Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-02
Northern DisloyaitY.

day, the last day OF September. did not
contain its usual astronomical article. A
glance at its columns, however, readily ex-
plaipod the omission. In an article headed
"Who Shall II Be-" the journal had
painted the ambient atmosphere such a
deep crimson that 1t was impossible TO take
observations. TIE article in question
would do credit, II the term may be used,
TO the plmest days OF reconstruction.
After stating that quarter OF n century
has elapsed "since Democratic guns opened
ire on Fort Sumter, and nearly twenty
Yeas have expired since LEE and his rebel
hosts surrendered at AppomattoX Court
house." she journal says:
| History has already declared, and is des-
tined always 10 declare, that the attempt OF
the southern wing OF the Democratic party,
assisted by its allies in the North, 10 destroy
| the Union, was the greatest political blum
| der and the greatest political crime
ever committed by free people against
popular government. The rebellion was
essentially a rebellion OF the Democratic
party. II owed its conception TO Demo-
cratic ideas and 10 Democratic leaders. II
received at its initiation and during its pro-
| scclltiOn naught but Democratic support:
and II had for its object the maintenance
and ascendency Of some Of the leading and
cherished principles Of the Democratic
| porty.
Our contemporary then declares that its
aim is simply TO point out a few reasons
why the Democratic party is unworthy of
the confidence and support of the people,
and adds:
| Since secession confessed defeat the North
| has been. as il now is, confronted by a pO-
iitically di,tempered and politically "solid
! South" And now we see the Democratic
party in the North forming in line with the
| southern wing OF that party, that is. with
| The "solid South" for the purpose Of con-
testing with tie Republican party the right
to administer the Government.
Next the Journal harps in half column
on its fayorite theme, the butchery in cold
blood Of negroes in the South, and winds
up as follows:
Among the dangers TO which the Repub-
lican party is exposed, but whose dimen.
sions il is impossible TO measure, is that
the rising generation, to whose minds the
war is on historical event. and whose memo.
ries are not charged with its scenes and |
incidents, may, in the failure to understand |
the temper and spirit Of the Democratic |
party, be led to favor its claims to priority |
in the hearts of the people. The Jour-
nal sees no reason why IL should re- /
consider the views it has persistently
advocated IN respect to the evils which
would confront the country in the event
Of Democratic sscendency. Years ago,
while discussing the presidential question,
we took occasion to say that "the con-
clusion OF the matter Is simply this That
the solid South expects through divided
North to clutch the reins OF Government,
and consequently to shape and control the
legislation of the country; that it expects
10 put in practice its own principles OF
government, its own construction Of the
Constitution. This is what the North has
TO look fairly and squrely in the face.
That is what has been so often
concealed under the smooth and be-
quilting elOquenee OF southern ORA
tors. Northern businessmen. who, while
Yielding to pleasing revere, dream
OF future opulence, would do well
TO wake up and ask themselves IL Demo-
cratic rule would hasten the fulfIment Of
such dreams. And the North, as q whole,
would do well seriously to inquire whe-
ther the past and present spirit and temper
Of the Democratic party, in and out OF
Congress. so far enttle it to be regarded as
tie embodiment of political virtue that It
cen with safe,y he entrusted with the adj
ministratiOn Of the Government
The situation is practically the same now
as it was then; and 1t is to be hoped that
the longIngs and hopes OF that party will
be destroyed in November next.
Was there ever greater tissue OF mis-.
representation woven into an article?
Was there ever an article written demand
ing more serious attention from the think
ing men Of the countryside advocates of
free government? II the Journals utter
ances mean anything they mean that the
Republican party is bent on keeping sec
iionalism alive; that IL recognizes that the
bloody shirt Is now and must continue to
be the political issue in this country, and
that it claims proscriptive right to admin.
ister the Government. The journal SAYS
in spirit, il not in so many words, that
the thousands OF northern Democrats who
fought in the Union army are traitors
and not fit TO be trusted. In
its fanatcal devotion TO the Republican
party, in It's efforts TO fire the northern
heart, in its zeal for the cause OF the cor
ruptionists, in the frenzy OF negrophobia,
il goes so far as to insult the living and
desecrate the graves OF the dead OF its own
section. What think the true men OF the
North, whether Democrats or Republicans,
OF such denial Of the right OF one half OF
the voters Of tie North to the confidence OF
the people! What think they Of this
sweeping charge Of northern dislOyalty to
the UnionY Does not the journal give
point TO our oft-repeated question, Is
this free Governments Does ii not justify
every position we took in our article Of yes
terday celebrating the sublectr
AS to the solid South, we admit that IT is
solid. Nor IS this all. In the face Of the
claims OF the Republican party as set forth
in the Journal. not only the people OF the
South but the people Of the North have
reason to thank God that ii is solid. IL Is
solid against sectonalism, solid against cor
ruption. solid against Capitalization, solid
against political tyranny, solid against the
Subversion Of the Constitution, solid
against the work OF crushing the
liberties Of the people under the feet
OF an oligareby. solid against the
doctrine that would render individual
freedom tradition, solid even against the
despicable spirit that traduces the dead OF
former foes In order that living cormorants
may continue TO batten on the public Trea.
sury, solid against dishonesty. II the
Journal fairly represents the following OF
Mr.. BLAINE. II goes without saying that the
solid South is the sheet.anehor OF the Con.
stitution and the hope Of the republic. !
In his letter OF acceptance, Mr.. ST.. JoHy {
fatty Mr.. BLAISE's recent as
sertion on the same subject, and declares ,