New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-26
ctu,4Tr AyD coon GOrERYUENT.

CLIMATE md coon GOTERNDENT
Every difficult question is twO-sided The
most difficult problem with which statesman
ship has had to deal within the last twelve
wears of the history of this country has been
the Southern. On each side the solution oi
that problem has been delayed by the I'M
founded assumption that there was nothing to
be said on the other side. Unhappily, the
question is not 10y any means as simple rs
partisans Of either opinion suppose. Many
disorders and acts Of violence have occurred
at the South. and not few of them have
grown ont of political differences. Yet 1t does
moi follow that the difficulties which exist
could have been prevented, or can now he
wholly prevented, by any administration OF
mode Of government.
Good citizens at the North are prone to for
get that climate and temperature have much
to do with the degree OF order which 1t Is
possihlc for a government to secure Phllo-
sopAical writer's have noticed that 40 iGm OF
>rjf-uoyclumcnt has ever endured depending
vlolIv nou community south of the io0-
Thermal line Of 402 January But sufficient
attention may not have been given 10 the
cause Of this historic fact. Loosely We say II Is
"hot blood" or prcdiSpoitOn to sudden ana
violent modes of redress for real or fancicd
i,,iurics. But the steady, continuous and per-
prtual influence of climate and temperature
which makes the individual quick to seek
swift and violent redress, also makes COM
mnnity of individuals comparatively lnGlller-
cnt to the restraints of law, and prone to mob
violence or revolution. l. was once said that
a. aftt-t Y
cent prevent revolutions in Mexico. 70 a
greater degree than we like to admit,
we are creatures of exterior influences. No
change Of government can ever prevent as
saSSination in Venice, or h1igandage IN Italy,
or frequent revolutionary outbreaks III SPAN
or Mexico; nor can any change Whatever III
The form or personnel OF the Government
wholly prevent recurring acts OF violence IN
the Southern States of this Union. Life was
held cheap in those states before The war, amt
duels and street fights were not rare. aud
rigid enforcement OF law was rendered impoS-
sbe by the lack of sustaining public scnti-
mrnt.
Nevertheless, il is none the less the duty Of
governments in the Southern States to pre-
serve order, to suppress violence, to restrain
MS far as laws can tie tendency TO mob law
and revolution. The duty is the more urgent
because II is diacult, and, at best, cannot be
entirely performed. Climate and temperature
have been REINFORCED by habit aud during
many wears of peace, when laws were tram
pied under foot, during years of war. when
laws were silent and during the years since
the war. when political cXctcmcntS have sup
Dllcd Il thousand excuse for violence, the Ire
duency Of bloody deeds has been largely due
to the inability or iudi~pOoiion OF govern
mrutS to enforce the law. II il perfectly right
in thr Northern people 10 demand that GOV
crntncnts shall bcgin 10 do al that they can
to enforce law and to punish law-brc',kcrS.
GOV. stone of Mississippi, who wishes not to
''stir up" the Kcmprr murders ought to be
made to understand that such government IL a
disgrace AID nuisance.
We have q right 10 expect from every South
crn government sincere and determined effort
TO do all that can be done TO enforce law and
punish crime. The crying fault on one side
is an indi>po>iton to punish. But it is also
Necessary that Northern people should ever
bean in mind the existence of differences winch
no local governments can remove. With the
most faithful enforcement of law, violent ont
breaks would be more frequent al the SCUM
than at the North. Sometimes personal differ
cnccs and family fcuds, unhappily 80 common
il that section, would result III bloodShed.
Sometimes political antagonlsms, continued fer
wears would lead to murders. We must not
licauy ASSUME that every crime which originates
in political strife is in evidence OF prevail
ing disposition or deliberate plan. The habit
of violence, in part due to climate, in part
hereditary, and in part the result Of long con
tnucd impunity cannot be wholly obiteratcd.
Even while we demand greater fidelity in
southern governments, it is right to remember
that they have task OF which Northern men
can have little appreciation. Wherever they
neglect duty let them De ccnsWed. But if thcy
do their best we must not expect that such
order will result rs Northern communities
habitual!y enjoy.