The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-13

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 In an issue of Chicago paper (The Record-Herald) published prior to the 2 election. Mir. Walter Wellilan says: If this years presidential campaign has contributed nothing else of whole some and enduring character to the current of public opinion, it has brought about one good result in clearing the atmosphere to some ex- tent as to the attitude of the North towards the South. In the next para graph of the same communication, Mir. weIlman says: We have additional proof that so far as the people of the North are concerned, sectionalism Is dead, and distrust of or animosity tow ards the people of the South no longer exists, in any quarter or form. worthy serious attention"
 In view of the attitude which, the present administration has assumed towards the South. and in the face or the sectional plank in the Republican platform which proposes to invest a partisan committee in Congress with Jurisdiction to recommend the reouc- ton of the representation of the South, already q minority section. to posi- tion where it's voice in the councils or the government will be insignificant as compared with the dominant ma jority of the North, this statement is indeed surprising! its platform, propose to enforce the fourteenth amendment. since that amendment recognizes the right of the States. within the terms of the con- stitution, to disfranchise voters, wher- as the policy declared in this platform is to reduce representation as pun ishnent for unconstitutional enact-
 f.~4 HA~ -~xaIN know, of course, that an unconstitu- tional enactment Is no enactment at all. It is a mere nullity. The right to vote Is not affected by its provi- sions.
 The complacency with which the men of the North discuss the race ques- ton and the relation between the sec- ton is refreshing. There is a dead cock in everything they say on this subject which reminds me of the remark made by g. distinguished English statesman, of Lord Macauley. 'Tf I knew any one thing" he said, "as certainly as Macauley knows ev- erything, I would be happy"
 This question as to the relation of the sections and the proper handling of the race question in the South ris- es far above party lines. It affects the general good of the country. and
 
 patriotic citizen.
 venture to say, with great humili- ty, that the policy of the Republican party towards the South has been the policy pursued by George III and Lord North towards the American col onies.
 Shortly after the war between the States, MT. Schurz was sent South to investigate and report upon conditions here. In his report, he was duly shocked to find that the Southern peo- pie, after being defeated in their ef- fort to withdraw from the union, and after being compelled by force of arms to resume their place in the union, were exhibiting disposition to re- sume control of their own affairs! This evil result, in the opinion of Mfr. Schurz. as shown in his report, +caA be prevented by continuing the control of the national government in tine States lately in rebellion, until free la- bor is fully developed and firmly es- abolished. This desirable result may be hastened by a firm declaration on the part of the government that na- tional control in the South will not cease until such results are secured"
 Mir. Schurz, as explained by MT. Blaine, was selected for this particu- lar mission because, as MT. Blaine states, "at that period of a political career consistent only in the frequen- cy and agility of its changes, Mir. 6churz happened to take an extreme position on the Southern question:
 General Grant. on the other hand, who was sent South about the same time to report as to conditions peeVail- ing here. says:
 The citizens of the Southern States are anxious to return to self-goRerR- ment within the union as soon as pos sible;" that during the process of re- construction they want and r0quire protection from the government;'S that they are in earnest and wishing to do what they think is required by the government not humiliating to them as citizens" and that, If such a course were pointed out, they would puSsue itsin good faith.'
 '"The questions" continued General Grant, heretofore dividing the people of the two sections, slavery and the right of secession, the Southern men regard as having been settled forever by the tribunal of arms. I was pleased to learn from the leading men whom I met that they not only &C., cepted the decision as final, but now that the smoke of battle has cleared away and time has been given for re- flection. that this decision has been fortunate one for the whole country"
 lHS VI 0OhSAo al Grant were rejected, and the views of Mir. Schurz were adopted, as the pol icy of the dominant Republican major ity, and notwithstanding the subse- uuent admission of the Southern States under reconstruction, the alleged right to continue Federal control of our af- fairs as recommended by MT. Schurz, has been continued from that day down to the present, and represents to- day the policy for which the Repub1i- can party stands.
 There has been but one rift in the clouds. and that was during the admin istration of President Mckinley. In accepting the Presidency of the late Constitutional Convention of Alabama, in my address to that convention took occasion to say: "But we may congratulate ourselves that this sec- tional feeling, which has served to im- pair the harmony of our common coun- try and to limit the power and retard the development of the greatest gov- ernment on earth, is fast yield ing to