New Orleans Republican., 1868-09-16
PoI1TIoAL POSITION OF RE WEST.

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1t is favorjte saying with Southern
Democrats that the people Of the great
West will vote with them because OF the
mutual interests of the two sections. Be-
cause the Mississippi river is the natural
outlet of the valley of the Ohio-of the
greatest of the Western States ; because
the farmers who produce grain should
naturally have market in the Southern
States as well as transit through them
therefore the people of the West must
sustain the political leaders of the South.
But this is begging the question. 1t is
true that the West is vitality interested in
the prosperity of the South. The natural
outlet of the great valley is by the waters
Of the Mississippi river. The labor en-
ployed in producing sugar and cotton
should, in the economy of a we'll regu-
lated agriculture, be fed by the pro-
ducts Of the Western States. The
West understood this and made
good fight for their interests in the civil
war They understand it now, and they
propose to vote for these interests at the
coming election.
1t does not follow, though, that they will
vote to sustain the Democratic party--the
pro-slavery, non-progressiVe spirit of the
South. To assume that they will is to as
sumo that the South will be the more rap
idly developed under Democratic rule
Than under the progressive policy of the
Republican party.
Now, what are the facts, as patent to the
country, and understood by the people OF
the West?
The great need of the South is capital-
help from abroad The folly of secession
prostrated the whole country, and without
that assistance which the North was ready
to give there was and is no hope for the fn-
ture. But what has the South done to in
vite capital from the North? Nothing.
What has she done to drive it away? Ev-
erytbing.
Let us see. Capital is said to seek its
greatest reward; but capital only seeks
investment where there is security for life
and property. This law has no exception.
The men who compose the Democratic |
party of the South have, since the war
such terrorism in their country |
have perpetrated so many acts of violence,
nave denounced and villifed Northern men
% such an extent that they have driven
lway the very help for the want of which
hey are sinking.
The people of the West desire the pros
oerity of the South. Their material in
erests are associated with her develop
nent They know that there can be no
here until there is peace and
ecurity. They see that the reign of
Democracy is reign of disorder,
nd violence, and crime. They know that
he Demo cratic party has threatened to
verthrow the exiting governments in the
'outh when they shall come in power.
they know that Republicans are pledged
o peace and good order in society; that
hey advocate the rights of all men, and
be universal education of the masses.
hey have the intelligence in the West to
nderstand that the prosperity of the
outh, in which they are so deeply inter
sted, depends upon the recognition of
aese great principals and in the utter
anishment of that disorderly element of
outhern society which assumes to be par
ccellence the representative of Southern in
srests.
The West is a unit for Grant and CoIfax.