New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-21
THE SOUTH As IT rs.

letters recently published by THE TRIBUNE,
from a special correspondent ut the South,
without feeling OF intense sympathy and
anxious longing The letter from Mississippi,
published on Thursday. must have affected
kindly aud thoughtful persons like wall Of
unspeakable anguish. These are our brothers,
Men of the North Is it not infinitely pa
thetic and touching TO hear them say, " IT
"the Northern people would only come down
"here and soc for themselves, there would be
no more trouble. This country will
"never do nothiu' until We have some
Northern men and Northern capital N Alas
the poor men cannot see how it ID that they
themselves, anxious 90 they are for Northern
capital and Northern i'm migration, help to
make both avoid the South. They cannot
see how it is that, earnestly as they long for
honest sympathy and kindly appreciation at
the North, they themselves have built mp
mighty wall of division which can be torn
down only by their OVID hands. No words
can express the sorrow which true-hearted
men of the North feel whenever they get
such glinlpses into the innerm0st heart OF the
Southern people. And yet, every effort to aid
them from without has failed, and apparently
must fail to the end.
Our Southern brothers are intelligent. Many
of them have travelled; very many have seen
Northern papers since the war and they
know what are some of the obstacles to
Northern appreciation or immigration. They
have heard, for example, that the conduct OF
violent and lawless individuals at the South,
in connection with past political contests, has
been most repugnant to the feelings OF North
ern men of both parties. Yet they gay, with
earnest and sincere feeling, 1.-THE North ought
not to Judge US by the acts Of these In
dividuals." But why noTf Do the better
citizens of the South ever do anything to put
down and prevent lawless violencef Arc
murderers ever brought to justicef Are crimes
against the purity of the suffrage ever pun
ishedf Do not the better class OF citizens
acauesce in the worst that is done, by their
failure to take any steps for punishment or
ureventioni 1t is true chat these citizens
feel little interest in politics.; but is
not that, after all, the worst error
they can possibly commit When true free
dom is trampled ont by some violent and
reckless men when elections are q farce
when life il cheap, and when crimes are I'M
punished, is it not the most sacred duty of
GVtTY ~ NtAhS hh iA pVANSS
until these wrongs can be righted I
Not many Southern men realize that this
same lawlessnsss is the cause Of infinite loss
and suffering to themselves. But in truth, 1t
has more power than all other causes put to-
getber to keep Northern immigration and
Northern capital out of the South. Peaceful,
industrious and law-abiding citizens cannot be
hired to 20 where life is cheap, or where
fraud or violence turus the scale at elections
and selects the officials by whom law should be
enforced. Capital never can be seduced into
a region where these things are seen. Were
the South ten times rs rich and fertile as it
is, still it would look in vain for Northern
immigration OF capital as long 30 the spirit OF
unfinching fidelity to all legal obligations and
strict enforcement Of law does not prevail.
This seems strange and almost incredible
to the Southern citizen, who is familiar
lied with the circumstances in which he
lives. But the best friend he has 10 the world
can give him no better help than the advice
to regard faithful aud absolute enforcement
of all law as the first necessity of the South.
Ne, ran the Southern citizen plead that he is
wholly msconstrued by the North, when men
like Senator Butler of the Hamburg massacre,
and Senator Hampton of the tissue-ballots and
clubs, and Senator George, the reputed
author Of "the Mississippi plan," are elevated
to the highest places without protest from
Southern lips.
We know full well that the quiet and busy
Southern citizen, who sees what Is necessary.
fiuds II almost impossible to do anything to
resist the implaoable and lawless despotsm
IL; III 81 ID he nwi,ffno utata 10
But that despotism itself exists only because
the quiet aud rational men Of the South have
rot yet rebelled against it, In any State 1t
can be stamped out In single year, II good
citizens will unite their forces for that pur-
pose. But good citizens cannot overcome such
power without some struggle. 1t VIII
need determined purpose. The live men
of the south must make up their minds
frat Of all 10 give not the slightest support,
countenance or liberation to any party, faction
or leader that does not insist upon and do oil
that is possible 10 secure strict and absolutely
impartial enforcement Of ell lava. They must
make up their minds to use oil the political
power that tncy hare for that end, at all
timoe and In any alliance or Fellowship what
ever that promises success. Everything else--
pride, attachment 10 names, prejadicee Of
race or party. regard for tho pRss--must be
put sternly aside until tie south Gun be
made psacsablo, orderly, free and lAw.Rbid.
INK country
Brothers Of tho SOUTH Go not think that
there is any lack of generous and loving
sympathy here at the North. Do not think
that 1t Il possible to escape from q condition
Of standardization Ia any other way than by
eStabllAhlng and resolutely upheldins those 70.
straints Of order and law which are the four-
dation Of all civilization. The suherihRs and
iosaes, the poverty and trouble OF the South,
we ptas you to see, spring from yohr own
failure 70 place Law and order above all party