The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-03-21
UNION VETERANS IN THE SOUTH.

South. In every State which entered into
the rebellion there is q sharp and bitter con-
test between factions, as to which shall be
recognized by appointments TO the Post
Offices Collectorships, BTarzhalships, etc.
One faction, made up Of what are styled
Carpetbaggers," urge in support Of their
claims the long and hard service they have
done for the Republican party, the persecu-
ton endured at the hands of the Bourbons
and ex-CoHfederates, and the fact that they
control the negro vote. They appeal to the
sympathy and gratitude of the Northern
Republicans for having kept the party ban
ner up in the midst of Undesirable dis
couragements and hardships.
The other faction is made up of native
whites" They insist that the only chance
for the upbuilding Of the Republican party
in the South is to encourage the native
white men Of character and responsibility
to break away from the Democracy, and be-
come either independents" or out-and-out
Republicans They say that an Independ-
ent is on his way to become a Republican,
and he ought TO be encouraged; that the
fear of negro domination, which is repre-
scented by the "Carpetbag" element, is
what holds the South solid, and that the
"Carpet5aggers and "Bonrbons" play
into each others hands in this matter; that
the Carpetbaggers try, by rendering the
party as obnoxious as possible, to keep out
the best class Of white men, so as to restrict
the number of their competitors for Govern
ment positions; that they never really an
tagonize the Bourbons in essential matters,
and make no effectual fight for the purity of
the ballot-box, and the right OF suffrage.
This the native whites say they are ready
to do, and have done They claim TO be the
equals of the Bourbon leaders in personal
courage, ability and social standing, and are
constantly ready to meet them either in
debate or with deadly weapons in personal
conflict.
Much that is said on both sides will re-
ceive the approval and sympathy of the
managing politicians of the Republican
party, and the difficulty viii be to frame
policy in accordance with what are recog-
nized as facts.
With this matter of partisan policy THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE has nothing whatever
to do. Whether it will be of the most benefit
to the Republican party. as party, to en-
courage the "Carpetbag" faction OF the
native white" faction, it is not our prov
ince to discuss.
But upon one point we are outspoken and
positive. That is, that justice and shrewd
policy both requirethat the ex-soldiers of the
Union army who have made their homes in
The South since the war should receive the
first consideration in all appointments.
There is no better class of men, none more
qualified for offices, anywhere than these. AS
rule they are men Of unusual ability and
force of character. Weak, incapable men
would not likely make their homes in such
unfriendly regions. They were enterprising
men. who saw the great commercial and in
dustrial possibilities of the South, and went
there TO develop them. They identified
themselves closely with those interests, and
brought Northern spirit, energy and educa-
ton 10 bear upon their development. Very
much of the progress the South has made
since Appomattox is directly due to these
men, who have made their mark wherever
they have settled. tits they who have made
Florida great orange grove, who have
lighted furnace fires in Virginia, Tennessee,
Georgia and Alabama, and developed thrifty
farms in Arkansas and Texas They have
built railroads and opened mines, erected
| factories and set men to work at new
and productive pursuits, which have en-
riched the South and the whole coun-
/ try. All the time, while identified with
the people of their localities in every
thing that looked to the benefit of the Sec
ton, they have maintained their loyalty to
the Government mistaken, and by precept
and example have tried to win their fellow
citizens from their stupid devotion to the
old order of things which received its death
blow at Appomattox. Their Northern birth
and service in the Union army have kept
them from receiving any political recogni-
ton at the hands Of their neighbors, and
this should be given them by the Admins
tration which has just come into power. The
Southerners expect this. They expect that
this Administration viii be as careful in
recognizing service in the Union army, in
the distribution of Offices, as the SOutherneE
themselves are in recognizing service for the
rebellion. 1t viii give Gen. Harrison's Ad.
ministration respect and dignity in the South
to have him appoint everywhere in the Soutl
Union veterans who have made their homes
| there and have won the resnect of +ba rao