The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-07
THE SOUTH AND THE REPUBLIC.

One Of the favorite themes Of tho Rcpubl-
can party since the war has been the disloy-
altv of the South and one of the main charges
they have brought against this section is that
il did not have the interests or the honor and
integrity of the Union sincerely at heart
Those who know the Southern people. no
matter to what party they may belong. or from
what portion of the country they may hail.
are perfectly aware that al such charges are
false throughout They know that the Southern
people have never acted IN bad faith or with
any double dealing When the South was dis
satisfied with the tendency of affairs before
the war. her people so announced Themselves
to the world. and when she felt her rights
and liberties threatened by the cleo
ton of Abraham Lincoln as President of
the United States in 1850, and that IL
would be necessary for her TO secede from the
Union, and defend her rights and liberties by
an appeal to arms, she adopted that course
openly and without resort to the slightest
subterfuge. So when she found at Appomat-
tox that il would be useless 10 con-
tinue one of the most notable and gal
LIANT fights for right which the history
of the world has ever recorded, and
therefore pledged her honor TO renewed
allegiance 10 the Union, aud the old flag, she
did so in good faith. She laid down her arms
with no intention of ever taking them up
again, and cast her future fortunes with the
Federal Republic and the Constitution with
the same sincerity and honesty which she had
always previously manifested.
1t was 20 the interest Of her enemies and the
Republican party that they should refuse to
believe this. and 50 they never ceased 10 harp
on the danger Of restoring the Democratic
party-with the South made solidly Demo
cratic for the preservation of Ter civilization
to power Unfortunately, the people Of the
North and West for long time believed the
Republican leaders and press. and 20 carried
away were they by sectional hate that it was
not until they found ont through the medium
Of the Mckinley tariI .and tho reckessness with
which Republican Congress squander-d their
money. that they were being duped into keep
ing aparty in power who cared nothing FOR the
people at large, but only sought TO advance
the interests Of q favored few at the expense
of the many.
Now the last prop for appealing to sectional
prejudice has been taken from the Republi- |
cans. and no longer can the devotion of the
South 10 the Union be called in question.
Since the recent threatened complications
with Italy nowhere in the country has there
been shown a more decided spirit in favor Of |
maintaining the integrity Of the Union and |
the Constitution against foreign foe than in
the South. True there has never been |
any possibility Of war with Italy on |
account Of the removal by popu-
lar uprising Of the New Orleans Mafians
still when that nation tried 10 play game Of |
bluff with the United States the general |
sentiment of the South, as shown by the |
emphatic expressions of the people and the |
press, has been that, should affairs reach
crisis, no section would be more prompt to |
prove its devotion 10 the Union than this. |
And this would have been equally the case
had the source Of trouble arisen in Now York, !
Chicago or San Francisco instead of in New |
Orleans.