The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-29
rae GREAT MISSISSIPPI FLOOD

TIE GREAT MISSISSIPPI FLOOD.
There are times when Nations, States and
are overtsken and over
whelmed by calamities that reach the pro-
foundest depths of human sensibilities, and
call forth such exhibitions OF sympathy
such noble deeds of benevolence and
such almost superhuman efforts for relief
that in their contemplation the man whose
heart is not stone thanks God and takes
courage. He feels that human nature is not
altogether VILE that it still possesses divine
attributes, and that the trail of the serpent is
not everywhere visible. At one time the
sccurge is fre-such rs once swept over
Chicago or the fair fields of Michigan.
Again il is pestilenoe, or famine, or Hood. Be
it what it may, strike where it will, God
like sympathies are aroused, and all
Christendom responds. Not all unfortu-
nately. Here and there may be found a Great
ure in human shape destitute of human
sympathy-and such a creature inhabits
Chicago anS controls the Chicago Tribune.
This caricSture of humanity knows OF the
Mississippi flood, knows OF its Tn.
Ta-alled sweep and its terrible
calamities it has brought upon thousands OF
people living in districts bordering the
river, 20 the extent of fully $4,000 square
miles. What does he'Chicago Trieane say
whec contemplating 'sTch combustion o
disesfers-flood, famine destruction every
where = sickness, 1,akedness and death
wc-nen and children houseless and home
less and helpless Why, it talks of Con
federate States, estate sovereg nty," o
errors of the pas, of ''clamerous bowls,
and in that strein stigmatizes the sufferer
for calling upon the Federal Government
foraid. the onlyarm, except that OF Omnipc
tence, that can reach them. lt says:
80 1t ePpea,s. therefore, that the South is f.
State sOvereignty only when everybody is in heaitl
and the river low. But when the yellow fever cpl
denies rSge or Mississippi FOODS submerge, Il i
devotedly NGiional in its feelings. OF course thi
is hardly consistent and rather absurd. 1t ough
to be either one thing the oother all the time
If it is for State sovereignty1n time of low waite
and good heath, then in time of inundauens snC
epide1Scsit should hold TO SIS doctrine and ap
peal TO the sovereign States" and not to the Ma
tional Government. for help. During the yellow
fever epi5emic, however. there were severa
prominent cases of conversion. 1t is to be hoped
that the present high leTe, If the Mississippi vii
extend the area of conversion and drcwn out.
large proportion of the State sovereignty non
sense. Thus gradually, b. yellow fever and Coed
the South may be brought round to realizing
sense Of her dependence upon the National Gov
ernmen. at all times end her duties toward il
II the Government is geod enough for herin times
OF fever and flood, il Certainly ought to be good
enough for her at snE other time, and i, not
then the South ought 80 help herself out o. he
troubles.
Itnay be of interest to say that the Chi
cago Tribune is known as a Republican
organ, and, further, to the credit ofthe Re-
publican party, tkat it is the onlysRepub-
lican organ that has outraged alldecency
by Szlgar, brutal and pitiless reference to
the Mississippi food and the terrible
affections it has erought upon thousands OF
people While every othec pepper has
spoken promptly for aid; hes voiced the
universal sympSsEy of the people; has
thanked God for National treasury OF
ample means, and for Congress that re-
spends in a spirit Of lofty benevoielce. the
Tribune sinks TO the level of sthe vilest
repro6ste, and, inrthe presence OF the most
'aeploreble adversit;es, silences every manly,
noble, Christian impulse, and utters mali
cious yelpings that would disgrace savage.
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