Year: 1879

The Republican victories il the recent elcc-
tions only mark the beginning of one great
change in public opinion and the progress
Of another. TO interpret them rightly 1t
must be remembered that n marked change III
public opinion on financial questions had
already commenced when the elections OF last
year were held great increase in the Re
publican strength was then apparent. But
the change this year is shll more remarkable.
1t is due in part to the growth of sound Opln-
ions on financial questions; the Republicans
are more united in support of resumption than
ever before, and the theories of Grecnbacllism
have lost their hold with great many voters.
Ii could hardly be otherwise, men being III
any degree reasoning creatures. Resumption
was greatly dreaded, but it has been tried
The predicted disasters do not come ; on the
contrary, the times are already better for
every body. The false theories which have
mace 50 much mischief have drawn most of
their support from the blind desire to escape
from the severe strain OF settlement iOr the
debts of imitation As the strain is lifted, men
begin to recover their common sense. Ii Is
not possible that this reaction of public opin-
ion should be arrested as long as times con-
tinue to improve and specie payments work
without disaster or distress.


But another very important change in pub
lie opinion has commenced of which there
was but little, if any, evidence last Fall. 1t
is true. thoughtful and sincere Republicans had
begun before the elections Of last year to
realize very fully the spirit Of the Solid
South. and the dangers involved by It's rapid
advance toward power. Appreciation of that
spirit and those dangers probably turned the
scale in 1876. Yet it is true that 1t was
almost confined TO earnest Republicans at
that time, and ii had effect mainly i'll kindling
them to greater effort. The Solid South had
not clearly shown its temper If infamous
things were done, men were ready TO accept
the explanation that these were the eXcep
tlonal excesses of individuals. II an ugly
spirit was shown, it was thOnglt that the
anxiety to get rid of local misgOvernment in
some of the Southern States was some ex-
cuse, and that such spirit would be shown
no longer when the Southern States should
be fully controlled by their property-Owning
citizens. As long as these explanations were
accepted. those who had separated from the
Republican party because OF Its course on tins
question still remained i'll n hostile or inde
pendent pOSltlOnJ ana sOinO I'tpuDllCdHS NcIc
lukewarm.


There is an end Of all doubt, at last. Every
sane man now knows that the temper of the
Solid South is quite as vicious, defiant sec
tional, revolutionary and dangerous, as it was
in 1861. 1t has not changed for the better,
but has only adopted less manly and more
insidiOus methods. Now, then, il is . rule
:" OF ruin.r Now. as then, the South Is made
solid by an infamous despOtism. and the
North is divided by corruption and fraud. All
this the country sees. III spite OF the fact that
the Southern States enjoy all the freedom that
they have ever desired. Liberslity, kindness,
patience, generous concession, all have been
wasted upon the rooted hostility of the South.
Nov the North begins to understand the fact.
Just rs earnest Republicans only understood 1t
some years ago. And the change of sentiment,
toward an absolute uniOn Of the North to re-
sist the aggressive and revolutionary demands
OF a Solid South, Is the most striking feature
of the recent elections. 1t Is no longer Re
pubicans only who are moved. Democrats
and independents by the thousand, who were
loyal when the Union was assailed by arme,
now see the necessity OF being not less stern
and resolute in their resistance TO lea. honor
able but more dangerous modes of assault