Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-05
The o,c..,ne WING. or the south.

To the Editor q the Dispatch:
The Dispatch Of the 2Sth ultimo quotes
Ex-Governor Watts. Of Alabama, as follows .
'fAs to the Old.Line Wings, who have been
Democrats since the war, they will never
desert the party TO join the Republicans SIM
ply because they were opposed to DemocIa-
cy away back in the fortes and the fiitles."
Judge Watts Is entirely correct
The writer OF this communication wSs him
sell before the war for many years Whlg,
and never cast Democratic vote until alter
the war. he knows. therefore, that 1t Is
simplv ridiculous to say that because man
was Wing before the war this fact affords
The slightest reason why ne should be Re-
publican now. Before the war the two par
Ties were chiefly divided upon economic
questions, the difference upon constitutional
questions partaking more OF q sentimental
and theoretical than OF practical character.
Both parties in ante- bellum days were, in any
event. thoroughly honest and patriotic.
So when the curtain dropped upon one OF
the greatest war dramas recorded in history
the Republican party, stepped os 1t always
bad been in the rankest corruption. radical
~ sectional in rs principles and practices,
entirely reckless OF the public veal, and deal
aud cxl0us 10 the remotest instincts and sug-
gesli1ns Of humanity aud patriotism, ruth.
lessly seized and trsmpled under foot all OF
the constitutional powers and prerogaliVes
that belonged to the conquered States, en-
frauchised the negro, and set up carpet Dag
and negro rule IN the South.
What were the southern Wings expected
10 do IN this their hou. Of greatest trial and
EXTREMIST peril?
Here was q tombstone az OF fire applied
which was to test their manhood, their VIZ.
tue. their love OF liberty. Of kindred and OF
country. What. ash, were these devoted
followers OF that grand old statesman
Henry CLAY TO do under these circum-
stancesY There was nothing more reasona-
bic aud consistent, nothing absolutely more
imperative upon them, than that they should
unite with their former and equally patrl-
otto adversaries 1.-THE Democrats) for the pur-
pose OF securing the autonomy OF their
State governments aud the rescung and
saving as much OF political aud civil free
dom from the yet burning and smouldering
embers of tue war as was possible under
the circumstances.
Allow me to elaborate this idea briefly.
- saw a powerful dominant party in the
North flushed with the fruits ~ victory,
FLOATING with demOniacal glee over the con-
sciOusness Of their superior strength, lns,i'
gated by passion, cupldlty, hate, and re-
yence, using the most corrupt, ignorant,
aud malignant tools, both from the North
aud the south, TO compass our social, politi-
cal, and nstorial destruction. We saw and
felt all OF this. Then 10 the name OF God,
and 10 the name OF orr common humanity.
whist else could the libcIty.loving. patriotic,
old-llne Whirs DO but heartily unite with
their Democratic friends whose blood had
been freely she'd and commingled with their
own upon many u battlefield in defence
Of what they believed TO be right
what could they do hut 70 unite with
them, and our northern Democratic
friends to save all that was left us
from The wreck OF cruel aud disastrous
war? Would il have been natural would II
have been right, that they should have kissed
the hand that snOte them; that they should
nut the poisoned chalice TO their own lips +;
that they should have become Republicans
v iih their ewes wide open 70 all OF tho crue
enormitieg and expressions which they were
'nnictiBg and evidently intended 10 continue
10 nhict upon the southern whites! NO-a
thousand times no; and, thank God, undis'
MAYED by lhrests and unmoved by brides and
promises OF reward, an Overwhelming
majority of them proved true TO themselves,
true TO their traditions, true to their section,
true to their race, and that to-day they are
fighting as earnestly as ever under the same
name ard banner with their Democratic
friends OF the North aud OF the South for TIE
Aiutenance OF the right and OF constitu-
tioual liberty in our land.
In conclusion, let me say that 40 long as the
supremacy aud civilization OF the white peo-
pie OF the South are thresteued and endan.
gered there cannot and will not be any Sc
rious division between the Old-Line Wings
and the Democrats upon economic questions.
They will all continue 10 subordinate every
thing else TO these paramount, vital. and
oyershadowing questions. They understand
the deep gravity OF the situation and apple
cste fully the import Of the motto united
we stand, divided we fall.
OLD-LrSE WIG.
Richmond. April /, 1899.