The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-29
Congress and the Mississippi River,
IN, O. Democrat.

Whatever they may think, or how
ever little they may care, 1t is none
the less true that the Northern Dem.
ocracy r. just now undergoing a sep.
ctes 81 trial before the people Of the
Southwest in this matter Of improv'
ing the Mississippi river. We for
bear all further elaboration Of the
national character OF the measure
proposed. We shall waste no time
in illustrating a proposition which
needs 20 argument, and with the
merits OF which the whole country Ia
sufficiently acquainted. It has come
to this: that the people OF the South.
west and Of the Mississippi valley are
beginning to doubt whether the Dem.
ocratic party understands OF values
their interests, at least to the extent
OF according them u substantial re-.
cognition. Year after year, on one
pretext or another, the demand OF
the Mississippi valley has been !gnor-
ed. The Democratic party, holding
its power in Congress ~ the gift Of
the solid SOUTH" owing all It's pros.
poets and possessions to us, has vet
strenuonsly aud obstinately resisted
every effort OF ours to obtain mate
rial aid at its hands. 1.-THE Northern
Democrats have no regard for the
South. II they are. indeed, 80 hostile
to our progress and our welfare. then
they have acted honestly and con.
sistently il not very gratefully. They
nave on all occasions and at all times
tnterposed between us and everv le-
gittmate plan for our benefit. Hold.
ing power In Congress since 1875. and
holding 1t by virtue OF our votes and
our exerti0ns, they have neverthe.
less persistently refused to extend ia
the recognition We seek and to which
We believe ourselves entitled, Thew
have forced US to doubt whether We
are wise 10 maintaining 80 UNEQUAL
and Improbable An alliance--wheth.
er It IL worth while to endure the
trouble and reproach Of the solid
South" simply to keep In power a
party which holds us In such scant
respect and sympathy.
But the Northern Democrats are
on trial now. They have lust a few
weeks more OF authority Ia Congress.
and in that time, whether they con.
sent to the test or not, they will be
judged as friendly or unfriendlv TO
the improvement OF the Mississippi
river. The valley States ARE making
it a political question. The South
has nothing at stake except her own
peaceful progress and internal devel.
opment. In the arena OF Congress.
beyond this and the preservation OF
the national honor and prosperity.
We have no other aspirations TO pur.
sue. We have joined the West in
this valley movement and are urging
1t upon the national Democracy as q
recognition which We have the right
to demand from the party W. have
resurrected and kept alive. II the
Northern Democrats believe that
they can regain their lost prestige
without any assistance from us, or il
they be 80 absolutely hostile to meas.
ures OF improvement that they will
lay down. their political lives in the
effort to prevent them, we'll and good
let the issue be made. II, on the
contrary, they have really been hon.
eat in their professions and really de.
sire to promote the welfare OF the
Mississippi valley, they had better
improve the shining hour which still
remal0s, In such 4 manner as to ad.
vertise their feelings and Intentions
to all the world. The South is weary
OF It's unrequitted adherence to them.
and, SHOULD the sun Of this Congress
90 down vi on the unfulfllled pledges
Of these past five years, who shall
lay when it will rise again upon q
Democratic victory In the arena Of
the nation? We are starving on sen.
timent, and famine IL q tiresome ex.
pertence.
Thus far the past history Of the
river improvement bill has been re.
peated with wonderful exactness
The bill began with every promise OF
success-quite az brilliant "pron1is.
es" az at any previous time-and then
the prospect began to 70 through
the old series Of diminishing views
until now, as always heretofore at a
similar stage, the doom OF neglect
and abandonment seems to have de.
scended upon 1t. Does the national
Democracy propose to retire upon
this record?