Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-11-28
The aSOuIhern Question"

1t is persistent idea in some local
tiles that the solid South is somehow
or other problem" or question"
which needs solution. 1t is not urged
that the governments OF the various
States OF the South are not at present
directed by the intelligence and chars
acter Of that section, but that some of
them must by all means be made Re
publican. The Southern question"
is not how to improve the administra-
tion Of the local affairs Of the Southern
people taken as q whole. In point of
honesty and economy the manage
ment Of their affairs is admitted to
compare very favorably with that of
the best governed States Of the entire
Union.
1t is conceded that to- day the South
is abundantly prosperous, and it cans
not be denied that this prosperity
dates in each State from the point Of
time at which that State escaped from
the Republican government fastened
on it during the ruious period Of so
called reconstruction. With remark
able uniformity the era Of enterprise,
progress and rapidly increasing wealth
comedies in every Southern State
With the incoming Of the period Of
repose that followed the advent Of the
Democrats to power. The industrial
awakening which the South has ex-
perienced within the last seven years.
OF since the last Southern State came
under the Democratic control, would
of itself be q strong argument
with philanthropists for the con
tinuance Of power in the
hands Of the same men that now WELD
| it. The history Of the last seventeen
years abundantly proves that whatev-
er change of parties or party names
may come about, cheap, honest and
efficient government can hardly b.
obtained from combinations effected
by the carpet bag and scalawag ele
meuts Of Southern political life. Ma
homes brief domination in Virgins
was but belated repetition Of tht
vice, corruption, political debauchery
and disQuiet which the triumph o.
those elements had some years pre-
viously produced in the States further
South. M
The Malone method Of solving thr
Southern QuestiOn--that is to say, ere
ating Republican majorities in tn,
Southern States-has, in fact, excited
SO much general disgust throughou
the Union, that, having failed, il is SO
riously proposed to abandon it for an
other and more honest avenue to sue
: cess. che New York Times propose
! argument and discussion. "Mahone'
, career, says the Times, has simpl
shown that the Southern whites can
not be seriously divided by such mel
e as he with such methods as his. II 70
}, mains to be seen II they can be di
yided by honest men and decent meth
DDS, not as Southerners or on any sec
: tional question, but as American cit
= zens on the broad question Of goo
: government. There is now but on
Q course-to appeal to the South pre-
r cisely as to the North, on living issue
addressing men Of both races and ,
!, all parties candidly, openly, withol
i fear or favor. That such an appei
n would producea satisfactory result v
n have little doubt, but whatever its r.
!, suit, there would be one supreme So
isiaotion in it-no one would need
u be ashamed Of il"
8 An era of persuasion would doub
8 less be welcomed by the South, The
; could be no objection TO a concerto
: effort on the part Of "honest men
= with decent methods" to change Il
l. political faith ofthat or any other SCI
% ton Of the country. Such men an
:. such methods might, perhaps, not |
without effect in altering the polit
" cal faith Of several Western Stat,
l. which have for many years past bee
d almost solidly Republican, but q col
sequence Of this character would
I more than compensated for by the in
: proved political morals that woul
d perhaps, be introduced thereby in
N publio life,