Year: 1879

ctdL-AdCeTtLSeT.


The Old Plag---and an Appropriation"


THE Southern newspapers have natur-
ally been stirred up by General Bragg's
warning that the Democratic party can
not be used merely as an instrument
for collecting Rebel claims. There is
as much disposition among the South
ern Democrats to resent this interfer-
ence of Northern Democrats with their
plans as there is on the part of the
olthern Democrats to resist the domi-
ination of the Southern faction. The
utterances on both sides are equivalent
to general notice from each faction to
the other that separation will be pref
cradle to yielding. A few of the North
ern Democratic politicians, like Gener-
al Bragg, may be honestly and earnest
ly opposed to the Southern raids on the
United States Treasury, and many 9TH
ers not so honest or patriotic will be
constrained to take the same position,
because they will dread the wrath of
their constituents if they shall commit
themselves to the Southern raids; but
the Southern press choose to regard
this unexpected Northern resistance
within the Democratic party as result
of cowardice on the part of all North
ern politicians. If by this use of the
term cowardice" is meant Difference
to the sentiment of constituents, it is
useful and commendable element in the
politics of country where the people
are supposed to rule, and, in the case
of the Southern war claims as well as
Southern subsidy-grabbing, the Demo-
cratic politicians of the North dare not
resist the opposition of public senti-
ment to all these raids.


The Southern newspapers seem to
misjudge this state of things. Some of
them advise an attempt at Cancellation
and the policy of concealment, while
others come out with characteristic
rashness and proclaim their readiness
to break away from the Democratic
party at once unless they can be as
sured that the Southern claims for re-
endorsement for war losses and for sec
tional subsidies shall receive the sup
port of the Northern Democrats. The
effort of the Charleston Is. CO. Ne2OS
and Courier to patch UP the breach be-
tween the Northern and Southern fac
tions, and at the same time save the pet
claims and subsidy-measures of the
South, is very amusing. 1t smooths
over General Bragg, and at the same
time applauds General Chalmers. 1t
gives in an adherence to the policy ad-
vised by Ben Hill, which included a ne
CATION of all war claims and a refusal
of all subsidies, but suggests certain Gu
rious notifications. 1t wants excep-
Aa in Of .Rr Dn
cific Railroad; of 1000, 900 which it
now says is in the United States Treas
ury as proceeds from the sale of capt
ured cotton, and which it believes ought
to be returned to the "rightful own
ers"; and also of the Mississippi levee
scheme and few other exceptional
cases." In other words, the policy is
recommended of proclaiming a plat
form opposed to the payment of war
claims and sectional subsidies with
mental reservation that will subsequent
ly admit all these raids on the Treasu-
ry. This journal processes that it was
as much opposed to the reimbursement
of so-called loyalists'' as General
Bragg is, and quotes sapprovingly Gener-
al Chalmers statement that " Southern
loyalty to the Union during the war
meant disloyalty TO everything he held
dear" This is equivalent to an admis-
sion that the real Southern demands
made upon the Government are for the
benefit of men who were diSlOyGL.


The Vicksburg (Miss.) Herald is
more outspoken about the impending
conflict between the Northern and
Southern factions of the Democratic
party. 1t expresses the belief that the
Northern Democrats in Congress, in
the fear of being visited with the dis
pleasure of their constituents, will OPP
pose the pet Southern projects for
reaching the Public Treasury, and an
nounces that, in such case, the South
ern Democrats are ready to dissolve the
partnership. ltregards General Bragg's
speech as rejecting the belief of ma
jority of the Northern Democrats that
the demands of the Southern Democrats
are unreasonable, and says the time
has arrived when Southern Democrats
must consider what they will do; the
programme is outlined by the assertion
that 1--WE q. G., the Southern Demo-
crats) cannot affiliate nor cooperate
with men who suspect us or who are
afraid to stand up for us, and we can't
afford to go into the fight and take all
the risk" The following paragraph
is particularly significant;


"In 1880 the two great parties will
contend for the National Government
When this contest comes on the
South will be asked to go forward and
elect the Democrat. She will be asked
to risk all that is dear to her-local
self f-governmentr-to do this. Already
Grant is spoken of as the Republican
standard-bearer, and that man is fool
indeed who does not know that Grant
will do his best to resurrect the
Republican party Of The South if he
shall be elected. This is true of any of
the Radical candidates now spoken of
as things now stand-that is, with the
South doing its level best against the
Northern Republican party The
South could not expect even u contin-
uation of Mr. Hayes policy. This is
the risk the South is asked TO take by
Northern Democrats. Southern DEM
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