The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-19

and occupying such vast terrItoriaI eA-
tent. sectional distinctions, growing out
of conflicting local interests are inevitable.
We had a North and South. Now we
are beginning to hear of an East ana
West.
a few resolute self-confdent leaders
may. as they often do, compel the re-
luctant acquiescence of tlmld Vaclllauhg
majority: and thus whole communities are
driven like herds of cattle down the
mountainside They know not how or why
bv ! sort of unconscious impulse. | do
not believe that in 1861 more than two
of the Southern States actually voted
themselves out of the Union, certainly
the States of Virginia, North Carolina
and Tennessee did not; and yet-such
was the pressure and infection-the inn
mense majority of February and Mares
of the latter year, were found in July
fighting the battles of the Confederacy.'
"Do you apprehend the serious growth
of new sectionalism which with the death
OF the old sectionalism seems to be strug-
Cling into life in American
IF human experience goes for any
thing and is ever to count for much, the
world ought to be wiser for the lessons
i has had. I am afraid, however, that
organized wealth and power have not
vct grown wise enough TO scent danger
before it is upon them. The Eastern sec
tion Of our country is already in danger.
| have an impression that 1t does not
see this. Yet it might with profit to itself
and to MS all, read chapter out of our
own history and take hint in time from
the experience of the South The insti-
tuition of American slavery was thought
to offer Great benefits upon its profess
sors. IT produced in the South a dis
finct caste. Recognized by the constitu-
lion. property in man came TO take on
kind Of divine right and at last its sup
porters went to war to defend it. Moth
ing should have been clearer than that
war was the best way to destroy it. Eng
| land had got rid of slavery in her colo
nies. Russia had extinguished serfdom.
Brazil was preparing to emancipate her
| slaves. Everywhere, except in the South
/ ern States Of American Union the world
was against slavery. To cling with ten
| acity to so untenable, and as. time has
/ since revealed, to so profitless a system
| of labor--to say nothing about morals,
| was singularly short-sighted in the pub
| lie men of the South ,but to take the field
| in it's behalf, and against such odds,
Il seems 1UGOHCtifdDlt ILVIt NiiN StnhAppiht
| of the rational craftsmanship. But the
| South did it and dearly paid the conse-
auences. Let the East take to itself
the lesson Of the South. In its con-
| centration of the wealth of the coun-
| try and its ostentatious display
of wealth the gradual cultivation of caste
in the tendency to hug its vast riches in
the finding of means to keep its millions
4 "a 1t =
DO well to consider in the light OF both
aEcfent and modern history, and if il
as ny real statesmen, they cannot put
their genius and resources to better uses
than by the construction Of policies which
will bring them alliances and make them
friends, policies wise aud broad. Thosg
accTefions not only serve to breed corrup-
ton among themselves, but unite against
the simple rights Of property all the force
Of eunidity and rapine, operating on a
agrarian and sectionas line. States have
been saved before now by timely fore
sight Pride, and n very foolish pride at
that, has led Spain to defy the laws alike
OF God and nature in Cuba. Only pride,
the pride Of wealth and caste, will keep
the East from seeing the truth that ii
must make a partner of the rest OF the
country above all by just policies, harder
perhaps to realize than other policies
We can always be generous, but it is no'
always easy to be Just, wisely just even
| TO ourselves.
What would<you advise the Democra.
tic party to do?"
What would advise it to do, and what
| it is likely to do, are two different matters.
Perhaps it couldn't do anything better by
way Of starter than to appoint the next
eighth Of January as day Of fasting and
prayer"