Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-03
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This is the caption Of. an article re-
Gently published editorially in tho
Chicago Tribune, referring to the de-
feat Of the national quarantine bill in
congress. We give it entire as an ex-
preston Of extreme Northern senti-
ment Facts are mistated and dis
tOrted, and spirit of brutality and
malice runs through it from first to
last, yet it cannot be controverted that
a mistake was committed in the de-
feat of this bill. This is no time to
sickle about an abstract theory of
States rights. The Tribune says:
The debate in the house on Saturday
last brings out new phase of the Demo-
cratic doctrine of State rights, and makes
a distinction which is quite novel. 1t was
claimed by the brigadiers quite early in
the session that the general government
had no right TO establish q quarantine or
take any sanitary measures that would
prevent the yellow fever from entering
the South and spreading over the country.
The Southern cities are notoriously dirtv
and unhealthy, and it is equally notorious
that they won't clean up their dirt, as the
white people won't work and the blacks
don't want to work for nothing having
the mistaken idea that they are free men,
and therefore entitled to compensation for
their labor. 1T is notorious also that the
police regulations for enforcing sanitary
measures are not carried out, and the vel
low fever in consequence has an unob-
structed field of operation.
Last summer the charitable people of
the North came forward Voluntarily
opened their hearts and pockets, and
helped the South out of its wretcbed
plight. As all the signs Of return of the
disease this summer were apparent the
North conceived another humane project
for Southern relief by the introduction OF
a bill authorizing the national govern
ment to use its power and money to do
for the South what it cannot do for itself
namely, establish rigid quarantine and
ward of the threatened visitation of this
horrible disease. Immediately the Con-
tederate brlgadlers arose, with Virginia at
the head, and furiously denounced this
humanitarian project as an invasion of
State rights and an unwarrantable and
insolent interference with the functions Of
the States They were willing that the
Northern people should contribute their
money and supplies to help the South in
its extremity, but the general government
should never interpose its powerful arm
and hold the yellow fever monster at bav
never, never, not even "hardly ever"
Rut nf fba al
delegation, and he the one who had re-
malned at his post like a hero fighting the
yellow fever-tho Hon. Casey Young
had the manliness to stand up and sup
port the bill, while the other brigadiers,
who had risticated in the healthy North
ern cities during the progress of the cpl
demic, beloved their hatred of the Fede-
raj power and their love of State sover-
eighty.
Now, after this display of malice to-
ward the general government, and of
determination that it shall not interpose
its power in behalf of sick men. come
these same brigadiers, with Virginia at
their head again, and ask the general
government to spend its money and in
terpose its power in behalf of sick COWS
IN the South in other words to author
ize Federal officers to visit Southern
iarm-yards and kill all cattle suspected of
having pleuro-pneumonia.
1t seems then, that in the minds of the
Southern brigadiers there is, so far as
State rights are concerned, radical diff
terence between man with the yellow
fever and Il COW with the pleuro-pneu-
monla or hog with the cholera. The
general government can help the hog, but
II must not help the man. This is incon-
sistent on its face. If the government
cannot interfere TO prevent yellow fever,
1t has no right to eradicate pleuro-pneu-
monla. If 1t must not come to the relief
OF sick men and women, it certainly must
not help sick cows and hogs. If the
South will have yellow fever rather than
give up its doctrine of State rights. then
let 1t have pleuro-pneumonia also. and all
the other diseases in the category. If the
government cannot be permitted to helm
men and women, it is an insult to ask it to
help cows and hogs.
The allusion to Hon. Casey Young
Is truthful and well deserved, and we
are glad to know that his heroic ser
vices during the time that tried men 5
souls, have been recognized alike by
men of all parties. 1t is not too late
to pass a law to prevent the introduc.
tiOn of infectious and contagious dis
eases. A bill of this kind is pending
in congress and may stand better
chance to pass than before. The
Tribuneis bitter enemy of the South,
and willfully misrcpresents the condi-
tion of Southern cities. Memphis is
as clean as Chicago to-day. Yet we
may learn something from an enemy,
and it is well enough to know occa-
siOnally what an enemy has to say.