National Republican., 1880-12-30
The Emparrossinents Of the south.

bNSllNy years, anu INC IeCoTu IL us luu Vi
peril to the interests of that section as the
sting of the serpent is of poison. If
when the war closed and the rebellion
surrendered, the situation had been ac-
ccpted in good faith by all the people of
the Southern States the curtain would
have dropped upon that tragedy, and the
preceding asperties and events would
have been speedily banished from MEM
ory. The Bourbon or Democratic por-
ton, however, chose another path, and
from that day down to the present the
spirit of rebellion has been nursed and
kept alive, and there has been an accumu-
lation of difficulties, troubles, and embar-
easements that have proved obstacles in
the way of good-fellowship, fraternity,
and peace, and which have kept alive the
embers of discord and alienation between
the sections that had been open enemies
in arms. This isunfortunate for both sec
tions-for, if we are to exist as one ma
ton, all sections should be inspired with
the spirit of fraternity and community
of feeling and interest should be builded
mp and sternly maintained. A more fra
tcrnal spirit on the part of the South
would have brought permanent peace and
mutual respect, and have added to the
prosperity and happiness of all.
The South begins, we opine, to dis
cover its mistake, and is endeavoring TO
ward off the consequences of its ill-con-
ceivcd policies. II evidently discovers in
some degree the isolation that its own
conduct has brought to its section. 1t
needs building up in its industries, but it
finds itself without recuperative power.
1t feels the need of immigration to offset
the setting tide of emigration. The
negroes are bound to go as fast as circum-
stances will permit, and there is no power
10 hold them there when they decide to
cmigratc. This leaves an industrial void
to be filed from other sections of the
world, for the whites of the South, save the
"scalawags," who are held in less respect
than the blacks, are not Injured to enter
prise and toll. The State of Louisiana has
been aroused to sense of the Southern
need, and has appropriated money to in
duce immigration but the living flood
flows out in greater volume than into
that section, a fact which creates anxiety
and even alarm.
The Southern press has asserted its
greatest power Of persuasion upon the
outer world. 1t has been eloquent in ex-
tolling the climate and soil, and that, too,
without exaggeration; but all this has
proved to great extent unavailing. The
tide of immigration has not set in with
as much power as had been anticipated,
and they confess that the efforts put
forth have not borne satisfactory fruits.
The New Orleans Times has opened up
this question for discussion in the follow
ing view of the case in which various
reasons are given for the apparent
failure:
Immigrants now pass us by and locate In Texas
and the Western States, although they cannot find
the same advantages there that they can find in
Louisiana. Why Is this? Three reasons may be
mentioned which are, perhaps, the principal ones.
The first Is that those who have land to sell ask
too much for 1t. They do not seem to understand
that immigrants, as rule, are not overstocked
with money, and want cheap land. BY asking
two prices they drive immigrants away from us
The landowners stand in their own light. Their
pODCN i-thgs tnN.u Inc tdNCSOn tnclf
cultivated lanJs absorb the profits of that which
is productive By holdi.- on to that which is un
productive they check the Development of the
country, and make II impossible to disrGse Of any
OF their property ut rcmunerative prices.
The second reason is that there Is feeling
abroad that there is II great deal of lawlessness
throughout the State, and that there Is not that
freedom of thought and opinion which Is desirable
There was time, duringa number of years follow
ING the when I'm nnrtinns al Siot lo,v
ness and intolerance did exist to very consider
able extent. Society has undergone great change
however, and q Northern man will now find q
home in this State as pleasant as In any Western
State.
The third reason Il that very little Is known
about our State outside of its limits. Persons IN
Europe and In the Northern States who think Of
finding new homes are not furnished with In
formation about our climate, soil, and resources
Ourprcscnt Chofofthc immigration bureau isd doins
something now to supply this want but the mcan
NJ his command are wholly inadequate for tn,
work. fhe had three times the money to use II
this direction that he now has, he could rcndc
the state three times the service he rendering
; What the St Louis merchants and business mel
are doing for Missouri the leading men of this cit,
; ought to do for this State.
The Times, in alluding to the obstacle.
that stand in the way of Southern pro
gress, only glances at the real difficulty
The colorcd population seek to escape
; from the South to be relieved from {
spirit of intolerance which has interfercd
! with freedom of opinion, speech, and ac
! tion politically, and has decimated thcil
f race until the Democrats fancy them
selves clothed with sufficient power tc
, control the politics of that sectioG in tho
, future. The outside world understand
/ this full as well as the colored race, and
hence no white man who desires to sus
: tain the character and assert the rights o.
! American citizenship cares to subject
himself to spirit of intolerance which il
prepared at any time to peril those rights
and if needs be to take his life for opin.
ion sake. The Times, we admit, indulgcs
the remark that "socety has undergone
great change, and Northern man will
now find II home in this State louisiana
as pleasant as in any Western State
We hope that the facts justify thi,
promise but if so, "society has under
gone great change" within brief pc
riod. IL is possible that the shotgun
rife, and knife have been hung up il
peace and idleness; but if so, it is for tn,
reason that there are not enough white
, and black Republicans left to jeopardizc
, the success of the Democratic party,
will require strong assurances and mucl
: forgetfulness to bring the Republican
mind to II condition of confidence that I
, Republican can find as pleasant hom,
IL, tho Gnutl, ac ~ tba Nnct