Year: 1871

The South


The Southern Republicans say the
Nashville Banner, seem to be giving
their Northern allies cause for a great
deal of uneasiness just al present. What
with the impatience of the negro voters
at the exclusion of their race from the
lucrative offices, the greediness and dis
honesty of the carpet baggers and the
disgust generally evinced by the moderate
element of the party, matters are GER
tainly in rather bad way. But, if the
New York Heralds Atlanta correspon-
dent is to be credited, worse still re-
mains behind. That sagscious discover
er of mares nests-whoever he may be
has nosed out "new political move
ment afoat in Georgia and throughout
the Southern States generally" Ii true,
the Herald thinks it explains the recent
visit of Senator Cameron to Georgia and
all the more recent Democratic tenden-
cies of Governor Bullock. Itwould ap-
pear that the entire Republican party Of
the South has gone over-horse, foot and
dragoons-to the new departure" move
ment of the late Mr. Vallandingham
But, instead of its going to the Demoe-
racy, the correspondent suggests that its
leaders design nothing less than the for
nation of third party, and he hints
that the object is to prevent choice for
President by the people next year, and
thus to throw the election into Congress.
On this point the Herald says "Did
we not know that President Grant is not
popular with the politicians we should
doubt whether any set of men meditated
the treachery to him which such a de-
sign implies. But, as matters stand, we
should not be surprised if the suggestions
of our correspondent prove correct, es-
pecially as the fact is unquestionable that
the entire body of the Southern Repub-
licans seem to have deserted their North
ern allies and become significantly con
servative."


Like all mares nests, however, this
shows itself to be a mere imaginative
creation, when looked at in the light of
plain facts. The success of such move
ment must necessarily involve split in
the Democratic ranks. Or, as the Her
ad puts it, "the detection of few
thousands of voters from the Radicals
of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana
would give those States TO the Democrats
beyond a doubt. If, then, the 'third
party" leaders in the South could succeed
in splitting the Democratic vote in the
Southern States, and carry those States
for their candidate, the election would
inevitably be thrown Into Congress. "
But the latter contingency is not within
range of the remotest probability. We
cannot imagine any allurement that
would be strong enough to withdraw the
Democracy of the South from its close
relations with the National Democratic
party. Transferring the Presidential
election from the ballot box to Congress
would be but leap from the frying pan
into the fire. That body, as at present
constructed, has been the worst enemy of
our section. 1t Is corrupt, usurpatory
and altogether uurepresentative. At
even the extremity of desperation, no
hope of political advantage could posi-
bly, induce the South to tempt such
fate. The vote of the Southern Democ-
raey will be cast solid for the nominee
of the National Democratic Convention
of 1872, no matter who he may be- War
upon the amendments and third party
movements will be equally repudiated.
The Southern Republicans may split up
into as many parties as they have fingers
and toes, if they feel like it, but they
need not count upon any accession of
Democratic strength. As for throwing
the election into the hands of Congress,
that is not matter for the least anxiety.
The Democracy will settle it effectually
enough at the polls.