Year: 1876

The discussion OF Southern claims
does not please the Democrats. That is
quite natural. They are not so blind as
to suppose that Northern people want
to have the public debt doubled, and the
taxation for payment OF interest. AS
there are two possible modes of reply,
the Democrats chaTacte ristically choose
that which they fancy may be more
readily accepted by Northern voters.
1t is possible to reply, either that such
claims will not be seriously pressed, or
that Northern Democrats will not con-
sent to pay them. But there is clear
understanding of the fact that fifty
years Of Democratic history utterly for
bids the notion that Northern Democ-
racy will ever pluck up the spirit to
resist demands resolutely made by the
South. That, Democrats know, the
Northern people can not believe. Men
who could not find in their hearts the
courage or the conscience to resist the
Fugitive Slave law, the repeal OF the
Missouri Compromise, the attempt to
impose slavery upon Kansas by force,
the denial of free speech at the South,
or the threats of rebellion, and who,
when rebellion came, were still so sub
seryient to the South that they could
find in the Constitution no warrant for
its suppression-these men are not at
all likely to resist when o mere increase
OF the public debt is demanded. Indeed,
very many of the Northern Democrats
passionately demand the same thing,
in order to secure that expansion Of the
currency ior which they have beel clam
oring. Democracy, therefore, wisely
makes no effort to convince people that
it can be trusted to resist the payment
OF Southern claims il seriously de-
manded. 1t rests its defense upon the
plea that the South does not, and will
not, seriously demand that payment.


A ain we have 1860 repeated. We are
asked to intrust the Government to men
who do not pretend that they can be
trusted to resist a Southern demand, i'll
the faith that our good friends at the
South will not demand anything. 1T is
mere nonsense to pretend that the South
intends to secede," We were told. Quite
as much, anu not more, the South can
be trusted to-day. Quite as much, and
not more, a party can be trusted which
has proved by it's whole history that it
is the subservIent tool Of Southern lead
ers.


What the South will demand little
knowledge of, human nature enables us
to judge. That section pays tar less
than its proportion per capita OF United
States taxes. 1t has seen hundreds Of
millions expended in railway building,
and improvement Of rivers and harbors,
and payment of war claims, at the
North. The Southern people would not
be human if they did not desire to Sc
cure at least equal benefits. They would
not be human if they could refuse, be-
cause OF their participation in re-
| bellion, to take an equal share When-
ever they get the power. Men who
| care more for the honor and We'll
fare of the Union tnan for personal
advantage migh5. But the Southern
people cared SO little Tor the honor and
Welfare OF the Union in 1861 that they
rlsked everything in an effort to destroy
it. Does anybody suppose that they
love The Union the more because they
have been beatenp Or because it has
emancipated slaves and made them citi-
zens? 1t does no good 70 &c eve oui-
selves: Southern claims are presented,
notin Jest, but because there is very
large and influential part Of the South
ern people who mean to get payment.
GIVE them the power aud they will get
paid as fully and as speedily as possi-
BILE. That they will have power In case
OF Democratic success, the Democratic





deny.


TFrom the World of yesterday.l


Tue absence of the name Of The great
banking house OF Drexel, Morgan g. Co.
from the wild round.robin addressed to
Mr.. Evarts by company of persons pre-.
tending to believe that the honor of the
American people is thing to be fought
over at the polls, is emphasized and its
significance made more effective by the
fact that the name of this house ia ap-
pended to subsequent circular advo-
eating the election OF Hayes aud Wheel.
er. II is one thing for tinanciers who
are Republicans in politics to advocate
the election of Republican ticket, but
it is quite another thing for them TO de-
clare that they believe the maintenance
of the public honor to depend on the
election of that ticket. Itis legitimate
topic of political discussion whether
the policy of the Democratic or that
of the Republican party is most likely to
advance the public welfare. We have
no doubt ourselves as to the true answer
to this question, and we are sorry to see
estimable cliZens differing from us.
But it is an iliegitimate and scaudalous
political libel to assert that the triumph
OF particular political party is more
likely to affect the value OF public se-
curiLies here than in any other free
country OF the world. The refusal of a
house like that oIsD:eXel, Morgan 81 Co.
to subscribe its name such calumny,
we repeat, is emphasized and made ten
fold more significant by its readiness to
reaftirm its faith in the general policy,
mistaken as we hold that policy to be, of
the party with which its members are In
open political sympathy.


Mr.. Attorney General TAFT took good
deal of trouble some time ago to show
that he knows next to nothing abodt the
principles of American law. 1t gave
Mr.. Belmont very little trouble last
night to show that Mr.. Attorney Gem
eral Taft knows absolutely nothing
about the history of American finance.
Mr.. Tafps ignorance of law having in
duced President Grant TO make him At
torEey General, his ignorance of finance
will doubtless induce President Grant,
in case the reported resignation OF Mr.
Morrill, takes effect, to make him Secre-
tary OF the Treasury.


from the Times Of yesterdayl