The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-18
POLK AND THE SOUTH.

few DAYS ago quito a sensation on small
scale was reported among tho Alliance mon
Of Kansas over a remark attributed TO fres-
dent Polk. Of tho National Alliance 70 the
effect that while he served in the Confederate
army he never had any heart IN the Conied-
crate cause: and while wearing the Confeder-
ate gray he was always Unionist. and his
sympathies were at al times. with those who
wore the Federal blue He may have thought
that. as he was speaking 20 an audience COM
posed largely of ox-F ederal soldiers, many OF
them members OF the q. A. r., he could sue
cessfully appeal 20 their preludices and anti
Southern feelings But be soon found that
he had only succeeded IN exciting disgust
against himself. and that no brave Federal sol
der. however much he may personally hate
the South. can feel respect for one who yolun-
tariy brands himself traitor 20 his people
and the cause he professed TO espouse.
But Mr.. Polk. it soems. is not satisfied with
going b this extent, and if u special TO the
Raleigh On. c. News and Observer from
Topeka. Kansas. does not belle him, has even
entered into a contract 20 defeat tic Demo
cratic party in the South. Ie is quoted as
saying we arc going TO burst the solid South.
The negroes are going with us 70 tho next
national meeting Of the Alliance. and Will de-
clare for free vote and fair count IN the
South. " and he Will recommend this IL his
next message.
II Mr.. Polk has really entered into an agree
meut 10 disrupt tho solid Democratic South,
and, under the disguise Of farmers party
turn this section over 20 Radical and negro
supremacy, lie viii find ont that he has en-
eseed in a losing contract and that be will
not be able 10 deliver the goods. Far better
men than he hayo tried the same thing and
sienaily failed Malone in Virginia. Chal-
mers in Mississippi, Longstreet Georgia and
various others in other States, all with their
heads turned either by disappointed ambi-
tiou or greed 10 get their arms into tho Fed
eral Treasury made the effort to ride INTO
power by Repubicanizing the south. Yet
they accomplished nothing but their own
disgrace although instead OF bearing the
spotted name Of traitor during the war; they
stood high in repute as gallant Confederate
soldiers
IF such men as these could not play into the
hands Of the Radical enomies Of the South,
how can such man as Polk hope to do so'
The Southern farmers have not forgotten The
days Of reconstruction. when negro and
carpet-bag rule. with its attendant anarchy
decentralization and general confusion and
thieyishness swayed tie South and they will
not consent to be made tho tools 90 bring
about a similar condition OF affairs only that
one man. andh without any special influence.
NAV realize his,selhsh.ends. ltdoes not, there
fore. require either o prophet orthe son of q
prophet to predict the ultimate fate Of Polk
if he has really launched out in the
line attributed 20 him bY the dispatches from
Kansas II he has fallen prov 20 the de-
fusion that he can make favor with tie farm
ers Of the North by Boosting of treason IN his
heart to the Confederacy during the war, and
that he holds tho farmers IF the South Sc
completely in the hollow of his hand that he
can induce them 20 mako common cause with
negroes for the destruction Of Southern civil
lizaton. he will find himself the egregious
victim Of his own conceit Like tho others
who have attempted to gain notoriety OF po-
Itical prominence by the same means ne will
shine for very briet season in an unonyia-
bic light. and then forever be lost n the
darkness of oblivion.