The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-19

For many years the dream Of restored Re-
publican supremacy In the local affairs OF the
| Southern States has haunted the New YORK
| Tribune. AS the power of tho Republican
party has declined at the North TINS dream
has grown in intensity, until ithas assumed the
| phase of a mania that refuses to take into
consideration the suggestions of the most or
binary judgment. In it, eager desire 10 as
cover break In the Democratic solidarity OF
the South the Tribune has shown the pro-
verbal feminine unreasonableness, Il think
il so because / think it So" without there
being the slightest ground on which to base
its hopeful anticipations.
It's attitude towards the Southern people
has varied as its expectations have huctuated.
When there appears 10 be some little indica-
ton that the South is wavering in its political
sentiment the Tribune in the rebound from
discouragement assumes q most hatterlng
and propitiatory air and expresses itself in
the most seductive phrases Metaphorically
speaking, it becomes a picture of conclatory
and ingenious beneyolence that is well cal
culated to make q charming impression.
1t 10 then the embodiment OF the
spirit of patriotic reconciliation. But
let general election take place
in the South with the usual result in favor OF
the Democratic party, and the attitude of our
New York contemporary at once changes. us
fury, then. is that of the woman who Is
scorned, and its language descends IN the
violence of its abuse. if not in its inelegance,
~ Il ., Gchu IA
every form of legislative repression are then
hardly severe enough in its opinion to con-
stitute punishment for the people of the
South for their refusal to yield to the bland
ishments of the tempter. Force bills have
fallen still-born. and the unhappy Tribune
has been driven back into its cave TO suck the
paws of its disappointment.
It's hopes, however, have now revived after
a considerable period in which it has been
cajoling, threatening and abusing the South.
These hopes are based upon two new founda-
tons and it is amusing to observe the fever
ish eagerDess with which the Tribune has
argued itself into belief in their substantially.
First there is the impression which it as
serts the speeches of the President have
made on the minds Of the Southern people.
These speeches" it declares were conceived
in such spirit Of friendliness to Southern in
dustries and Southern ambitions as 10 render
harsh criticism from an opposing press i'm
possible They opened the way to mission
airy work. which may indeed result, if it be
resolutely pursued, in Southern victories in
1892"
Missionary work An excellent phrase that
will titiate the ears of the Democratic saw
ages and heather of the South very agreeably!
Brands snatched from the fire, this is the
light in which our contemporary regards the
political convert in the Southern States. a
sort of political blackamoor who has been
wandering in wilderness This is political
orthodoxy with vengeance
Secondly, the hopes of the Tribune have
been very much raised by some plausible
statistics which an irresponsible correspondent
in Washington sent it a few days ago, proba-
bly, an oficeholder who seeks TO remove his
apprehension Of the return of the Democracy
to power,5by an ingenious arrangement of
Southern election.fgures, which leads him to
the wished-for conclusion that the Re
publican party will triumph in
large proportion of the Southern States
in 1892. The Tribune admits that its
correspondents views are optimistic but with
characteristic perversity when Southern
affairs are concerned, it eIclaims that this
optimism is "a decided virtue" Hope and
courage" it adds, ARE the children of opti-
mism, and there can be no question that
these qualities are useful in politics." which
no one will dispute but it is this very opti-
mism which has 80 often brought confusion
upon the Tribune aud which is again likely
to expose it TO ridicule by the further failure
to which its hopes are destined.
The Tribune may rely upon the correctness
of this statement, namely, that there will be
no permanent rupture in the Democratic party
of the South as long as such rupture will en-
danger both the social and political stability
of this section. The negro is the real OBJ
structon in the path Of Southern Republi-
can party, As long as he is here. the Tribune
will continue TO call in the Wilderness. but
there will be but few to prepare the Republi-
can way. The missionary work will remain
unperformed The vineyard will continue in
a state Of neglect