Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-08
THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH.
What a Northern Paper thinks about it.
Our Common Sense Conservatism and
Literary Possibilities.
Portland oregonian.


become an increasing conservative force
in the nation. There continue to be
sporadic cases Of turbulence and bloody
race riots within her borders. like the
recent Carrollton massacre, which is
really no greater blot on the shield OF the
South than the Wyoming Chinese mas
sacre is on the scutcheon OF the North;
but in candor it must be confessed that
South has been more tranquil during
the last two years than at any time
since the close of the war. Leading
newspapers of the South .reiterate the
New Orleans Times Democrats bitter
denunciahon Of the recent bloody bar
becue in Mississippi, without reserva-
ton or qualification or excuse, 1t is
clear that, as human nature is made up,
the South will reform its social abuses
more rapidly when left to its own de-
vices than it ever did under the switch
OF federal statutes and congressional ag-
Itation. The ineradicable pride OF sec-
ton; the slowly-dying reseniments of
the war, are aroused and reorganized
into fresh activity, when congress tries
to conquer the South with the club OF
its legislation, or to convert it by the
severity Of its criticism. Lett to its own
conscience and increasing sense OF local
self-interest, the South will gradually
consent to recast its policy, reform its
abuses and ultimately reacn that polltl-
cal wisdom which looks lynch law stern
ly in the eye and calls it crime.
In the long run right and justice will
win against wrong and injustice, and
popular indiAerace will finally yield to
public conviction. The appeal to decent
opinions OF mankind, made by Southern
men of the type of Lamar, Colquitt,
Gordon and Hampton, will ultimately
be too strong for the Solid South; her
bigoted prejudices OF cast and color
will wear out; she will at last haul
down her flag with her own hands that
she has never permitted us to haul
down, and will no longer resist the con-
stitution and the laws of the restored
Union, because she will find out that it
does not pay her to do otherwise, as a
matter OF principle or sound public
policy. No additional legislation on
Ine vexed and vexlng subjects OF the
South will help the matter; agitation
within the South by its natural leaders
of opinion will finally win the day
Thoughtful men of both parties have
reached this conclusion. The proof OF
it is the utter indifference OF the North
to the speech of Congressman Boutelle
of Maine last January, concerning the
report that certain tablets commemo-
rating the war for the Union, had been
removed at the Norfolk navy yard. Had
this speech been delivered five years
ago it would have fired the republican
heart, but to-day 1t falls fiat, because
the people no longer look at the war
with eyes blinded by the cataract Of
sectional passion. The Army Register
has effaced from the war record OF the
various regular" regiments the names
: of the battles of the rebellion, in the
spirit of public policy which persuaded
England to blot "Culloden, Boyne
Water" "Aughrim" and Limerick
from her regimantal banners. Charles
Sumner fifteen years ago urged this
policy upon our government. Grant
made the rebel Orr minister to st. Pet
ersburg, and Mosby consul to China.
Iongstreet was made minister to Tur-
key; Hayes called Key ,confederatebrig-
adler, into his cabinet Malone and Rid
dleburger were welcomed by a Repub-
lican senate; Joe Johnston and Bucknel
we're bidden to Grants funeral; a re-
publican senate elected confederate
soldier Candy sergeant-at-arms over &
Union Soldier; and the general govern.
ment has committed itself to the ap,
proval, if not the enforcement, of Sum
ner's views that it is not wise, now thai
exconfederates are eligible to all Offices
in the gift of the government, to per
petuate within the public works OF the
government inscriptions calculated tC
revive bitter memories of civil strife
The common sense OF the people o
! both parties answered Congressman
Boutelle, that since the children OF con
iederate soldiers are eligible to th'
army and navy of the United States i
is not decent courtesy, let alone policy
to ask the children to march under ban
ners that recite the battle roll of thei
fathers defeat and surrender. If%this
argument is sound as applying 70 th'
flags OF the regular army it is sounC
when applied to the forts and public
works that belong to our military post
and naval stations.
The con mon sense OF the people de
clares to-day Jnat until the South shoot
at the flag again we cannot object to it
citizens, who accept our offer of equa
civil rights and privileges that the.
once warred on the flag, under which
by virtue of law, they hold office to-da
- with as clear a right as il they had fol
: lowed Grant and fought Lee. TIL
South is to-day notoriously conserva
tive in religion; it is universally orthc
dox, while New England is largel
n agnostic; the South is conservative O
the burning questions of industrial ag
tation, that threatened to rise to socis
incendiarism; the South was nearl
solid for low tariff before the war, is i
course Of rapid conversion to the po
icy OF protection. In many points I
view the South promises to become
conservative balance in the public opir
q ion of the nation, while the North
u drift is toward radicalism and industri
agitation that needs a brake on i
mountain wagon of progress to ensul
a safe descent of all its difficulties.
Finally, we believe the South h