National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-23
The Old and the New.

issued.
--s--
The Old aud the New.
The Bourbon Democratic leaders of
the South affect to believe that the spirit
of independence that has inaugurated the
new political movement in that section
of the country is plant that cannot
grow upon the soil of the Cotton or Cult
States, but that it can be weeded out by
the same system of social ostracism of the
whites and violence against the blacks
that has been so efiectually used in the
past against the Republican organization
in those States. These leaders have come
to the philosophical conclusion, so forci-
bly, announced by the celebrated colored
brother of the Richmond pulpit that
the earth do stand still Theyforget that
the new movement has been started by
men to the manner born, against whom
social ostracism cannot be brought to
bear, and that under such auspices vio-
lence and intimidation against the col
ored voters cannot and will not be toll
Grated.
The saying that Bourbon never learns
and never forgets is as true of our South
ern Bourbons as it was of those of France.
A score of years ago they believed that
slavery was u divine institution that
could not be overthrown; yet within five
years afterward it had ceased to exist.
They then asserted that, the negroes, de-
prived of the care of their masters,
would gradually die out and thus disap-
pear on this continent. The census re-
turns show that Notwithstanding the inn
mense influx of white immigrants from
Europe, the blacks have Increased in a
greater ratiO than the white population
of the country. An agricultural people,
left in the peaceful pursuit of their in
dustry, can never disappear from the face
of the earth. 1t is only the nomad, with
his red hand against every other man,
that dies out or is crushed out of exist
ence.
All the other Bourbon theories of
States rights constitutional government,
strict construction, Radical hatred of the
South, negro supremacy, carpet.bag rule,
and the thousand mere catch-words that
were used to organize and consolidate
the white voters of that section into q
solid South have proven equally as falla-
Cious rs those above cited. The leaders,
however, did succeed in forming a COM
pact party, the benefits of which have
only Injured to themselves and not to the
people, for they have been kept in fat
and lucrative offices, while the peopl G
have been studiously separated, as far rs
possible, from active commerce and sym
pathy with the great body of the people
of the whole Nation.
But many changes have been gradually
going on in the South that will finally
end in the complete overthrow of the
oligarchy Of Bourbon leaders that now
controls its destinies. In the first place,
the Democratic majorities, brought about
by ostracisim and violence, became too
great, and, unchecked by respectable
opposition minority, State legislation has
become reckless and corrupt, The lead.
ers whose influence has brought about
this condition of affairs are generally
those who brought about secession and
the consequent war, Since then new
generation of young, active, and progress
sive men, who were boys when the war
began, has grown up, and they are anx-
ious to take that part in public affairs
to which they are entitled by theil
vigor and abilities They have none
Of the prejudices Of the past, M
old States rights records to defend, NJ
aRtc-bsllun education in the doctrines o
strict construction and tomtoolory t.
cramp them, and they are anxious tina
the old scabs that brought the South t,
the brink of ruin should slough Off an,
leave cleanly body-politc to enter aneN
upon the race Of progress, But these am
bilious younger men are "sot back" TO us
n Southern phrase, by the willy oil
leaders, and they are growing restiv
under the domination Of the old "mos'
backs" and thousands Of them are pre-
pared for an Independent movement tina
will relieve them from the political Sin
bads who are crushing ont their aspira
tions and checking the march of progress
and development in the South.
And for several years past Northern
capital and energy have been gradual,
pouring into the South in an annually in
creasing volume, building railroads anC
telegraph lines, erecting manufacturing
establishments, andintroducing skilled la
Dor from the vast body Of railroad men anc
manufacturers of the North, whose inter
course with the people of the South ha
aroused their energies, 80 long dorman
under the teachings Of the mossback
that politics and oaice-holding were tn
only industries worthy the attention o
Southern youth. Large appropriation
have been voted by Northern Radicals 70