The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-10
The ranger of sectionalism.
From the st. Louis Republican.

From the St. Louis Republican,
While we are thoroughly convinced that
the defeat of the currency bill is really a
blessing to the whole country, and will be
so regarded when tho lapse of time allows
the passion and prejudice of the moment
to sabside before the calm va dict of
reason and common sense, yet the presi-
Dental veto brings into bold relief the
greatest danger which besets the republic
"a danger which cannot be disguised or
ignored, and must be confronted, and, if
possible, guarded against.
Even when the Federal Union consisted
of only thirteen States fringing the Allan
tic coast, the men who laid the founda-
tions of the government discovered that
congressional legislation, however wise
and honest, could not always be 80 ar
ranged and balanced as to bear equally
upon all sections. A law which harmo-
nized with the interests of Massachusetts
interfered with the interests of Georgia,
and a. measure which brought decided
benefits to New York and Pennsylvania
not unfrequently weighed heavily upon
North and South Carolina. Seventy
years ago were seen the first SYMPTOMS of
the presence of that element which pre-
pared the way for the greatest of rebel
lions, and which, now that the rebellion
is over, gives gloomy evidence of per-
sistent vitality. If at so early period of
our national history, when the nations al
domain was mere tritle compared with
what it has since become, one portion of
the country found itself forced into I'M
willing antagonism with the other, we
need not wonder that to day, when this
domain stretches from ocean. to ocean,
from the confines of eternal frost to the
frontiers of perpetual sumner, the t:nuhie
should still exit ',r,'' ! UDI Omiuods1y
upon The h""k"r"rmt at We utur". Slavery
'|m. 'i'"'n''' Hd;, i!.c '..',i ON which WAS
& ..,'.',t 81 the ,,.JuI of civil
''t'' / = 81 ~ ave r;,'-. % aim that " the
,''"' i'.r '->'ILut"u SOS tle sole aud ex-
.':"-l'" 'nr:"-.' g. aAr. 'Hud negroes
u-rer '"''" '"l,! ia { voluntary sefvitude
II! "a" &''I,i, h'itr li,o North had tried
the .s~;, IN nnd !c.ni it unproht&b BILE, the
two sections would not have appealed to-
arms when they did and as they did bnt
1t Is, In our opinion, well nigh certain that,
without a black man on this continent,
North and South would sooner or later have
been involved in serious disagreefueuta~
which nothing but, the profoundost states
manship, coupled with the most self saosi.
fcng patriotism, could havo pre- ntud
from bursting into incXtinguishahlo hos
tility. The reason foy this belief OF ours
may he summed up in very few words.
Though politically one Ration, pecuuiarily
we are several-becausc the basis of busi-
ness and the source Of comDtr.inl pros
perity is not, and cauuoo DC, absolutely
identical throughout such a vast Iud varied
territorial area. And in this rIpeteeth
century, at least it is the pocket which
moulds and moves mankind.
The popular feeling in relation to the
defeat of imitation clearly vindicHtva IN.
theory we have set forth. TIE ;nu%s of
the7people in the West aud South are un.
as we think, m'stdk-
enly-in favor of initiation. The mass of
the people in the North and East arc OF
posed t. it. Both sides have a right t.
81 I'll,
all honorable and lawful means to carry 1t
int ffect-and yet these opinions are ut
terly irreconciliable. Whichever policy
finally prevails-for the contest has only
begun as yet-the friends OF the other
must acquiesce in. Win they acquiesce,
not reluctantly and threatenugly, but cheer
fully and harmoniously The students OS
history and human nature may answer this
question in the light of their knowledge aud
experience,
But suppose the quarrel between the 10
fationists ard anti.inAatoniscs is AMIGA
bly, and Satisfactorily adj dsted- as We
prcbune, of course, it will bo-Is Tat aI
end of the antasonlSm that undcrIies TINS
quarreiR We fear not. Issues arc Goa.
tinually arising upon which the scctioas
are radically divided issues which the
most intelligent and conscientious citiEeus
of these sections canno: look at from t."
same staud point. Aud as the country dc
velops the divergence OF lHterest5 must
inevitably increase, and with it the diff
Guilty of maintaining that spirit OF uuity
without which all mere political union is
miserable sham destined To ruiuous col
lapse.
The time has surely arrived when every
man who loves his country, his whole |
country, should appreciate the influences
at work to disintegrate and destroy it !;
and endeaver, as far as is in his power, to
combat aud overcome them. SectiOnalism
was not born in the bombardment of Sum-
ter, nor did it die with the confederacy.