Year: 1879



 York and was interviewed by q re- porter of the Tribune, In the course of the conversation he said:

 The South IS eminently conscrya- tive, and has always been so. It wants to be quiet, and does not want to be the ulctim nor the mover Ill anything that wlll create trouble or distrust. As to the laws permitting the presence of the troops at the polls, they were war measures and all want them repealed. 1 would never have delivered the speech l did but for speech of Mir. Thur mans some time ago, in which he denied, and truthfully denied, the charge that the South was dictating the policy of the Democratic party.

 "If the northern papers woald try to get at the true disposition of the Southern people it would promote reconciliation. 1 know that they have sent able correspondents through the South, many Of whom 1 have met and whose correspond enco I have read. But l do not think they have seen with impartial eyes. They'have felt constrained to write to suit the politics of the pa pers they represented. refer as much to the correspondents of the Democratic press as of the Republi can. At least, they have mistaken the true feeling of the South. It did not attempt to secede for war, and it does not follow that, because it did not succeed nleaving the Un- ion, it still wishes to injure it. This is the only country the Southern people now have, and they wish to make it as great and prosperous as possible. The South ought to be credited with having prevented a war in 1876, when the whole country IS at fever heat over the President. A gun fired in South Carolina then would have precipitated . general war. The South is stronger today than 1860. There is no feeling of ti- midity actuating her present policy. There is no desire for another war. The South wants peace. This 1 know to be the feeling of the whole people there.

 "There is another thing which ought nots to be overlookcd-that while the South is wholly Democrat ic and constitutes the strengh of the Democratic party, we do not intend to ask place upon the .Presiden- tial ticket for southern man. We want the party in the North to place two good men on the ticket, and we will support it for the national success of the Democratic party. With reference to the personal choice of the South for particular Presiden- tial candidates, do not think the South has made any. l believe that there has been a feeling that in justice to the old ticket it should be renominated. There are many reasons, however, which may be urged against this and the refusal of Mir. Hendricks to be put in nomi- nation again seems to render it impossible. I don't think the South cares a copper who the next Presi- dential candidate may be, as long as he is Q. strong national man. They do not care where he comes from or what his financial views may be.

 "There is great deal of misapprc- hension in the North as to the politi- cal condition of the negroes in the South. They seem to think that . colorcd man is bound to be Repub. lican because he is colored man. l know personally many colored men in South Carolina who have always been consistent Democrats, and have suffered in consequence. There are only 75,000 white vo.ers in my State and 90,000 colored voters. The lat ter therefore, hold the balance of of power. When l was elected governor there were ll9,500 votes cast, and only 213 scattering votes thrown agalnst me, and 1 was un- doubtedly elected by the colored voters, who at that tune had all the machinery of elections in theil hands. There was not q quarrel or fist fight in that election. The Republicans could not put ticket in the field because the colored peo- pie were satisfied.

 'I think It will he great misfor- tune for the negroes to emigrate in large numbers to Kansas. The climate is not suitable for them My old field hands in Mississippi where l cultivated a plantation, sent to me and asked my advice about going to Kansas. l told them they were freemen now, and had thcsright to go if they thought best, but that 1 did not think they would find the climate suitable. l advised them to send a delegation of one or two of their most intelligent men, on whom they could depend, to view the land and make report. 1 think many who have already gone will dle there during next winter, and that ninety-nine out of a hundred will want to get back before spring Indeed some have returned already The South and The Democracy