The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-12-23
WHERE WILL TT END.

as any magazine must be that intends to
be a positive power in literature. The
December number contains vigorous
and timely article, bearing upon the dom
nation which the Slave Power has as
sumed over the policy Of the country
Whether belonging to one Party or an
other, this baleful fact, patent to candid
men everywhere, is of momentous inpor-
lance. Notwithstanding its length, we
feel justified in giving the larger portion
of the article place in our columns.
After contrasting the natural advanta-
ges of the two sections of the country, the
writer proceeds as follows
When the eyes of the thoughtful inqui-
rer turn from the general prospect Of the
national greatness and strength, to the
geographical divisions Of the country, to
examine the relative proportions of gifts
contributed by each, he begins to be aware
that there are anomalies in the moral and
political condition Of even this youngest
of nations, not unlike what have perplex-
ed him in his observation of her elder sis
tiers. He beholds the Southern region,
embracing within It's circuit three hundred
thousand more square miles than the do
main of the North, lowered with soil
incomparably more fertile, watered by
mighty rivers fit to float the argosies of
the world, placed nearer the sun and can
opiel by more propitious skies, with eve
~ clement Of prosperity and wealth show
cred upon it with Natures fullest and
most notwithstanding hand, and sees, that,
Notwithstanding all this, the share Of pub
lie wealth and strength drawn thence is
almost inappreciable by the side of what
is poured into the common stock by the
strenuous stcrrility of the North. With
every opportunity and means that Nature
can supply for commerce, with nayigable
rivers searching its renotcst corners, with
admirable harbors in which the navies Of
the world might ride, with the chief arti-
clcs Of export for its staple productions, it
still depends upon its Northern partner
to fetch and carry all that it produces,
and the little that it consumes. Pcs
sessed of all the raw materials of the
ats and of manufactures, its inhabitants
look to the North for rything they
need from the cradle to the coffin. Els
sentialy agricultural in its constitution,
with every blessing Nature can bestow
upon it, the gross value Of all its produc-
tons is less by millions than that Of the
simple grass Of the field gathered into
Northern barns. With all the means and
materials of wealth, the South is poor
With every advantage for gathering self
reliance and strength, it is weak and dc
pendent. - Why this difference between
the two?
The aohy is not far to seek. 1t is to be
found in the reward which Labor bestows
on those that pay it due reverence in the
one case, and the punishment it intl;cts
on those offering it outrage and insult in
the other All wealth proceeding forth
from Labor, the land where it is honored
and its ministers respected AMI rewarded
must needs rejoice in the greatest album
dance of its gifts. Where, on the con-
trary, its exercise is regarded as the badge
of dishonor and the vile office of the ref
use and offscouring of the race, its largess
must be proportionably meagre and scan
ty. The key Of the enigma is to be found
in the constitution Of human nature. A
man in letters cannot do the task work
that one whose limbs are unshackled
looks upon as pastime. A man urged
by the prospect Of winning an improved
condition for himself and his children by
the skill of his brain and the Industry of
his hand must need achieve results such
as no fear of torture can extort from one
denied the holy stimulus Of hope. Hence
the difference s. often noticed between
tracts lying side by side, separated only
by river or an imaginary line; on one
side of which, thrift and comfort and
gathering wealth, growing villages. sfnil-
ing farms, convenient habitations, school
houses. and churches make the landscape
beautiful; while on the other, sloyenly
husbandry, dilapidated mansions, sordld
huts, perilous wastes. horrible roads, the
rare spire, and rarer village school betray
all the nakedness of the land. 1t is the
magic of motive that calls forth all this
wealth and beauty to bless the most ster-
lie soil stirred BY willing and intelligent
labor: while the reversing of that spell
scatters squalor and poverty and misery
over lands endowed BY Nature with the
highest fertility, spreading their leprous
Infection from the laborer 10 his lord. All