The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1881-04-23
From the Times.
THE SOLID SOUTH.

Within the last two days two note.
worthy contributions have been made tc
the discussion Of the Southern question.
Ex-Secretary Schurz has made one and
Senator Frye the other. Mr.. Schurx
discusses the question in the philosophi-
cal spirit; Mr.. Frye wholly In The spirit
Of partlsarship. Mr.. Schurz's position ID
the logic Of the last administration, while
represe ntative Of the present administra-
ton. The contrast 10 not q pleasant one.
The promise for the future 10 not aatter-
ing, while, II Mr.. Frye really speaks the
views of the President and his advisers,
the memory Of Mr.. Hayes policy toward
the South will grow brighter every year.
There was nothing new IN Mr.. Frye's
speech, except, perhaps, some details or
some alleged facts, of q kind that must
always be taken with allowance, resting
as they do on the testimony Of hired
Pa-tisans, whose words cannot be con-
tradicted by those whom they attack un-
til some statesman like Mr.. Frye has
launched them on their evil way. The
speech was an in1amed and partisan
harangue. II was Intended for nothing
else. There was in the mind of the
speaker no purpose except 10 strengthen
his party. He had no intention Of max
ing any contribution to the vexed ques-
ton Of Southern politics, and he made
none. We do not think that we do Mr..
Frye injustice when we say that be be-
longs 70 a school Of politicians whose
cutlery against the solid South 10 the
merest pretence. II Mr.. Frye should tell
the truth he would probably say that be
believes that the solid South helps Ills
party in the North. Personally MI. Frye
does not hate the South and SOutherners;
AZ politician he pretends to hate them
The sectional issue is an easy one to dis.
cuss and the easiest yet invented by
politicians for the retention of power.
Those who know Mr.. Frye know
thoroughly well that he prefers questions
OF discussion that require little OF no
preparation to those that demand accur-
ate thinking and thorough study.
Mr.. Schurz's contribution TO the dis
cussion il in the form of an editorial
in the st. Louis WestIiehe Post. Mr..
Schurz is one of those who really be-
lieye that the solid South ought TO be
broken up. He belongs to an entirely
different order of public men from Mr..
Frye. What the stalwArt Republican,
assume a. q vantage ground, from
which to make attacks which only ap
pear to be aimed at the solid nouth,
but which are really intended to keeI
the South solid ALI candid and thought
full public men accept as a truth. The
country can receive nothing but ad
vantage from the division of the South
! ern voters or some other than the race
or color line. Such men as Senator
Lamar and Hampton and Bayard are
quite as strongly in favor of the dIsiR.
tegratlon of the South as Mr.. Schurz
can be. All men, In fact, who love
their country better than their party
will hail the day when there shall be
two parties in the South, each with III
share of the wealth and intelligence Of
} the community. Very few outside Of
the stalwart Republicans wish other.
wise. They still cling to the belle
that the solid South keeps them il
power. They will wake up some da,
/ 10 realize that they have made q fata
mistake. The astute among the Dem
ocraiic politicians, who are moved, l'k
the stalwart Republicans, by purel,
partisan considerations, have come u
+ see that the solid South is load whicl
weighs upon them. 1t is burden un
der which their party staggers.
It is recognized, however, by intelli
gent and honest men that the sole
South cannot be successfully broker
up by questionable means. Their
have bern two parties there since tn
war. One of them was the party O
ignorance and corruption upheld by
Federal arms, and the world knows tn
{ terrible result. The country does no
, desire to sae the establishment of an
other such party but that will surel
: be the end Of an attempt to divide par
{ ties by bargain with the Mahones
0 VIII, may be found In plenty in ever,
a Southern State, or by distribution Q
Federal patronage among the need
= politicians.