New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-16

Chicago to Morristown, Tenn. another from st. Louis
through Cumberland Gap TO Knoxville. Tenn, ana
third from Memphis to or near Atlanta or Macon Ga.
Union of commercial interests! South, West
and North West Strong commercial and
social ties Great sections OF common coin-
try Therefore, resolved that we should have
subsidies. How Familiarity these stock phrases
of the subsidy seeker fall upon the ear Over
and over again we have heard them from
Boards of Trade, commercial conventions,
cheap transportation conventions this that, and
the other national association, and sometimes
even from State Legislatures. Involuntary
we recall the Southern Pacific, the North
ern Pacific, the James River and Kanahwa
Canal and all the other great tIanscon-
tinental schemes which have been lodging
about the lobby and the committee rooms OF
Washington for ten years, md think also with
regret of the several similar schemes of mag
nifcent promises into which Congress was IN
vcigled-for which the people OF the United
States have paid so much, and when
have yielded returns so rldiculously us
proportionate to their claims. 1t Is
comfort, therefore, to find the modest
demand of the Cotton States Congress closely
followed by an expression of the belief that
private individuals will subscribe literally
TO the Appalachian trunk lines, and the
gratifying assurance that " the cost OF con-
"strlIcting the railroads mentioned will not be
"more than Onc-tenth of that required Tor the
construction of the canals asked OF the last
"Congress.r Well that ought to settle the
matter; the Federal Government will OF
course iumn at an offer to accept one
tenth of the amount originally demanded.
What does a matter of $25,OOO,O0O more or
less amount to when commercial and social
interests, stroug ties and all that sort OF
thing are invOlved2 "Give us tenth o.
what the lobbyists have heretofore asked"
say the members of the Cotton States
Congress, "and we will say no more
"about it," And in imagination they see
Uncle Sam striking hands on the bargain and
exclaiming, " DOne!"
1t is hardly fair to accept the declarations
of this body at Raleigh as indications OF pub
lie sentiment in the South; indeed, glance
atthe list of delegates does not suggest the
idea of gathering of representative men. but
il is prctcntio,sly labeled and the wording OF itS
resolutions is SD sDeciOus that its proceedings
mist have some weight with many OF the
Southern people, who, impoverished and de-
iected. are glad to follow any road which
seems TO lead them back to the prosperity of
which they have known so little through long
years. 1t is the part of kindness, therefore, TO
remind them, and not only them, but the
thousands in the North and West who think
with them, that the promises held out by
such conventions are not likely to be realized.
If the great body of the honest and independ-
ent voters . of this country are united
upon any principle it is the prin-
ciple of opposition to Government sub
sides to proposed or existing rail-
ways, canals and steamship companies. The
voice of the people on this subject has been
uttered through the press, at the polls, and
last of all. but more than once, on the floor
of Congress and in the very face
of powerful Hobbies. A Republican
majority in Congress found it advisable
TO respect this sentiment of the people, and it
will not be safe for Democratic majority to
do otherwise Already the cry il raised by the
Administration press that the South is
planning dangerous raids on the National
Treasury" by way of compensation for her
losses during the war. We do not believe that
this is true there is no evidence that any such
schemes meet with the favor of the good men
from the South who will sit in the next Con-
gress. But impressions created by such bodies
AS the Cotton States Congress are not easily
dissipated. The South should turn deaf ear
to all such suggestions, and conventions claim
ing to represent the South might be employed
much more profitably than in bolstcrlng subsidy
schemes, and begging the General Government
for an unlimited supply of such money as
made so many Southern men bankrupt in the
last days of the Confederacy.
LADY FR1NKLIN And OTHER WIVES.
4 ,.:ncIr w aasu adv Franklin lheinN ~ il