half for q reversal of twenty
years of national history.
And so we are glad the President did
not refer to the Southern question in his
message. No more of old stories or old
epithets. Upward, not downward; for
ward, not backward; no political tests
save obedience to rightful authority, and
no Southern question except how to sub
jugate the South with prosperity and tc
restore peace and harmony in the family
of States gathered again under the ma
tional roof.