The aristocrats of ante-bellum days and their descendants in the old slave States are as completely under the political control and domination of the poor whites of the ante-bellum period as those whites were under them at that time.

Yet the reader must not assume that the election returns from such States indicate the actual, or even the relative, strength of the opposing and antagonistic elements and factions.

They simply indicate that the poor whites of the past and their descendants are now the masters and the leaders, and that the masters and the leaders of the past are now the submissive followers.
In the ranks of those who are now the recognized leaders is to be found some of the very best blood of the land,--the descendants of the finest, best, most cultivated, and most refined families of their respective States.

But as a rule they are there, not from choice, but from necessity,--not because they are in harmony with what is being done, or because they approve of the methods that are being employed and pursued, but on account of circumstances and conditions which they can neither control nor prevent.

They would not hesitate to raise the arm of revolt if they had any hope, or if they believed that ultimate success would be the result thereof.