The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-01-10

NIOn HUt III Uu0 " HECthOnAAAsAA - - -
element in our politics. IL 10 Z
claim, however, which cannot be
% bstantiated. For example, ths
South was never any more solid
politically than Ii was for Cleve.
land at the recent elections and
because Of the fact that tie people oI
the North realized In advance that
the I53 votes Of that section would be
cast as q unit for the democratic
candidate decided many OF them to
vote for Gen. Harrison. The
democrats themselves admit that
this was an important factor In the
election. From these facts II would
seem that it would trouble our
democratic friends TO show that Sec
tIonalIsm was ever . less quantity In
politics than during the recent cam
paign. The friends OF Cleveland
who make but who cannot substan-
tiate this claim for him look upon
the election OF q republican Presi-
dent with pretended misgiying,
because Of its tendency TO the
perpetuatIon Of the sectional issue.
Their predictions, however, will not
be fulfilled. Already there are
signs Of q readJustmeBt Of partisan
lines In the South, which means the
breaking up Of its political solid
arity. The people down there are
coming to realize that there Is moth
ing for them 10 gain by presenting 9
solid front to the balance OF the
country. They have learned that
this attitude will beget similar
conditions at the North, and that
the net result must be loss 10 them.
There Is, in fact, q positive disad-
vantage attaching to the condition
which has been maintained ut the
South. In government OF the
people, where Ouly one party Il
recognized, there can be no such
thing as political education, In g
National or State campaign, because
the discussion. Of important public
questions IL all upon one side. No
health or vigor is impaired to the
body polite by the rubbing Of peO-
pie against each other and the frie.
ton Of mind upon mind. An
educational campaign, In the sense
that we Of the North understand IL,
IL unknown at the South, because OF
the conditions enumerated. As we
have said, the more advanced and
independent thinkers of the South
are beginning to comprehend the
disadvantages Of the situation which
obtains there. And the possible
WAYS aud means Of changing the
conditions for the better are being
earnestly discussed by many OF the
leading journals Of that section.
We are now far enough removed
from the occasion and cause Of the
sectional prejudices which have
existed for the South to understand,
or at least its more progressive
elements, that the election of q
republican president does not pOr.
tend any evil for that section,
Much less does the election OF q man
OF the fAir-mindedness of Gen. Har-
risOn involve any detriment TO the
South. Even II he were so disposed
no president can find a constitution
al way of interfering In the State OF
local affairs of the South, even
should the same dIsrepulable
methods be continued which have
so long been practiced there.
Hence the dominant classes OF the
south cannot present this excuse for
maintaining their political sOlidity,
II 10 only as 10 congressional and
presidential elections that federal
authority can be exercised in the
states and then only when pro-
visions OF the constitution are
violated. The South understands
perfectly that, II Il permits free and
fair elections in the several states
comprising that section, as regards
congressional and presidential
elections, neither Gen. Harrlson's
administration nor that Of any other
republican president, will have any
right or desire 10 interfere. IL Is
very manifest that the South has
everything to gain and nothing TO
lose by conforming its political
course, not simply 10 the demands
Of republican administration hut
TO the requirements OF the federal
constitution. A. we have said her
leading and independent thinkers
are beginning 10 comprehend this
point, and We shall expect TO see
much good result from the discus
sion now going on there. And by
the close Of Gen. HarrisOn's first
term, we confidently believe that the
sectional issue will finally disappear
from American politics.