The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-11-02

glance at the array of black squares and
a study of the issues in the years those
squares were consolidated ought to serve
as warning to any doubling voter who
fancies that the time has come to restore
the solid south to power. From the res
olutions of '9S" down through nullifica-
tion, slavery extension, Kansas oppres-
sion, secession, war and suppression OF
the negro vote, whenever there was a
question deeply affecting the rights of man
Oh. the honor and dignity of the nation,
the southern states were found almost SOL
idly on one side. and that invariably the
wrong side.
In vain did compromising politicians
seek for some issue that would divide par
ties across this fatal line. At times it ap.
peared as if they had succeeded. At one
time the tariff question, at another the
development of our internal resources and
ut still another the establishment of q
sound currency caused division; patriot
ism and common business sense triumphed
over prejudice and sectionalism, and for
that time the division between the parties
was not on the sectional line. But no
sooner did the wise protective measures
of Adams and Clay, or the improved cur
rency of the nationalists, or the restored
prosperity under the tariff of 1912 demon
strate that freedom gained more by good
government than by slavery. Then the
angered plantation lords again consoli-
dated their power and throwing their
whole weight one way. while the north
was divided, reversed the government
policy. John G. Calhoun, who began his
political career as an avowed nationalist
and protectionist, changed front in a
day, as it were, and devoted his talents to
the creation of purely southern party.
Observe, however, that there always
were few white states" on the border,
states where slaves were few and the
sentiment of freedom strong; in them
were many national men, and these occa-
sionally held sway in their states. Della
ware, for instance, gave unanimous
vote for the national constitution, and
remained persistently national till after
the war. North Carolina was also able
to 'thinl1 continentally," as Hamilton ex-
pressed it, and did not yield till sur
rounded by secession states. Other states
occasionally revolted against dictation;
but as rule the line of slavery's extern
sion was and is in the line of vigorous
opposition to almost every policy that has
made America strong and great.
Observe how uniform this opposition
has been and how foolish are some Of its
manifestations. Free common schools
were supposed to be New England in
stitution, so the south refused for forty
years to encourage them. New England
inclined to naval enterprise and foreign
trade, so the first southern administra-
tions were hostile TO q navy, but at q
later day their party claimed to have al
ways been its special champions. New
England, led by Webster, opposed the
first protective tariff, as her money was
invested in shipping; so the Loundes.
Calhoun tariff was supported by the
south. New England readily adapted
herself to the change and soon rejoiced in
it; then the Calhounites demanded the
overthrow of the tariff The real trouble
was, though politicians before Lincoln
and Seward were afraid to declare it, that
there was natural antagonism between
slavery and freedom, and no wisdom Of
man could devise Lawson systems which
would bring equal prosperity to both.
Verify the southern destrnctives had
their reward. While cites grew and
furnaces reared and spindles hummed
north of the Potomac, south of it there
was either slow progress or complete stag
nation. They saw it, and hated while
they saw, and devised new measures and
demanded more territory. and thus COM
pleted the consolidation OF their section.
Contrast the two policies. In the states
shown in the diagram by white squares
there was prosperity steadily increasing
till it surpassed all that the world had
ever seen; on the other side there was de-
nunciation, unreasonable complaints and
demands, notification, exclusion of north
ern papers from the mails, secession and
finally war. With emancipation there
should have been q change of policies,
but habits of mind often prevail over self
interest, and most of the southern states
are still dominated by the plantation
lords.
A change rs IN progress. Ihe south IS
now in transition state. There are CEN
tiers Of manufacturing and mental activ-
ity where the national idea prevails over
the Confederate. And when such centers
of thought become dominant ina majority
of tho states, this issue will cease to be
important. Then, and not till then, it
may be wise to put the south in control.
But then it will be impossible; for there
will be no solid sonth. For the present,
young voters, proud of your citizenship.
look ut the facts. Shall the old anti-na.
tional, anti-liberal plantation idea domi-
nate? That is all there Is in it. Unhap-
PLY our allies in the south arc now out of
the count. See TO it that tho solid south
does not profit by suppressing them.
In the diagram the southern states are
represented by black parallelograms, the
northern by white. Where the vote of
state was divided, the fact is shown by
making it square. The states are ranged
in the order of their admission to tho
ITniou (after tho ori pin nj irf eenl wit hout