National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-24
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STATE RIGHTS LUNATICs.

The Chicago 7iiJuAe has an article on this
lunacy of Southern Democracy that we re-
produce, because it shows what folly can be
exhibited by men who claim to have COM
mon sense. JONI GooDE, the prie,m chcra-
iier who has for years occupied n scat to
which his only title was fraud and tissue
ballots, led the attack, while BLACKBURN,
the wiper-out, and HOOKER, of Mississippi,
followed. OF course the doughface tail, in
the person of SUNSET Cox, wagged when
the Southern dog barked. This exhibition
of State Rights would be ludcrous if there
were not sorrowful side TO it, when we re-
fleet that the yellow demon may once more
visit our Southern shores and the wall of
the sick and dying be heard in the land.
But to the TiJuRe's article:
The debate in the House on Saturday last
brings out new phase Of the Democratic doc.
trino of State Rights, and makes distinction
which Is quite novel. II was claimed by the
Brigadicrs quite early in the session that the
General Government had no right to establish
a quarantine or take any sanitary measures
that would prevent the yellow fever from en-
tering the South aud spreading over tho coun.
try. The Southern cities are nOtoriously dirty
aud unhealthy, aud ii 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 tho mistaken idea
! that they arc free men, and therefore entitled
to compensation for their labor II Is notori-
Gus also that the police regulations for enforc
ing sanitary measures are not carried out, and
that yellow 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 tho South out of
its wretched plight AS all the signs of re-
| turn of the disease this summer were apparent
the North conceived another humane project
for Southern relief by the introduction of a
bill authorizing tho National Government to
use its money and power to do for the South
what il cannot do for itself, namely, establish
! rigid quarantincs and ward of the threatened
| visitation of this horrible disease. Immediately
| the Confederate brigadiers arose, with Virginia
I Mt the head, and luriously denounced this hui
manitarian project as an invasion of State
/ Rights and an unwarrantable and insOlent in
! reference with tho 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 Cen
cra Government should never intcrpose its
powerful arm and hold the yellow monster at
bay-never, never, not even hardly ever"
| But one man of the whole Southern delega.
tion, and he the ono who had remained at his
post like hero fighting the yellow fever-the
/ Hon. CASEY YoUNG-had the manliness 10
stand up and support the bill, while the other
brigadiers, who had rusticated In the healthy
/ Northern cities during the progress OF the cpl
demc, beloved their hatred of the Federal
| power and their love Of State sovereignty.
| Now, after this display Of malice toward the
/ General Government, and of determination
| that it shall not interpose its power in behalf
Of sick men, como these same brigaders, with
| Virginia at their head again, and ask the Gen
/ eral Government to spend its money and in
| tcrpOse its power in behalf of sick COWS in the
| South; in other words, to authorize Federal
/ officers TO visit Southern iacm-yards and Kill
all cattle suspected Of having pleuro.pneu
mOnia.
| 1t seems, then, that in the minds of the
| Southern Brgadiers there is, so far as Stat,
Rights are concerned, radical difference be
tween a man with the yellow fever and COW
with the pleuro-pueumonia or hog with the
cholera. The General Government can hell
the hog but ii must not help the man. Thii
is inconsistent on its face. If the Government
cannot interfere to prevent yellow fever, it ha!
no right to eradicate pleurO-pneumonia. If il
must not come to the relief Of sick men ant
women, il certainly must not help sick cow
and hogs. II the South will have yellow fove
rather than give up its doctrine of State Rights
then let it have pleuro-pneumonia also, and al
the other diseases in the category. If tht
Government cannot be permitted TO he'll mel
and wombn, it Is an insult to ask ii TO hell
| cows aud hogs.