The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-07
ALIENATION or REPUBLICANS.

ALIENATION Of kEftBLttHNS'
Colonel Mosby, who has been a consist
ent member Of the Republican party for
many years. and a prominent offce-holder
by the Appointment OF Republican Presi-
sident. has announced in a private letter,
which he has allowed to he published, that he
will this fall vote for the Democratic candi-
cate for the Goyernorship in California, and
that IL he were resident Of Virginia, he
would east his ballot for General w. ii. f..
Lee for Congress, and use whatever influ-
encc he might possess TO secure his cleo
ton.
Colonel Mosby explains his change Of
political front on the ground that no South
ern man, with any regard for the general
interests OF his section, can give his sup
port and countenance 10 party which APP
plauds with enthusiasm the policy OF sec
tional animosity reinaugurated twenty-five
years after the close of the civil war with so
much vigor by the Speaker Of the House,
and carried out by him with a reckless de-
termination that threatens the destruction
of every liberty enjoyed by the Southern peo-
pie.
The views expressed by Colonel Mosby in
justification OF the line Of political conduct,
which he proposes hereafter TO follow, are
precisely those which every Southern man,
whatever may be his political antecedents
would be expected TO entertain provided
that he has one spark of patriotism left IN
his breast, or the slightest regard for claims
of knship or community Of memories. ON
every side, evidences have been presented
that the course Of the Republican majority
in Congress has aIienated very large body
of Southern Republicans even Of that class
of men, who were converted TO the princi-
plcs of the Republican party by the hope OF
official reward. When it is recalled that
the overwhelming proportion Of the membeys
of the party in the South were influenced by
this hope in their desertion from the Demo
cratic ranks, it will be seen that the pres
sure which will cause so many TO initiate
the example OF Colonel MOsby must be very
powerful indeed to produce so profound a
IcNOlullOn vi hcntillcut III thCii .DiC"otp'
20 far as the Southern States are CON
cerned, the policy of the Republican party
in its sectional aspects shows either blind
ness to the conditions prevailing here, or
indifference, the policy Of sectional hatred
being pursued simply as means of pro-
longing the Political solidarity of the North.
Whatever its motive, its effect is unmistak-
able. AS time passes the Republican party
in the south, instead of growing stronger,
as it would undoubtedly do if the policy Of
| the Northern wing towards the southern
people were more liberal, il grows weaker,
until now the prospect Of the utter collapse
! of the Southern Republican party seems
assured, because the only respectable per-
sonal elements which it has hitherto pos
sessed are on the point Of dropping away
altogether.
This inclination will become stronger, be-
cause as the material interests of the South
ern States expand in prosperity the leading
citizens Of these States, whether Democratic
or Republican, will only become more and
more impatient with the policy of party
which derives its power from loud ap-
peas to the sectional hatreds Of the
North and which dscloses IesOlute
intention to darken, if not to de-
stroy, the prospects Of the southern
States by passing every measure which is
calculated TO create disorder and confusion
in our Southern communities, and in doing
so TO divert from them an incalculable
amount of capital and that proportion of
immigration to which they are justly enti-
tied.