Year: 1875

caution to order an Investigation, the same
disreputable miscreants charge that the
Administration is guilty of condoning the
crimes of its subordinates. In this way
political capital is manufactured, and at
the same time the malicious propensities
of a horde of scandal-mongers are gratifed.
And this is called freedom of the press"



A WORD OF ADVICE TO SOUTHERN wHIGs.


In the organization of political parties in
the South after the close of the war there


was some expectation that the Wings of
that section, many of whom were Union
men, would Join their fortunes with those


of the Republicans. They were noted be-


fore the war for their progressive aspira-


tions in opposition to the comparatively


stagnant policy of the Democracy. While
they believed in a truly conservative effort
to become progressive and emulate the
thrift of manufacturing centres, their op-
ponents were content with an arrogant
and dissatisfied refusal to entertain even
the shadow of an idea that any improve
ment of their political, commercial and
social position was possible. In fact, the
Southern Democracy, pure and simple, had
earnest and hereditary ideas about " our
rights in the Territories" about the reso-
lutions of '9S-'99, and about their own i'm
maculate respectability, and nothing more.
In other words, believing themselves to
be perfect in every regard, and living the
self:suficient and conceit-engendering lives
of slave owners, they set themselves up as
infallible autocrats. The Wings enjoyed
some of these characteristics, but in more
moderate way, and as q class were open to
argument, observation and conviction. In
short, these two elements of Southern
society, being at variance with each
other upon almost irreconcilable ques-
tions, could never have been
brought together and welded as one body,
as they were temporarily during the war,
under any other circumstances than those
which combined to produce that war.
Even then the old enmi6es cropped out,
and the ragged edge of partisan jealousy
showed itself often in the proceedings of
the Confederate Congress. The antipathy
of the Wings to anything that even bore
the name of Democracy was most violent,
and it was only the mistaken idea of loyalty
to their section-they had unwittingly
learned from their opponents to call it
their country-that induced them to take
an active part in the war for the destruc-
ton of the Union: But, finding that such
Democrats as JEFF Davis had succeeded in
getting control of affairs to the extent of
making the Confederacy virtual Kingdom,
under the arbitrary control of few, they
were always restive. They fought well,
nevertheless, and their personal achieve
ments on the battle-fields ranked as high,
SO far as individual bravery was concerned,
as the acts of any of their fire-eating
fellow-soldiers. When the war closed,
as we have said, it was expected
that many of them would embrace
the opportunity then offered to join the
ranks Of the opposition to their old foes,
the Democrats. This was their natural in
clination. Why they did not do it is not
altogether mystery, although it is some
what strange. The reason is that the les
sons 1.-THE war had not yet lost their sectional
and race-prejudice influences. Sectional
pride and the pride of race, added to the
bitter memories of defeat, combined to in
duce them to forget or ignore their old
antipathies, and without measuring the
consequences, or paying any attention to
future considerations, they began to "vote
as they fought" "


Not exactly the same thing occurred in
the North, for the Wings of that section
had already Joined in large numbers the
opponents of the Democracy, and the Re-
publican party had already succeeded in
asserting IFS supremacy; but this combina-
ton of Abolitionists and Wings could find
no counterpart in the South. In fact, the
acknowledgment that the Abolitionists
had anything to do with the Republican
party, were its virtual founders, and ex-
erted an influence in molding its policy,
had much to do with deterring the Wings
from joining it.


But the time is coming when these more
recent influences and prejudices will disap-
pear. The old-time antipathy Of the Wings
to the State-rights Democracy is beginning
to be felt again. If it were not for the de-
lusion by which they were temporarily led
into active cooperation with the State
rights element, and thereby contracted in
consistentsympathies, at variance with their
hereditary inclinstions, this antipathy would
assert itself more plainly. Every day, how.
ever, proves the devotion of the Southern
Democracy to its hero.worshiping pro-
cliyities and its submission to the rule of
the Confederate military ring. In truth,
the same men are being advanced now into
public position in the Union who were simi-
larly advanced in the Confederacy. 10
greater or less extent the old Wings are
consequently being ignored as they were
when JEFF. Davis and his military ring
ruled with the iron hand of exclusiveness
the political fortunes Of the rebel govern
ment. It is true that the members of the
old Wing party are fast dying out and that
those who were associated with it in
its days Of struggle for national,
State and municipal supremacy are
gradually being gathered to their
fathers. But enough of them rsmain
to present formidable array of numbers,
and personally they must, one and all. feel
in the most poignant manner the changed
condition of affairs, which enables their
ancient enemy to ride rough-shod over
their claims for public recognition. AT
the same time the Republican party offers
to them an invitation to be revenged for
the ipfiction Of this pointed neglect. The
principles Of that party, too. are not 50 in
imical to the traditions of the Wings as to
be repugnant to them. In the North, as
ME have said. they have found natural