The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-05-25
FACTIONS DOWN SOUTH.
Radical Cliqucs, White and Black, Fight
Ing for tho SpoiIs of Office.

Radical Cliqucs, White and Black, Fight.
ing for the SpoiIs of Office.
The reports from Washington that
President Harrison is perplexed over
"the Southern situation" and that the
quarrels of factions in the Southern
States is a chronic condition, should
be understood as characteristic rad
ical misrepresentation. We do not
deny at all that there are contentious
in Louisiana, Alabama, Virginia and
elsewhere, but they are the result of
conditions created by Republican rule
and the presence and schemes OF the
old carpet-bag brigade. We heard
very little of the Southern situation"
and of factions in the South during the
last administration, and we only hear
OF them now because the success of the
Republican party last fall has given
new vitality to the decaying carpet-bag
element. This element has always been
aggressive, quarrelsome and Office
hunting, and at no time and in no in
stance has it been representative of
the South. Since its invasion of the
Southern States during the reconstruc-
ton days it has been the plague
and malediction of Southern society
and Southern politics, and, although
its control is broken and its power de-
parted, it remains in diminished form
to work mischief and propagate SLAM
ders.
If there are factions in Southern
States and local quarrels over Federal
patronage, they all have their origin
in this source and not in lust of office
or want of self-restraint among the
Southern people. When our readers.
therefore, hear of the Presidents per-
pleXity over Southern factions, let it
always be understood that it means he
is confused and perplexed over the
otfice-grabbing and mutual revilings
of radical cliques, white, black and
mixed, all of which is quite apart from
the great body of the Southern people.
But there is another aspect of this
matter that needs some passing men,
ton. If Mr.. Harrison really wishes
to distribute the Federal offices among
the class that truly represent the South
and its permanent interests, then he
must necessarily ignore, to very
great extent, the radical section of
the population. We suppose he has
found this out, or is fast discovering
the fact, and he hesitatcs naturally
in some perpleXity. This is alarm
ing to the aforesaid factions quar-
mn off f, ,,,
creases their chronic ill-humor, and
situation is created, Southern so far as
location is concerned. that may well
worry the mind of the President His
only course, if he regard truth, dig
nifty and decency, is to leave the offices
where they ought to be-in the hands
of honest and representative citizens,
no matter to what party they may be-
long.
The South is Democratic and the ex-
ercise of Federal patronage can not
change it. Ofiice-hunting is not
Southern characteristic, and all the
Southern people really want is full and
fair opportunity to develop their coun-
try and build up its varied industries.
This they are doing quietly, steadily
and effectively; and it is the duty of
the Federal Government to aid, so far
as appropriate, the great work in
progress. This object will certainly
not be advanced by thrusting into
prominence the pestilential element
which so long villifed and misrepre-
sented the purposes and principles of Il
loyal population. st. Louis Republic