Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-14
n EULNOUS POLICY.

Il RULNOUS POLICY.
The pernicious effects of the pending
c,useless agitation of the Southern question
are more far-reaching than appear upon the
surface. Not only does it tend towards un-
settling the political condition of the South,
but it repels enterprise and blocks the way
of capital that would otherwise seek an in
vestment in that section. Thus it happens
that those who are so persistent in agitation
FOR political purposes are strikinga blow ut
the material prosperity of the South from
which recovery, if it comes at all, will neces-
'arily be slow and tedious.
| If it was true, as charged, that life and
property are unsafe at the South by reason
of the political condition of the people, there
might be some excuse for the radical DO It'll
clans and newspapers continuing their IT,
rades. But the fact is that nowhere in the
country are the rights of the people more
generally respected and protected than they
| ire at the South. That outrages are commit
| ted there docs not admit OF o
| doubt, but they are no more
! numerous and differ in no degree
from the outrages that are committed upon
life and property in every part Of the coun-
try. In every community there are danger
GUS characters who do not respect the rights
| of others, but they are as scarce in the South
as they are at tbs North, and when dete ,ted
and convicted they are punished with as e1-
treme rigor as in any other section.
AS an illustration of the injury that is be-
ing done by the political agitation so long
maintained in Congress, on the stump and
in the newspapers, Washington CORES
pondent relates that the agent of one of the
principal German steamship lines has been
in that city looking about to ascertain in
what part of the country his company could
purchase suitable ship timber. His object
vas to purchase large tracts of land and
open extensive works for preparing all kinds
Of ship timber. He was advised to 20 to
Alabama, where there was an abundance of
timber of the quality needed, and where
both rail and water transportation were all
that could be desired, while the lands could
be purchased at reasonable figures. He re-
piled that on no account could his company
10 induced to invest dollar in the South or
send man there; that, while he personally
had no doubt, from inquiries which he had
made, that he could go into Alabama and in
vest in lands and get timber without mo-
'estation, it would be impossible for him to
convince his company, and it would be very
difficult for them to procure man at home
who were acquainted with the exact wants of
the company to agree to come over and 90
into the Southern States. In reply to the
assurances that Alabama was free from all
political disturbances, he said that while he
supposed it to be true, nevertheless the be-
lief had become so general in Europe that
the Southern States we're in an unsettled
condition, that the rights of person and
property, especially Of those who were not
natives, we're 80 constantly disregarded as to
render it impossible to induce capitalists to
trust either their money or tho representa-
tives of their interests in any part of the
South. He said of late this feeling had
rapidly increased among European capital
lists.
Perhaps, if the effects Of this persistent
agitation of the politicians could be confined
90 this country, where people have the OPP
portunity of informing themselves of the
facts, and generally know the falsity of the
accusations against the Southern people, we
night have no cause to complain. But we
see that the discussions are having their
legitimate effect abroad in preventing the
investment of capital that would aid in de-
veloping the resources of the country and
place the p ople in the front rank as COM
mercial and manufacturing region. The
shortsightedness of the policy is too appar-
emit to require comment. 1t is not only male
VIOLENT but suicidal. Capitalists in Europe
cannot conceiveDf political degradation
that will induce party to enter upon cru
SADIE against one section of the country, ma
liciously perverting the truth, manufacturing
outrages, maligning whole people, merely
for political effect in another section. Hap
PLY for them they are strangers to sach
political prostitution, but unhappily for the
South they are influenced by the cries of the
demagogues at the North as far as to refuse
to use their means towards the development
of region fertile in resources, rich in aeri-
cultural products, united and peaceful, and
as,prosperous as people can be who have
incurred the enmity of their fellow country
men by engaging in line of independent
political action.
Mr.. Hayes, Mr.. Blaine, Mr.. Edmunds
and all Others who have of late been endeav-
oring to stir up sectional strife, know full
we'll that the people of the South ARE we'll
disposed towards all who come among them
with an honest purpose to abide with them
and assist ID building up their industries.
1t is but natural and proper that they should
endeavor to keep aloof from those who come
with the purpose OF creating political dissen-
sions and retarding the progress of the coun-
try towards perfect unity. The feeling that
is natural to mankind everywhere to protect
| themselves against their enemies, has a firm
foothold among the people of the South.
but fortunately they have no occasion to
manifest it except by lawful means. We
would advise the agitators, who are so busy