River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-10-14

lana and other southern states, who sign these
memorials as holders of the dishonest bonds
Who sells on credit to the South? Who buys
her cotton and tobacco? Who would gain BY
her increase of production and wealth? Who
loses by her inertness and distractions? Do
men wish to injure or destroy their own in
vestments Whoever will answer these cues
tons will know that New York and her people,
from love Of self and love OF gain, saying
nothing of other reasons, earnestly long that
the South may be peaceful and prosperous,
and able to pay her share of taxes aud bear
her share OF public burdens. prolonged APP
plause.
From the wheat fields Of Minnesota to the
pastures OF Texas, there is not an acre whose
fertility does not benefit New York, nor could
she proht by the misfortunes or poverty of a
hamlet in all our borders.
1t is not needed to the argument at this
moment even to relate the causes of the mildew
and sterilny of the South, sunny, fertile, and
blessed by nature RS she is. Were | speaking
to Son hern men, with hope that they would
listen, 1t would be well indeed to beg them to
reflect upon these causes. When the war was
over had there been hearty, manly acceptance
OF the most generous, magnanimous terms the
world ever saw accorded by ylctors in any case
hot in any like case, because there is none
like it in history; had politics and thirst for
power played less part, wasted less time, and
done less wrong; had industry, enterprise,
thrift and humanity ruled the hour; had there
been more mendiDg and building, and planting
and sowing; had there been less ostracism and
hate to repel Northern capital and keep back
and drive back Northern men; had a fair days
wages been paid for a fair days work; had
there been no persecution or exodus OF labor;
had Reputation been loathed and Stunned and
not embraced-how high in the armament Of
the Union would glitter the constellation Of the
South
TIE MOTIVES, FITNESS AND STANDING CT THE
CLAIMANT.
But, as already sad, deal at this point with
consequences and results as they are, not with
causes. Deploring as we do, and as We should,
whatever OF misfortune falls on any section,
wien that section comes forward as 9, claimant
OF control and mani cement of our general az
fairs, it is right to loCli-we are bound to look
Into the scope and ground of the claim, and
into the motives, method, fitness, situation and
standing of the claimant. Light is thrown
upon these inquiries Ky the facts already pre-
sented but much light may be gained from
other facts OF kindred import. One thing for
which we fought was the freedom of the
Mississippi river. As some one expressed it,
we were determined the Father of Waters
should go ulmiXed to the sea. The building
of jetties at the delta of this great stream, to
deepen a channel in which sea-going ships
might reach New Orleans, has also attracted
wide attention and stimulated the belief that
New Orleans must be a vast outlet to the mar
kets Of the world and port of entry of COM
handing importance.
The river commerce of the Southern Missis-
sippi is regarded as a great lie of interest, a
great safeguard and assurance against pur-
poses sectional or iuimicAl, and large fJun-
da ion for the claims set up for Southern in
fluence in Naional affairs. The canvass in
some portions Of the country already blossoms
with literature in this behalf This theory, as
far it ever was true, belongs to the past The
tread of man in all ages has been on lines OF
latitude, not on lines Of longitude. Rivers
and mountains on this continent run north
and south; men bridge and tunnel them, and
move east and west. This is the ordinance of
power higher than South Carolina census
taker. The enterprise which in its youth and
helolessness floated the way the water ran, has
changed its course. Trade has veered from
one point Of the compass to another, and per-
manently altered its relations
The construction of railways has revolu-
tionized traffic and transportation. Four
trunk lines of steel roads, Of which the sea
ends are Boston, New York, Philadelphia
and Baltimore, now carry, each one of them,
more freight than ever moved on the Missls-
sippi river. The great companion and COM
petitor to this trsns-continental movement is
the lakes and the Erie canal. b sides hand
ling vast traffic this water route acts as
check on railway freights, keeping them down
by force OF competition. To this vast, COM
prehensive modern current Of business, tribu
tary streams flow iii by rail from the North,
South and West. The tonnage across the Mis-
sissippi ON bridges above st. Louis is twelve
fold the tonnage to that city by river. Iwen-
ty-fve years ago the commerce of st. Leuis
was all by river; last year, as shown by the
records Of the Merchants Exchange, the rail
way tonnsge was 6 948, 1874, and the river ton
mage was only 1866 lis.
The single bridge at st. Louis has capac-
ity for tenfold the traffic that ever tioated on
the Mississippi river. The actual commerce
crossing This one bridge is four times as great
as that of the river beneath. Traffic. south of
the Ohio river and Of the State Of Missouri, is
but tributary now to the east and west cur
rent The St. Louis Merchants Exchange re-
ports that last year the number OF tons moved
TO and rom the East by rail was 2, $50, S58;
tons moved to and from the South by river
692, $50; tons moved to and from the South by
rail, / 952,O Commerce takes the rail,
even with The river by ITS side. New Orleans
is 60 miles further from Liverpool than St.
Louis itself is Baltimore is 900 miles nearer
than St. Louis to Liverpool, making difftr-
ence III favor of Baltimore as point of ship
ping to Europe Of 1,572 miles as against NV
Orleans, saying nothing OF the disadvantage
of carrying products through the tropical ex-
posures and risks Of the Gulf Of Mexico. Phila-
dephia, New York and Boston are still nearer
than Baltimore to Liverpool.
NORTHERN CITIES CONTROL THE CARRYING
TRADE.
But this is not all. The commercial forces
OF seven great cities have grasped the vast
carrying trade, and hold, propel and direct it.
Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore
at the East, and st. Louis, Chicago and Gin
cinnati al the West, command the machinery
and the Outlets and inIets through which the
surplus products OF the United States reach
the markets of the world, and through which
the merchandise of Europe il brought here
and distributed. Geographical and natural
advantages are favorable, but alone they would
not be decisive; the vital fact Is the genius,
energy, enterprise and capital OF merchants,
farmers. manufacturers and railway mana
gers aided by wholesome adjustments OF
tariff and other laws in the interest Of Ameri-
can labor Could science deepen the mouths
of the Mississippi till the Great Eastern could
load at the wharfs OF the Crescent City, the
achievement would no more arrest or divert
the movement OF commerce and population
East and West than it would control the tides
of the sea or change the courses of the stars.
Southern commerce is simple, tardy and de-
pendent. Northern commerce is complex, IN
teneely active, highly organized and indepen-
dent Northern methods and progression have
constantly increased their traits applause
The revere is true of Southern methods. lu
1860 the imports of New Orleans we're go :
922, 773. Last year they were only S1O, $40, 254
They were less last var than in any year from
1866 to 1878. In 1860 ex ports from New Or
leans were $107 812, $50. Last year there were
- 1oo Gao than in 1870 and 1874