The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-10-28

lana and other southern states, who sign there
memorials AZ holders of the dishonest bonds
Who sells Oh credit to the South? Who buys
her cotton and tobacco? Who would gain by
her increase OF production aud wealth. Who
loses by her inertness and distractions? Do
mon wish to injuro or destroy their own in
vestments Whoever will answer these ques-
tons will know that New York and hor people,
from love OF self and love OF gain, saying
nothing OF other reasons, earnestly long that
the South may DO peaceful and prosperous,
and able to pay her share Of taxes and bear
her share OF public burdens. prolonged ap-
plauso.
From the wheat fields of Minnesota to the
pastures Of Texas there IL not an acre whose
Fertility does not benefit New York, nor could
she profit by tho misfortunes or poverty Of
hamlet in all our borders.
IL IL not needed to the argument at this
moment oven to relate the causes Of tho mildew
and sterilty OF the South, sunny, fertile, and
blessed by nature, m she IN. We're / speaking
to Southern mon, with hope that they would
listen, 1t would DO well indeed To beg them to
reflect upon these causes. When tho war was
over, had there been hearty, manly acceptance
or the most generous, magnanimous terms the
world ever raw accorded by victors in any case
hot IN any like case, because there il mono
Ike II 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 moro mending and building, aud planting
and sowing; had there been less ostracism aud
hate to repol Northern capital and keep back
and drive back Northern men; had n fair days
wages been paid for u fair days work; had
there been no persecution or exodus OF labor;
had reputation been lOathed and Stunned aud
not embraced-how high in the armament OF
the Union would glitter tho constellation Of the
South!
THE MOTIVES, FITNESS AND STANDING OF THE
CLAIMANT.
Bnt, NJ already sad, deal at this point with
consequences and results az they are, not with
causes. Deploring as We do, and ~ We should
whatever OF misfortune falls on any section
wi on that section comes forward ~ claimant
O. control and management Of our general af-
fairs, il il right 10 lool;--we arc bound to look
into the scope and ground Of tho claim, and
into the motives, method, fitness, situation and
standing OF the claimant. Light il thrown
upon these inquiries sy 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 il,
We were determined the Father Of Waters
should go uumixed to the sea. The building
of jotties ut the delta OF this great stream, to
deepen 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 Id regarded as great Tic of interest, a
great safeguard and ASSURANCE against pur-
poses sectional or lNimicsl, and a large foun-
da!iOn for the claims set up for Southern in
iluence IN Ma ional affairs. The canvass III
some portions Of the country already blossoms
with literature in this behalf. This theory, az
far il ever was true, belongs to the past. The
tread Of man III all ages has been on lines OF
latitude, not on lines Of longitude, Rivers
and mountains on this contintn ut run north
and south; men bridge and tunnel them, and
move east and west. This IL the ordinance Of
a power higher than South Carolina census
taker. The enterprise which in its youth and
helplessness tloated the way tle water ran, has
changed its course. Trade has veored from
one point Of thp 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, nov carry, each one OF them,
more freight than ever moved on the Missis-
sippi river. The great companion and COM
petitor TO this trans-continental movement IL
the lakes and the Erie canal. Besides hand
ling vast traffic this water route acts NJ q
check on railway frrights, keeping them down
by force OF competition. To this vast, COM
prehensive modern current OF business, tribu-
tary streams flow IN by rail from the North,
South and West. The tonnage across the Mis-
sissippi on bridges above st. Louis Ia twelve
fold the tonnage to that city by river. Twen-
~ five years ago the commerce OF st. Leuis
was ali by river; last year, M shown by the
records OF the Merchants Exchange, the rail-
way tonnage was 9iS, T9l, and the river ton
mage was only 1866 ll5.
The single bridge at st. Louis has capac-
ity for tenfold the traffic that ever iloated on
the Mississippi river. The actual commerce
crossing this one bridge il four times ~ great
AZ that Of the river beneath. Traffic, south Of
the Ohio river and Of the State Of Missouri, IL
but tributary now to the east and west cur
rent. The st. Louis Merchants Exchange re-
ports that last year tho number OF tons moved
to and from the East 10y rail was 2, 930, 85s;
tons moved to and from the South by river,
G92, $40; tons moved to and from the South by
rall, ,9j2,O9S. Commerce takes tho rail,
even with the river by its side. New Orleans
is 6h2 mil, further from Liverpool than st.
Loui. itrelf ia. Baltimore is 920 miles nearer
than st. Louis to Liverpool, making differ
ence iii favor Of Baltimore AZ point OF ship-
plug to Europe Of l,572 miles rs against Now
Orleans, saying nothing OF the disadvantage
Of carrying products through the tropical tx
pOruTch anu ilfhN Of SruI VI
delphia, New York and Boston are still nearer
than Baltimore to Liverpool.
NORTHERN CITIES CONTROL THE CARRYING
TRADE.
But this il not all. The commercial forces
OF seven great cities have grssped the vast
carrying trade. and hold, propel and direct II.
Boston, New York. Philadelphia and Baltimore
at the East and st. Louis, Chicago aud Gin
cinnatl at the West, command the machinery
and the oatlets and inlets through which the
surplus products OF the United States reach
the markets of the world, aud through which
the m,rchandise OF Europe is brought here
and distributed. Geographical and natural
advantages are favorable, but alone they wonld
not be decisive; tho vital fact IL the genius,
energy, enterprise aud 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 ut the wharfS Of the Crescent City, the
achievement would no more arrest or divert
the movement OF commerce and population
East aud West than it would control the tides
Of the sea, or change the courses Of the stars.
Southern commerce il simple, tardy and de-
pendent. Northern commerce IL complex, in-
tensely active, highly OrgaLizet and indepen-
dent. Northern methods aud progression have
constantly increased their traits applause
The rever o il true OF Southern methods. In
1860 tho imports OF New Orleans were s22
922, 773. Last year they were only $40, siO, 25i.
They we're less last yrar than in any year from
1866 to 1878. In 1860 exports frcm New o.
leans were $l07 49,, $50. Last year there were
only 500, 2i9, S74-less than in 1870 and 1874.
The tonnage account varies this statement
apparently, but only apparently, because steam
ver sells have been more u ed of late, and steam
Vessels count more rapidly in tonnage than in
cargoes. Like retrograde and stagnation APP
pear at other Southern ports. B.ltirOrs is
not treated as a Southern port, because it is