Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-25

The opinions of Judah p. Benjamin are,
undoubtedly, entitled to great weight A
master of the law, he has achieved a fame
that the most gifted English jUrist might
envy. The work attributed 10 him, "Ihe
Republic Of Republics" is one Of the
most mastery eNpositi0ns Of the American
system Of government ever presented
Yet. il Mr. Benjamin he not its author, MS
public service in this country gave him
clear insight into its affairs and enables
him 10 Judge Of its future. Mr.. Benjamin,
in the course Of a recent interview, Is
quoted As saving that it would be hard 10
say where the lines would be drawn in
the event Of another rupture between the
states. To quote the distinguished states
man;
1t NAV arise between the East and West.
between the territories Of the manufac-
turers and those Of the agriculturists, or
NAV even be based upon religious differ
ences. Fifty years from now the country
east Of the Mississippi, already supplied
with a turbulent population. will be teem-
Ing with such elements that no govern
ment Of the people can successfully deal
with. What new issues may arise during
that half century no one can tell, but the
nation may well look with apprehension
on the next few decades. for / firmly be-
lieve that in that time there will have de-
velOped such dangers TO the nation as are
not now dreamed Of.
In reply 10 the question whether the
south would form an independent factor
for herself amid these dangers, Mr.. Ben
iamin Is reported as saying that he fan
cied not. as her interests have been so
closely merged with those Of the North.
The spirit of her people has been
crushed. and will remain so for many
generations. and besides she has not the
sinews Of war. as one Of your politicians
appropriately termed the wealth of the
nation
1t is true that the country is being de-
| YelOped in its material worth. its mines
and forests laid under contribution, great
railroads extending throughout the terri
tory, manufactures springing up in many
districts, but for all that the marks of the
seTpent's passage lies over her, and will
not be so easily eradicated.'
Here Mr.. Benjamin broke off the con-
versatiOn with the remark that his inter-
| lOcutOr should not attach weight to his re-
marks, since he had not kept pace with
the times in this country, and his
sources Of information We're meagre.
H - lEA nap AdlAAl al ADA III
! in a measure to despair Of the future Of
the Republic. But were he a resident of
/ this country and a close student of its
| affairs he might take a less pessimistic
/ view Of its future. 1t may be that the
assimilation Of the foreign and native ele-
ments Of our population will be in
| inverse ratio in the future to that
which it has exhibited in the past,
/ though why it should prove
! 50 is hard 10 see. 1t is possible that in
! New England especially the native ele-
I ment viii De Overbalanced by the foreign,
but in that event it is likely that there
would be enough of the American spirit
| left to Ieaven the mass.
The greatest danger that apparently
menaces the Republic is threatened by
/ the segregation of wealth. One Wander
bilt, TO speak fguratiyely. is more dan
1 gerOus than thousand MOsts or Schwabs.
Ii is not likely that religious differences
| VIII disturb the harmony of the Republic.
/ With the addition Of so many varied ele-
| ments individual creeds may suffer, and,
perhaps, in time lose much that dstin-
| cuisines them, but religion per Sc will
| strengthen as It Will not elsewhere.
] We do not agree with Mr.. Benjamin as
To the spirit Of the South being crushed.
Her splendid recuperatiOn fOrbids that
| assumption. Moreover, the struggle
which the South waged 50 herOically was
for the preservation of all that was most
admirable in our political system. The
! purest type Of the American spirit is to
be found in the South, and the South
| will be its last abiding place.
| The mission Of the South, as her
| patriotic sons understand it. is
/ prosperity and power. She means to
achieve both. Her sons will be as great
in the future as in the past. What she
could not guard outside the Union she
/ Will defend within it. Upon the wisdom
and conservatism of her people depends
to a great extent the future of American
liberty. We cannot doubt that she will be
| true to herself.