The sun., 1908-12-27
sIr. Taft and the South.

Down among the live oaks and the
pines and thrice enyeloped in an atmos-
nhere Of solicitude and hospitality, Mr.
TAFT is resting from the labors Of the,
late campaign and gathering his ener-
cies for the still more urgent duties
swaiting him in his new capacity. He
will soon get accustomed to the sand
links, and has found saddle that fits
him to be used in more buoyant recrea-
lions; and, what with these recuperat~
ing interudes and the social relaxations
that attend his leisure hours, he can
furnish a much needed holiday to suit
himself.
MFR. TAFT, We assume, .devotes frac-
ton Of each day to an examination OF
the Southern newspapers. and If so he
must by this time have perceived the
aifectionate yet half suspicious attitude
OF me Southern people with reference
to his visit, affection because of his
delightful personal attributes, and sus-
rieion because of his leadership of
party for which hitherto they have had
only aversion and hostility. He is a
man especially qualified to win the con-
fiience and engage the sympathy of an
lmpuIsive people. His frankness, the
eeniality he distils, the palpable good
win that animates him, these traits
viii inevitably make friends for him
wherever he may go, and interest
thinking men in all his acts. But
TO draw Southern men to WILLIAM II.
TAtf and to draw them to the Republi-
can party are two very different things,
and must be approached by very differ
ens paths
The comments in the Southern news
papers OF high character and indepen-
dent thought sufficiently indicate the
Eolith's> predominant expectation OF a
Republican President, which is that he
win appoint to the local offices men who
ard mott sobnoxi0us to them, who recall
no painful episodes, with whom they can
fraternize, at least in the way of busi-
ness, jat no sacrifice of their predilec-
tions and their self-respect There are
such men, plenty OF them, in every
Southern State. Their appointment
win awake neither angry memories nor
ittoIerable forebodings. The Southern
peSfjle have not forgotten the dark days
ofyeeppstruction. and the Republicans
Who since that fiagrant time have rep
resented only the drilling Of delega-
tioRs and the partition Of the resultant
patronage are ascandal to every whole
some mind They want first OF all to
see the places with the occupants OF
which they will have to come in daily
contact filed by men of character and
suitable position, That done, they can
take the measure Of Mr.. TAPT's sin
cefity and consider the attractions Of
hi4s.ast y with qpc!ouded eyes.
There are in fact no sharply drawn
\ party lines in the country to-day, mean
ine.of course lines that represent essen
tfaa principles and policies. There is
more protection sentiment in Louisiana
than there is in Massachusetts,. Mis-
so1ri wants high duty on barytes, and
Michigan will soon be clamoring for
free trade in lumber. What the South
wants in order to feel that it is restored
to the family is the appointment of a
set Of Federal officeholders whom it
respects and can feel at ease with. The
South's real predictions in politics will
never break through the wall Of place
men and professionals that now divides
2 it from the communion and exiles il
f,-,vnn the syT,nnathy of the North