The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-18
THE SECTIONAL SPIRIT.


The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. which
has always been notorious for the jaundiced
and prejudced views which it has entertained
of the Southern people, an antlpathy TOR
which it can advance no sound reason. but
which it is prepared to express on every occa-
sion in and ont of season in remarking on an
article which recently appeared in this paper
warmly commencing Secretary Noble for the
highly patriotic speech which he delivered at
the banquet given in Washington to the dele
gates to the Patent Convention, describes a.
funny" our statement that If sectlonallsm
still survives in this country. II is not tho
fault of the people of the South"
We do not hesitate 10 repeat this statement
as being entirely within the limits OF the most
exact accuracy. Whatever feeling may exist
in the South is directed not at the Northern
people. but at the Republican party alone
This hostility among the overwhelming ma
jority of the Southern people against the Re
publican party is due exclusively to It's per-
sstent and uncompromising attitude of en-
nifty towards this section
The fact that this party is in the great body
~
States. does not materially affect the dislike
in which it is held in the South. The locality
amounts to little.
The principles of the party would make it
equally as odious to the Southern people no
matter where it might have It's local seat. In
fact, the character Of the party. II it can be
said to exist in the black and tan fragment to
l. II. Ctoto - t,,ct
hateful in the South as in the North, to the
Southern people.
For the Republican party. as aparty chiefly
composed of Northern voters We do not be-
lieye that any appreciable antipathy exists in
the Southern States. For the Republican
party. as a party bent upon injuring the
Southern people there is very naturally and
very properly n general feeling Of antipathy
in this part Of the Union. If the Republican
party were 10 discard Us sectional luminosity
and become rs warm in its friendship for the
Southern people as the Democratic party of
the North is to-day, the last trace Of sectional
enmity would disappear.
1t is not the fault of the South that the
Republican party continues 20 maintain it's
present attitude Of hostility 10 the Southern
States. This is one of the necessities of that
party's precarious position. II had it's birth
in sectional hatred, it has kept itself in power
by appealing 10 the sectional spirit. and it
would perish at once if that spirit were to die
out at the North The fact that this spirit
has not died out, is the chief reason why the
existence Of tho party is still preserved.
The sectionalsm that still survives in this
country is due to Republican influence. As
sectionalism has declined. Republican inau-
ence has waned. and the reverse is equally as
true, namely, that as Republican influence
has waned, sectionalism has declined. When
Republican influence shall have been totally
extinguished. a contamination to be conf
dently expected as we'll as devoutly wished
the last sign of sectionalism will have COM
pletely vanished The South will regard this
contamination, when it actually takes place
with unaffected qualification, not only as con-
ducive to its own prosperity. but highly pro-
motive Of the general welfare Of the whole
Union.