The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-02-11

winch were formerly IN reDeiiloh- excepting
perhaps Texas. But from the Mississippi up
to the Potomac there is one universal cry of
distress. They have not food, they have no
seed for then crops, they have none of the
materials and means by which labor, espec-
ially iil our day, is rendered efficient
Now, then, if the northern people should
look at this simply in the light of selfinter-
rest, 4 say that ten millions of dollars diffused
over the south Immediately, in thet form o.
food and seed, and implements, would return
hundred millions in the crop OF this pres
ent year, Applause, thereby largelf contri-
buting to the wealth and the prosperity of
northern industry and northern Commerce,
as well as that of the south. 1t has pleased
God to make us one people Tor all these pur-
poses, not only political, but CONNIE eial and
social, and it is not possible that thee should
be prosperity at the north-real, genuine,
hearty prosperity-while there IS pf,stration
and want, and suffering and incaEacity to
produce, at the. south. Applause We
are bound for our own sake. If for nothing
| else, to so aid the south to-day that she may
be enabled to produce as large crop as pos
sible for the year 1867. With all your aid
you can only help them to make a lttle over
half crop this year. They did not make
half crop of food last year. Tley made
very nearly half crop of cotton by bending
| their energies to that one thing, Ont there
needs to be a complete reconstruction of the
| industry of the south-manutactHring and
mechanical, as well as agricultural, to my
mind very much more important han any
! political reconstruction. Applausa. The
| industry OF the south must be revived and
| re-enceuraged, and if it is only said that the
north is trying to help the. south; tens Of
| thousands will be encouraged to help them.
selves, and help each other by the mere fact
| that we here are putting forth eXertions to
help them. \ few bushels of grain in each
neighborhood, and of useful seeds and OF
implements and labor that they need, and
when we speak to the south saving, ''try to
help yourselves and we will give what heir
we can there will be revival Of national
prosperity and national brotherhood which
viii be many times the value Of all that il
viii cost. 1 do believe then, that apart from
all questions which | would think subordin
ate. all questions of politics and past differ
ences, it is the present interest OF the nortl
to say to the south do your best to make
a crop this year, and trust to us to help your
poor, your needy, and to put Implements
wherever they are needed" 1t will be onI,
l n lew months now ulltAl Tue NOulll " al aJDtUll
to receive something from her wheat crop
vegetables will be grown; and Soon, | trust
the manufactures will be rebuilt that tn,
! war DESTROYED. and hundreds and tho1sand.
of women and children employed there VIII,
could NOT be effectively employed in cult
waiting the soil Friends in New York!
beseech YOU, with no thought of party O
past differences, to give your energies to tn;
work | believe New York city alone cal
we'll afford to commence with a subscription
of million dollars for this purpose, and
am very sure that if she does this she wi
stimulate Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago
Cincinnati, and all the western cities an
smaller towns to initiate her example. lie
| US say to the south: BE of good cheer. tn
dark hours ara passing away" and the yer
fact that we say that will give assurance I
her that IL is trae. She needs to be cheeret
she needs to be encouraged, she needs I
feel that the sutierings and the SORROWS
the past are not her eternal inheritance tbs
there are better times coming, and that theT
are cheerful words spoken to her by the pc
pie OF the north. Friends and neighbors
on behalf of your whole countrv-on beha
of the north, and on behalf of the prosSerii
and growth Of this great, and | think, tn
generous commercial emporium, ! beseec
YOU let us make a great beginning for tn
work IN the city of New York. Applause