Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-30
The Sectional Party.


The success Of CLEVELAND will toll the
kneIl 81 sectional feeling. "slsves cannot
breathe IN England" saws the poet, mean
ing thai whoever lands upon the shores aud
brca,hes tie air Of England Is at once and
forever free. SO sectionslism would not be
able 10 breathe I'M land ruled by the Demo-
cratic party. During the war between the
States the Republicans OF the North
Gid not hesitate 20 charge even
the northern Democrats with being
southern sympatblzers Notwithstanding
that Democrats constituted. so they then
claimed and so they now claim. a majority
Of the ,suk and file Of the Union army.
Though fighting for toe preservation OF
the Union. these northern Democrats still
claimed the whole country as theirs. and
all its inhabitants as their fcllow-oltizens.
And now that the war has vanished from
the view Of every true patriot, and been
lost IN the dim distance, the people Of the
northern States are beginning to recognize
the Democratic party as the party tha,
ought TO rule the Union In time OF peace.
Ask any southron who has travelled
much In the northern States. and he viii
tell you that whenever he finds amongst
his travelling companions genial gentle
man. liberal in his feelings, generous to-
wards his "erring brethren" Of the
South. free In the expression OF his re-
spec, and regard Tor the southern peo-
pIe, and giving no sign OF being en-
crusted with prciudices against even
"Rebtl." provided only that he be not
stiJ Rebel,--we say that when a south
ron IN his travels through the northern
States encounters such man. lie at once
comes To the conclusion that this com.
panionable gentleman is Democrat. such
a souihron can appreciate the wit Of Ma
cISS's advice, that il you travel all day
with an agreeable gentleman and be tells
you ut parting that ne is Wing, you
must not believe him. Not always is this
true Of the Republicans OF the North. we
are glad 10 have 10 admit; but II is so gen
erally true that the hostility OF the Repub-
leans Of the North 10 the people ol the
South gives tone 10 their speeches and
newspapers, and converts the whole North |
whenever national elections are pending |
into a section seemingly filed with hatred |
OF the South.
Now IL Is a clear case that so long as the |
Republican party can perpetuate it, power
by such methods, these methods will be
resorted to. There Is no other result pos. |
slblc. SO long as to libel the South Is to |
secure all the offices OF the country, you
may be sure the South win continue TO be
iibelled. "a corrupt tree cannot bring
forth good fruit" The Republican party
Is essentially a sectional party. The con-
dItions OF Its existence limit II to |
sectionalism. II II should cease to be Sec
tional, 1t would cease 10 be the Republican
party. Why, even In the case OF the bill
TO pension the soldiers Of the Mexican war,
most Of whom reside in the South, the Re-
publicans in Congress have over and over
again Welded to their sectional feelings aud |
neglected or omitted TO allow the bill 10 be- |
come law.
the Republican party by our votes next
November. how can they he expected to
do otherwise than accept that fact as an
endorsement OF their crusade against the
SOUTH VIII II not be perfectly natural
for them TO declare Ia their next national
platform. as they declared in the one upon
which they have placed BLAINE and LOGAN. !
that they "denounce the fraud and violence
,prcticed by the Democracy in the southern |
States, by which the will OF the voter Is \
defeated, rs dangerous TO the preservation |
of free institutions" and "arTaign the De- |
mocrahc party as beng the guilty recipient |
OF the fruits Of such fraud and violence" |
although they well know that the charge is |
not irues win they not have every reason /
for keeping up their warfare upon the |
SOUTH VIII they not necessarily conclude |
that II viii eonduce 10 their success n they |
viii again, Us they say in their platform |
OF this year they do, "eXlend TO the Repub-
lieans Of the south, regardless of their for
mer party afiiliation, their cordial sympathy, |
and pledge to them their most earnest efforts |
TO promote the passage Of such legislation as
will secure to every citizen, of whatever
race and color, the full aud complete recog-
milton, possession, and exercise Of all evil |
and political rights" and teach all the
northern people that this resolution de-
clares fact in that II charges the southern
Democrats with denying to the negroes the
right TO voter
There viii be no wisdom In taking any
risks In this matter. II the southern pe0-
pie wish TO be free indeed-free TO manage
their home Affairs In their own way-free
from the interference Of the Federal Gov
ernment--free from fears Of arrest on cleo
ton-dsy the vote Of negro tramp Is
refused--free TO aspire to Federal Office
free rs their fellow-cltlzens Of the North,
let them once for all put down the Repub-
iican party, and place the Government In
the hands Of party whose patriotism is
ctextensiye with the territory OF this
"lsnd Of The free."