THE OLD SOUTH VERSUS THE NEW.
Edward had intended returning to Ilexhurst after tea, but every one
inveighed against the announcement. Nonsense! The roads were bad, a
storm was possible, the way unfamiliar to him! John, the stable boy, had
reported a shoe lost from the horse! And besides, Norton would come out
and be disappointed at having missed him!
And why go? Was the room upstairs not comfortable? He should have
another! Was the breakfast hour too early? His breakfast should be sent
to his room!
Edward was in confusion. It was his first collision with the genuine,
unanswerable southern hospitality that survives the wreck of all things.
He hesitated and explained and explaining yielded.
Supper over, the two gentlemen sat upon the veranda, a cool breeze
wandering in from the western rain area and rendering the evening
comfortable. Mary brought a great jar of delicious tobacco, home raised,
and a dozen corn-cob pipes, and was soon happy in their evident comfort.
As she held the lighter over Edward's pipe he ventured one glance upward
into her face, and was rewarded with a rare, mysterious smile. It was a
picture that clung to him for many years; the girlish face and tender
brown eyes in the yellow glare of the flame, the little hand lifted in
his service. It was the last view of her that night, for the southern
girl, out of the cities, is an early retirer.
"The situation is somewhat strained," said the colonel; they had reached
politics; "there is a younger set coming on who seem to desire only to
destroy the old order of things. They have had the 'new south' dinged
into their ears until they had come to believe that the old south holds
nothing worth retaining. They are full of railroad schemes to rob the
people and make highways for tramps; of new towns and booms, of
colonization schemes, to bring paupers into the state and inject the
socialistic element of which the north and west are heartily tired. They
want to do away with cotton and plant the land in peaches, plums,
grapes," here he laughed softly, "and they want to give the nigger a
wheeled plow to ride on. It looks as if the whole newspaper fraternity
have gone crazy upon what they call intensive and diversified farming.
Not one of them has ever told me what there is besides cotton that can
be planted and will sell at all times upon the market and pay labor and
store accounts in the fall.
"And now they have started in this country the 'no-fence' idea and are
about to destroy our cattle ranges," continued the colonel, excitedly.
"In addition to these, the farmers have some of them been led off into a
'populist' scheme, which in its last analysis means that the government
shall destroy corporations and pension farmers. In national politics we
have, besides, the silver question and the tariff, and a large element
in the state is ready for republicanism!"
"That is the party of the north, I believe," said Edward.
"Yes, the party that freed the negro and placed the ballot in his hands.
We are so situated here that practically our whole issue is 'white
against black.' We cannot afford to split on any question. We are
obliged to keep the south solid even at the expense of development and
prosperity. The south holds the Saxon blood in trust. Regardless of law,
of constitution, of both combined, we say it is her duty to keep the
blood of the race pure and uncontaminated. I am not prepared to say that
it has been done with entire success; two races cannot exist side by
side distinct. But the Spaniards kept their blue blood through
centuries!
"The southern families will always be pure in this respect; they are
tenderly guarded," the colonel went on. "Other sections are in danger.
The white negro goes away or is sent away; he is unknown; he is changed
and finds a foothold somewhere. Then some day a family finds in its
folds a child with a dark streak down its spine--have you dropped your
pipe? The cobs really furnish our best smokers, but they are hard to
manage. Try another--and it was known that somewhere back in the past an
African taint has crept in."
"You astound me," said Edward, huskily; "is that an infallible sign?"
"Infallible, or, rather, indisputable if it exists. But its existence
under all circumstances is not assured."
"And what, Mr. Montjoy, is the issue between you and Mr. Swearingen--I
understand that is his name--your opponent in the campaign for
nomination?"
"Well, it is hard to say. He has been in congress several terms and
thinks now he sees a change of sentiment. He has made bids for the
younger and dissatisfied vote. I think you may call it the old south
versus the new--and I stand for the old south."
