Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-09-12
EHRICHING OUR ENEMIES.

ERRICHING OUR ENEMIES
Cincinnati wants Southern trade.
President JOHNSON is struggling to re-
store the South TO freedom and prosper
ity. Cincinnati declines, through her
Council TO offer him her hospitality.
Why? Because of his alleged friendship
for the Southern people Would It not
be well for them TO bear these things in
mind? 1t is certainly natural that they
should. 1t would be eminently proper to
act upon them Talk as we may of the abb
stract right of retaliation, it is still prin-
ciple of human nature and was intended
10 subserve good ends As between man
and man, there is no commercial inter
course, ami can be none, if one party
commits acts of hostility towards the
other Why should the rule be varied as
between people and people, or cites and
cities? The Late borne the South by
Cincinnati, manilestsits extent and bitter
ness whenevera fitting opportunity oilers.
The South is now pouring into the lap OF
that city great stream OF trade, and
building it up to the detriment Of st.
Louis aud Louisville, where the Presi-
dent was welcomed with aeclamations
and hsnored with ovations. We do not
insist. Of course, that we must not trade
with people who differ from us upon
political matters In that case we should
not have commercial intercourse with
most of the Northern cities. But a
hostile city is different There is no way
of compelling us to contribute TO the
wealth of those who hate us. To do so
voluntarily, is an unmanly humiliation.
So very bitter is this Cincinnatian hatred
of the South, that the first officer Of the
Government, for no other reason than
that be favors the restoration Of civil
rights to ten million people, is denied
the courtesy ofan offer gifts hospitality.
In this act we perceive the spirit that
did moi 60 down with the war. Hostili-
ties subsidized, but vengeance stood erect,
black and CHASTITY. The battles are all
over. The thunder of cannon does not
live, even in echo The armies are dis
banded, aud the soldier has exchanged
his blue uniform for the citizens garb,
and his muslet for the pillow. BIZ, the
war goes on with the artillery Of words
aud ballots. The South was not quite
destroyed. There were a few blades OF
green grass remaining uncrushed, and a
few cottages left standing. What was
destroyed is forgotten in the presence OF
The miserable remnants Of that which
was not. Over the mountainous heaps
of the former, men are swarming TO de.
molish the latter. And the city Of Gin
ciunaii is foremost in this after phase OF
the war. IL TO that city were committed
the solution Of the fate Of the South
what would it be2 Disfranchisemeni
of the white. and enfranchisement o.
the black people Of the South We
do not think there is any doubi
of this. We should have our former
slaves elevated to the dignity Of masters
masters Of the white race. But thiI
would not be all ConfscatiOn would b
thorough under Radical policy, and II
Cincinnati not Radical2 Would no
the white population be reduced 70 riiel
and hopeless poverty Certainly.
And yet we give our trade to tina
place. build it up, and thus strengthen
The strength Of unforgiving enemies
We know that il contains many goo'
men who wish rs no harm. We know y
contains many merchants and meehanic'
who wish o. we'll; but such are in q MI
poritv. and do not WELD either its POweI
or its wealth We could wish to see
them prosper, but to trade there at all II