The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-11
Mr.. B!aine's Philosophy.

During the last campaign OF our civil
war, and when its result, so far as fight
ingwas concerned, became daily more
certain, EngIShmen who had been anx-
ious to see the disruption of the Union,
and who had predicted that event as
inevitable, began to talk in different
strain 1t WAS true, they said, that the
North might Oyerwhelm the South by
brute force; but the South would never
be reconciled to the North; the Union,
if continued, would be, to one side ut
least, hateful one, and its continuance
source Of misery, such as all lOyeless
bonds between either persons or nations
must forever prove
Americans who happened to be in
England at that stirring time know-how
strongly this view was insisted upon
there, the social tone in many circles
far transcending in bitterness even that
of the Times and its many followers of
the press. But Americans everywhere
know how these unfriendly auguries
were falsitied. They know how the
KEY note struck by General Grant at
Appomattox was followed By fra:erual
harmonies And all the world knows
how is has been possible, despite of
precedent, and despite of malignant
prophecies that were designed to pro-
mote what they foreshadOwed, for u
gigantic civil CONFUSION to be followed
BY universal accord. so that a new and
far stronger Republic has been born of
the Republic of the past.
How was this suspicious and, outside
our borders, this unexpected, end at
tanned? Was it not substantially at
tanned by kindness, by moderation, by
following the manly and patriotic course
which General Grant, happily for his
country, indicated in the hour of his
triumph? There can be but one reply;
and it is because of that reply, and be-
cause of all Oh which it rests and all
which it implies, that we greatly regret
the spirit and the statements of MIR.
Blaine speech made ut Augusta We
do not intend at this time to discuss the
details or figures marshaled by Mr.
Blaine. There is much to say about
them, bat the discussion is foreign to
our present purpose. That purpose is
to point with emphasis and with regret
that Mr.. Blaine spirit is not the spirit
of General Grant at AppOmattox; that
if the evils he complains of exist they
have existed during score of years of
Republican rule; and that patriotic
Democrats, and especially patriotic
Southern Democrats, have assured us
with the utmost solemnity that, hOwev-
er hard it might be to cope with some
existing evils in the South in previous
circumstances, that they would and
should melt like mist before the rising
sun after Democratic success in Pres
idential election.
Such thing has come to pass. The
opportunity for that completed recOncil-
iation, that cemented and solidified
National unity that all patriots desire is,
in the estimation of Il large body of our
countrymen, before us. The Democrats
have elected their candidate. Let them
now serve the State Is they have eager
" promised they would do ii the people
gave them the chance. To seek, out OF
disappointment. to thwart them in ille-
Ultimate ways, to stir up sectional ran
cor, to revive animosities long laid
away to be forgotten, may be fit work
for a partisan; it is not fit work for 4
patriot The time, moreover
of the public goods not a good time
to prick and gOad popular passion.
The closeness of the election, and the
heat and personalities that have disfig-
ured the canvass, have within few
days brought the community close to
the edge of danger. Prudent citizens
of whatever party have been well aware
of this, and have been ready to join
hands heartily to assure public tram
guilty. For this reason, while waving
the minor questions of grace and
delicacy involved in a defeated candi-
dates taking such an attitude, at such
a moment, those citizens will agree
with us, we take it, when we express
our hearty sorrow that Mr.. Blaine
spoke the words he did speak at Au-
gusta.
Let us add, without going into the
discussion now, that MIR. Blaine
throughout his remarks, and particu-
larly so far as he INDUCES in auguries
of the future, seems TO us to overlook
one consideration, and q most impOr-
tant one. 1t is this: That the South, no
longer subject to slavery, is rapidly ac-
cepting and establishing all those agents
of an industrial civilization which
characterize modern society. 1t is vary
ing its agriculture, opening mines,
building railroads, constructing fac
tories, and, in 4 word, rendering itself
more and more homogeneous with the
North. Very soon the same influences
and tendencies, which mold opinions.
must prevail throughout the whole coun-
try. The ascendency of a particular
class, or OF a particular race, which has
been a matter of local self-Gefense, and,
as we may say, accidental and excep-
tional, must give way to the more gen.
eral Influences. Parties must divide
there as they do here, and the phrase
"a solid South become a memory of
times of transition, and not permanent
distinctioa.-N !. Commercial Adcef-
tiSer (Rep.).