"Where does your campaign open? I was in England once during a political
campaign, about my only experience, if you except one or two incipient
riots in Paris, and I would be glad to see a campaign, in Georgia."
"We open in Bingham. I am to speak there day after to-morrow and will be
pleased to have you go with us. A little party will proceed by private
conveyance from here--and Norton is probably detained in town to-night
by this matter. The county convention meets that day and it has been
agreed that Swearingen and I shall speak in the morning. The convention
will assemble at noon and make a nomination. In most counties primary
elections are held."
"I shall probably not be able to go, but this county will afford me the
opportunity I desire. By the way, colonel, your friends will have many
expenses in this campaign, will they not? I trust you will number me
among them and not hesitate to call upon me for my share of the
necessary fund. I am a stranger, so to speak, but I represent John
Morgan until I can get my political bearings accurately adjusted." The
colonel was charmed.
"Spoken like John himself!" he said. "We are proud, sir, to claim you as
one of us. As to the expenses, unfortunately, we have to rely on our
friends. But for the war, I could have borne it all; now my
circumstances are such that I doubt sometimes if I should in perfect
honor have accepted a nomination. It was forced on me, however. My
friends named me, published the announcement and adjourned. Before
heaven, I have no pleasure in it! I have lived here since childhood,
barring a term or two in congress before the war and four years with Lee
and Johnston, and my people were here before me. I would be glad to end
my days here and live out the intervening ones in sight of this porch.
But a man owes everything to his country."
Edward did not comment upon the information; at that moment there was
heard the rumble of wheels. Norton, accompanied by a stranger, alighted
from a buggy and came rapidly up the walk. The colonel welcomed his son
with the usual affection and the stranger was introduced as Mr. Robley
of an adjoining county. The men fell to talking with suppressed
excitement over the political situation and the climax of it was that
Robley, a keen manager, revealed that he had come for $1,000 to secure
the county. He had but finished his information, when Norton broke in
hurriedly:
"We know, father, that this is all outside your style of politics, and I
have told Mr. Robley that we cannot go into any bargain and sale
schemes, or anything that looks that way. We will pay our share of
legitimate expenses, printing, bands, refreshments and carriage hire,
and will not inquire too closely into rates, but that is as far----"
"You are right, my son! If I am nominated it must be upon the ballots of
my friends. I shall not turn a hand except to lessen their necessary
expenses and to put our announcements before the public. I am sure that
this is all that Mr. Robley would consent to."
"Why, of course," said that gentleman. And then he looked helpless.
Edward had risen and was pacing the veranda, ready to withdraw from
hearing if the conversation became confidential. Norton was excitedly
explaining the condition of affairs in Robley's county, and that
gentleman found himself at leisure. Passing him Edward attracted his
attention.
"You smoke, Mr. Robley?" He offered a cigar and nodded toward the far
end of the veranda. "I think you had better let Mr. Montjoy explain
matters to his father," he said. Robley joined him.
"How much do you need?" said Edward; "the outside figure, I mean. In
other words, if we wanted to buy the county and be certain of getting
it, how much would it take?"
"Twenty-five hundred--well, $3,000."
"Let the matter drop here, you understand? Col. Montjoy is not in the
trade. I am acting upon my own responsibility. Call on me in town
to-morrow; I will put up the money. Now, not a word. We will go back."
They strolled forward and the discussion of the situation went on.
Robley grew hopeful and as they parted for the night whispered a few
words to Norton. As the latter carried the lamp to Edward's room, he
said:
"What does this all mean; you and Robley----"
"Simply," said Edward, "that I am in my first political campaign and to
win at any cost."
Norton looked at him in amazement and then laughed aloud.
"You roll high! We shall win if you don't fail us."
"Then you shall win." They shook hands and parted. Norton passing his
sister's room, paused in thought, knocked lightly, and getting no reply,
went to bed. Edward turned in, not to sleep. His mind in the silent
hours rehearsed its horrors. He arose at the sound of the first bell and
left for the city, not waiting for breakfast.