Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-31
POLITICS.
What 1t Costs the Country In
Loss Of Tine.

/ The Richmond Wing, in an editorial
on this subject, says:
" The truth is, that we all, at the
North ana at the South, vsste more oi
our time on this Improbable subject
than We bestoW upon our leading inuus-
tries and we are drawn into it by the
| comparatively few men who make poll
/ tics trade Statistics and economists
have calculated with precision the an
nUal losses in material wealth conse-
/ quent upon foods, fires commissions of
nature, accidents and various other
causes but We are not aware that any
of them have estimated the much
greater loss in America by the almost
universal waste of time in attention to
politics. The subject is large one, and
we do not propose more than its simple
suggestion. But we venture to say that
at the South, IN the last four years, this
loss has been frightful."
To which the Philadelphia Inquirer
responds
The loss at the North, by reason of at
tentiOn to politics, is, OF course, very
considerable. There are certain men
who make the pursuit of office a busi-
mesa, but in comparison to our whole
population they are but few. The North
does not lose much time in politics. In
the cities our political meetings are at
night, and do not interfere with the
usual hours OF labor. In the country,
one afternoon meeting in 3 compaign
will serve for q wide area of ground.
People may talk politics at their work,
but they work Notwithstanding. The
greatest losses entsiied by politics in the
North are in the cost of political demon
strstions. These sums are made up by
contribution, and if they go cut of one
set Of Northern pockets, they go into
another set Of Northern pockets. Indi-
vidusls may voluntarily pay the ex-
peGses OF political professions or amuse-
ments, bat the community Is no poorer.
OF the negroes the Wing says:
g Heretofore our white population
alone Interested themselves ia this SUBJ
ject, and the laboring class, knowing
nothing about it, and caring nothing for
it, pursued their usual lsbors without di-
versf3n. the great work OF agriculture.
and of such manufactures as were car
ried OD by black labor, knew no Interrupt
ton. But in the last four years a large
share OF the time of both classes has
been given to politics. II this time had
been devoted to our industries, we would
all have been worth threefOld more than
we are now worth, and the aggregate of
wealth would have been trebled. And
what have We gained Literally moth
ing. Our loss has been clear onen
As result OF these truly sensible de-
dRctiOns, the Wing, says the PhilRde,phis
Inquirer, is Of the opinion that the South
has Increased and aggravated the TO-
iticsl disabilities and Industrial burdens
which she sought to get rid of, by active
participation Ia political movements.
Aud the SJuth has also experienced the
I" loss of material and the waste of pro-
ductiye industry involved in the sacri-
ice OF our time and energies to politics. a
These conclusions lead the WhiQ to
recommend that profit should DO gained
from the lesson, and that the Southern
people shall heneeforth resolve to devote
their time and energies to business.