Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-12-08
WHOLE NO. 2,5OI.
What the South rs Dong.
Missouri Republican.

of the Republican managers tO make
| if possible, sectionaliSm the donIi-
nant issue in the coming presiden-
tial campaign. it Is both interesting
and important to inquire what the
South is doing to justify the propOs-
ed action. The answer may be
summed up in single sentences
The South is attending strictly and
exclusively 10 its own business.
From 1865 to 1S77-thanks to- the
Republican reconstruction the
South had practically no business to
attend to beyond that required by
the instincts OF self-preservation
During that dismal period all the
Southern people did, or tried to do,
was to keep their heads above wa
ter; to escape the general bank
ruptcy and ruin so nearly accom-
plished by military and carpetbag
tyrany. Since their release six years
ago they have been hard at work,
endeavoring to restore lost credit,
crippled industry and wasted re-
sources. They haye taken little or
no interest in politics, except where
these directly concerned their local
affairs. Their mind aud hand have
been full of more vital matters, the
development of trade and manufac-
lures, the extension of popular edu-
cation, the improvement of rivers
and harbors, the growth of railways,
the increase of immigration, the ac-
cession of foreign capital; In short,
everything which pertains to the
general prosperity of individuals
and the community at large. The
marvellous progress the past SIX
years have witnessed, considering
the almost incalculable disadvanta-
ges produced by l6 years OF war and
reconstruction only have
been obtained by letting all save
business severely alone. The South
ern people have had neither time
nor inclination to meddle in national
affairs. They have voted on ma
tional questions when voting was
necessary, and they have obeyed
the constitution and the laws; and
when these duties were discharged
they have felt that no more could
be Justly demanded of them by the
federal government, and so concen-
trated their attention and energies
upon domestic Interests. And they
have no desire to do otherwise in
the future. All they ask is to be
allowed to work out their own sal
walton in their own way, as they
have been doing since the Repubil-
can heel was lifted from their necks.
That this is a true statement OF
the Southern case as it stands to-
day is clear to anyone at all famll-
| lar with Southern sentiment.
Northern men travelling through
the South are surprised to find poll
tics conspicuously absent in CONVEX
sation, and the thoughts and efforts
of all classes-barring the ofhce-
holders and professional politicians
directed to the various pursuits
which furnish the wherewithal oil
living, In spite of the persistent
attempt of Republican demagogues
to keep alive the suicidal antago--
nism between the races, whites and
blacks are in co operation labOring
| together for the welfare of all. This,
| the most troublesome and perllous
part of the So called "SOuthern ques-
| tion,n has been amicably and salts
factoriIy settled-or at least IS In
process of such settlement-by the
common sense and mutual expert
ence of the two parties interested.
| If any serious disturbance OF the
present friendly relations occurs
hereafter, it will be tho work OIL
Republican mischief makers-as II
always has been in the past.
This, then, is what the South i
doing attending strictly and ex'
clusiVely to its own business. Yet
if we believe INSCRIPTIONS Republic
can Journals, busily preparing am
munitiOn for the political battle o.
1884, the Southern people are "slt
ting up nights" to hate the North
are racking their brains for ways
and means to get rid of "the results
| of the war" and regain the lost bal
ance of power; are robbing the ne
gro of his rights as a citizen ano
cheating him out of the just reward
of his toll ard any leisure moments
thew may have after doing all this
are devoted to discussing the practi
cability of "a new rebellion. Re
publican organs are beginning tt
plav the same old tune, hoping q
majority of the Northern people
will dance to it in the same ole
fashion. We think. this hope Ii
doomed to disappointment. The
facts in regard to the situation IL
the South are too plain and palpablt
to be successfully misconstrued 10y
the most ingenious partisanshlp
The solid South is no longer scare
crow to frighten timid voters in the
North, for the solidity is seen to be
only a thorough and energetic re
solve on the part of the Southern
people to "get ahead in the world
by attending strictly and exclusive
ly to business, and having as little
to do with politics as possible. The
desperate straits to which the Re
publican psrty is pushed by lack o
any sound principle is shown by
effort to revive dead and buried
issue and make it potent elemen
in deciding a presidential centest
The result of that contest will, WI
are sure, convince the dullest lie
publican that "the Southern ques
lion" is "played out" in nationa
politics, and may as well be lef
where it belongs, and to those wht
best understand it and are most ca
pable OF reaching a proper solution
the Southern people