THE POLITICAL CONDITION OF THE UNITED STATES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THU " SPEOTALTOR.1
Sse,—This is the third visit which I have made to the United States since the close of the great civil war, and it is with great pleasure that I now at last perceive distinct indications of returning prosperity and fraternity throughout the Union.
In 1866 there were ninny hopeful signs, although the wounds of the South were still "red and raw ;" the burden of debt, both federal and local, was enormous, and the national currency was depreciated to a very serious extent. But early in 1875 the pro- spect was gloomier in the Southern States than it had been nearly nine years earlier, and the wounds inflicted by the war appeared to be suppurating, instead of healing by first intention. A policy of repression rather than one of conciliation was in favour at Washington, and although no attempt was made to resist the Federal troops, frequent collisions took place between armed bodies of whites and blacks, and the bitterest feeling prevailed between the two great political parties in the South. While the Federal Debt had been greatly reduced, the local debts of many Southern States had increased with appalling rapidity, and valu- able estates could be purchased at nominal rates by any one who was able and willing to pay the taxes levied upon them. It was a discouraging time for all well-wishers of the Americans, but things were then at their worst, and have since been steadily mending. To use once more the same metaphor as previously, there are now in 1877 symptoms of healthy granulation in the old wounds, which may yet heal almost without a scar.
The conciliatory policy of President Hayes bas been accepted with an astonishing unanimity of approval in the North as well as in the South, by Republicans as well as by Democrats, and for the moment, at least, the lines dividing political parties are almost obliterated. In the Republican convention held a few days ago at Rochester, in the State of New York, the malcon- tents were indeed in a majority, but the strictures of Senator Cackling on the Presidential policy have called forth the strongest expressions of loyal approbation of Mr. Hayes from the Republi- can Press throughout the country, and even in this State the Rochester Convention seems to be generally repudiated by the party.
The Democrats, on the other hand, have dropped the cry of "fraud," as regards the Presidential election, and speak of the President's personal character with a courtesy somewhat too rare between political adversaries in this country. The Southerners, on their part, have given the man who fought so hard against them a most cordial reception, and have readily accepted the proffered olive-branch. External causes have contributed to bring about this promising con- dition of political affairs the harvest throughout the Union has been magnificent, while the war in Eastern and deficient crops in Western Europe are ill-winds which blow good to thin side of the Atlantic. The national currency is once more almost at par with gold, and a "greenback "is actually worth more than a silver dollar.
The result of the elections now pending, as between Republi- cans and Democrats, is rendered more uncertain than usual by the number of independent " tickets " which have been put forward in many places ; "taxpayer's," " working-men's," socialist," "prohibition," and " greenback " are the titles given to the most important of these, Even if it should prove, as is indeed pro- bable, that the Republicans lose most votes upon these side- issues, and their slender majority in the United States Senate should disappear, there is no serious cause for apprehension on this account as regards the President's Southern policy, whatever may become of " Civil Service reform," another important article in his programme. Englishmen interested in America will certainly wish him all success.—I am, Sir, &c.
New York, October 1. DAVID WEDDERDTJRN.
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