The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-10-09
The Politics of Latitude and Longitude.
IN. Y. Herald, Ind


1t is rather amusing. on the whole
to watch the Republican leaders at
this stage IF the game.
They have an admirably construc-
ted machine and are working it with
the energy of desperation.
We do them more than Justice, how
ever, when we say that they haven't
the slightest regard for the general
welfare, but are running Legislation in
the interest OF party.
Under the present administration of
affairs the monopolist is everywhere,
and the people are nowhere.
The masses are cajoled and the
classes are rampant. The rich capi-
talist can have all he wants if he
bleeds freely before the election, but
the poor man must look out for him.
self.
This is not particularly inspiring
outlook, but we are optimistic enough
to believe that there will be grand
shake up by and by and this crooked
business be made straight by popular
Indignation.
The radical weakness of the Re-
publican party is that it runs along
parallels of latitude is, from
east TO west.
From Atlantic to Pacific it never
creeps below the latitude Of the Ohio
river
The whole South is therefore terra
incognita, an unexplored political ter
ritory, as little known and as little re-
garded as Central Africa.
So far as that party is concerned it
has no relations whatever with the
Southern half of this continent.
1t is Indifferent to the aims and pur
poses, the ambitions and prospects of
the people who live there
1t regards them as natural enemies,
and by such legislation as the force
bill treats them as such.
The war is still on. 1t is not con
Quoted by the strategy of armies, but
by the means of laws. The North is
alone regarded as loyal; the South is
still supposed to be in the saddle.
And vet to a calm observer of
events the South. which is quietly
minding its own busineas, building
mills on every stream, developing
mines, raising crops beyond precedent.
filling the market with valuable tim
Der and growing rich by a thousand
industries, is infinitely more loyal to
the Republic than a ,rty which takes
to itself the credit of saving the Union
aud then depIetes the Treasury in or
der to pay itself for its disinterested
patriotism.
1t is therefore, evident tnat the Re-
publican party must either become ma
tional rather than sectional in policy
as it was under Lincoln, or meet its
deserved doom. 1t must either legis-
late for the whole country or be pro-
nounced unworthy to make laws for
aay part of it.
I'm the other words, the party which
runs east and west must give way to a
party that runs north and south.
The politics of the future will not
be afraid to cross the Ohio. It will
extend along the lines of longitude,
beginning at the lakes and ending at
the Gulf
Or, as Webster put it, it will know
no North, no South, no East, no West,
but united country, nndisturbed by
sectional bitterness and unrestrain ed
in its enthusiasm for every square
mile over which the flag waves.
> Our politicians can't see this because
they are looking for cakes and ale;
the people will see it, after little,
and then the Quays. Reeds and Dud-
leys will not stand upon the order of
their going. but go at once.