New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-02-13
A SAGACIOUs SUGGESTION.

views taken by certain political agitators
I among US a purpose to make Louisiana
the anvil upon which are to be hammered
out the implements of renewed sectional
strife. 1t is chosen for the lists within
which the chivalrous distractions trOdden
out in the blood of battle can be debated
anew. The Times says:
We are told that the North, as represented
in Congress and the administration has
been aiming at the practical extinction OF
| State sovereignty in Louisiana and other
| Southern States: and that. unless Louis
! ialians as . body rise up and assert an u
| successfully maintain the principle OF the
! absolute exc mptiOn Of State and local al
| fairs from federal interference, the sOVer-
| eign statehood of Louisiana will b" tataiIV
! impaired.
We do not choos. a. say o! these doc
trines or the;. professors. with the Times.
| 1T is the rheum Of mental superannua-
| ton brooding owe, obsolete grievances and
controversies But We should regret to
see the old issue OF North and South. di-
YideE OH .'Mason and Dixon's !ine," re-
viyed. That line separated slavery from
fire.. labor. This distinction has been OBJ
liberated. The Times asks:
Where are the separate and antsgonistic
masses of population and political interests,
which are properly Gistinguishsblc by the
name OF the North on one hand, and OF the
South on the other! Where does the pc
litIcai North end. Where doe. the political
South Begin Who can trace the geograph-
zeal lines which divide them: Who does
not know that il such lines ever existed in
fact or in controversial theory. they have
been washed ont by the deluse OF war and
revolution!
This idea Of reviying the old issues Of
the old sections is embodied i'll an article
of the Picoyooe. headed the balance Of
Powe, in the United States" We should
deem such reorganization of the sections
very unfortunate. The true policy of the
Southern States will be 90 encourage the
restoration of sectional fraternity. II
needs numbers. capital and commerce II
is entitled, moreover. 20 fair share Of
federal appropriations out Of the Rich fund
of import duties conceded by the States.
There is no need to make any unworthy
concessions. II is sufficient 20 accept re-
suits which all the galiantry and talent of
the South could not present. The COM
mercial relations Of New Orleans depend
upon close commercial alliance with the
upper valley and the preponderant power.
& is to ask of the federal government aid
for the reparation Of leyees and other
works. 1t is to encourage the immigra-
ton Of labor and capital. These demand
economy and integrity of domestic admin
istration, and entire oblivion Of all ante
cedent issues 80 fnr as decided by the war.
If the question Of Statehood be even left
in allegiance. then the consideration to
which State is entitled depends upon
the wealth and number Of each State.
How ridiculous are the pretensions Of
States like the Gerolstein of Otfenbach.
whose fighting force does not exceed
thirty men. and who have to negotiate a
territorial treaty with q neighboring po-
tentate for the privilege OF testing the
range of piece Of ordnance? Rhode
Island. New Jersey and Delaware could
have no standing except by the harmonies
of the Union. They are regarded rs sim.
ply federal counties. But we had no in
tention to treat the question Of State
rights. Our object in quoting the Times
with approval was to unite in the protest
of transferring to Louisiana for further
trial sectionalism which it is neither the
duty nor interest of New Orleans to revive.