National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-06-09
THE s0uruMRsr.

The St. Louis convention, as II was called,
has passed into history, and the discussion OF
Its proceedings, together with certain little
lobby jobs around New Orleans and Calves
ton, has been quite general. 1t proved to be
simply Southern affair, convened for the
advancement Of purely Southern and South
western interests. The arguments used were
all intended, first, TO invoke the aid Of Con-
grcss for special objects, and second, TO at
tract emigration; but Ii was finally resolved
that the greatest need OF the interested sec
tions was emigration. This Is very true. A
constant now OF emigration to the North and
Northwest has made those sections powerful
in wealth and In politics. The same thing,
should II happen to the South and Southwest,
would produce similar results. Unfortunately
tho same thing has not happened, and the de
slrablc results arc not forthcoming. One
reason for thls Ia TO be found In the fact that
before the war foreign labor, being
necessity, was encouraged In the
North, and not being necessity, was
discouraged In the South. EmIgrants
naturally advised their friends to Join them
In the North, where encouraging hospitality
awaited them, and where the freedom, both
personal and political, OF which they had
dreamed 10 their native homes was Illustrated
In practice, as well rs promised In theory.
This same advice warned emigrants, who
would otherwise have sought more genial ell
mates, to avoid the Southern States; tecause
freedom therein, as their instincts had taught
them to love and seek II, was simply myth.
Thus the habitual course Of emigration was
turned Northward and Westward, and not.
withstanding the grand opportunities which
have offered themselves since the war 10
direct this tendency In favor Of the South
and Southwest the tide still runs In It's Original
direction. The cxcurslon!sts passed thou
sands OF acres Of unproductive land famoui
for a richness OF soil unequaled on the face
Of the globe. Great plantations, bordering
on the Mississippi and covered with alluvial
deposits 10 the depth Of twenty, thirty and
forty feet, adording an inexhaustiblc sup.
ply Of the terminating powers OF earth,
which arc lacking In other sections,
were seen untitled, uncared for and
growing up to waste" No more forclble
example Of the blight OF mbrule and the
anarchy which follows the fall OF selfish,
proud and lazy aristocracy could have been
found. The ylgor and enterprise born Of
freedom and wise federation, which Is the
Characteristic OF the great West, has esiab-
llshed q never-ending attraction, and con
seaueut success which Is the admiration oi
the world and the boast OF our people. Mil
lions Of acres bloom with haryests which are
simply miraculous In their productlveuess
In the South, on the contrary, where intole
rant sectional and political hatred prevail
and where custom and the habits OF genera
tlons have combined to establish license fol
the benefit OF a few and to destroy freedom
as boon for all, ruin and beggary appeal Ii
vain for emigration, and right here the lessor
OF the excursion appears. Il shows that thu
remedy for this colossal evil docs no
reside 40 much In the aid OF Con
greas as in the self.willed amp stuplt
policy of tho people, who are them
selves the sufferers. We say this In oil
kindness, but do not expect our admonlllonl
10 be received with more graciousncss thar
usually follows the offer Of unpleasant ad
vice. We add that thorough change In the
habits Of these people is the only means by
which they eau gain the success for which
they strive, They must learn TO respect and
tolerate small producers, aud, above all, Il
guard the individual interests OF tho poores
iaborer rs zealously Us they guard those o.
the largest landholder, And, further, theJ
must open wide the doors OF political equal
ity, so that when iOreiguers come 70 then
seeking employment, they may be allowed 4
vote as they please, regardless Of the opin
ions and prejudiccs Of others. They mus
also learn to utilize native labor by elevatinl
the standard Of its intelligence, and stimulAt'
ali eflorts toward Its success In life By con
slstent aud persistent encouragement o. ever
man who striyes 70 make home AID homes
living for himself and thvso dependent upoI
him. When all this Is done, and only then
tho superior attractions OF the South vii
assert themselves In competition with thos'
Of the West, and, Instead OF feeling the cure
OF immigration, as II now does, II VIII receiv
the blessings OF emigration