The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-03-08
UNPARALLELED SUFFERING

The kindly and manly utterances oil zen
ERAL HANCOCK to newspaper interviewer in
New York, day or two since, will add
another link to the chain Of affection which
binds that hero and the south so closely
together. We have, as press and people,
been looking on with apparent indifference
to the widespread suffering of the people
lately by floods and storms in portions OF
Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. But
the remarks OF GENERAL HANCOCK, who has
Just returned to his northern home
after tour through the districts named,
will, or ought to, have a tendency
TO arouse those of the south not living I'M
der the cloud to the proper effort for the
assistance of their ruined and helpless fell
low.citizcns. The general, who was an eye
witness of the extent and devastation OF the
flood, declared that "the southern people
for over hundreds of square miles are liter
ally drowned out, and fences, cattle, and
houses are swept away or rendered unin-
habitable, railroads are destroyed, planta-
tons are ruined and the country left
desoIate. Nothing like it has been
seen for many years. The distress
in the flooded regions is beyond the power
of words to describe or recollect.n The
general then exhorts the north to go to the
rescue and aid in assisting these distressed
people until they are able again to clothe,
feed and shelter themselves. He displays
the magnanimous patriot by rising above
able that they should generously give of
their means from reasons of humanity.
GENERAL HANCOCK has on more occasions
than this one shown his friendship
for the SOUTH, but it was never en-
listed in better cause than now.
While Michigan and the middle states and
northwest We're suffering from fire and
flood last year the south was comparatively
and happy, and felt itself able
indeed to succor the suffering. Now large
section of the south itself, and thousands
of its citizens, are feeling the heavy hand of
misfortune laid upon them,
and not only should the north and west,
but the other portions of the
south, step quickly to the rescue
of those who have been turned out home
less and moneylcss by the floods of recent
date in the Mississippi Valley. AS sugges-
ted by GENERAL HANCOCK, there is an album
dance Of food and cheer in our midst, even
at this time, to ameliorate the condition of
these people and relief committees and
charitable institutions ought to commence
to see to it that this surplus of provisions
and clothing and money is at once sent
where it is most needed. When the fever
ragged in various cities in the
south, there was 70 trouble in OBJ
tanning prompt and generous responses
but here is an evil greater than that, more
in its ruin and more lasting in
its effect, and so far, as we have said, we
have remained comparatively inactive and
1t is the duty of the press
of the south now, but particularly of the
southwest, to awaken feeling and procure
action in the premises such rs will meet the
eXigencies ofthe case And another recon-
mendation Of GENERAL HANCOCK in refer
ence to an old subject has additional in
terest attached to it in view of
tlfSse Sreaant-.. disasters and as coming
r. otto ao;n.s 49, ,s'.., ,eespesenced ghrcss
Alitr crs illeeE, Who 'has been over the field
andskn6ws' Just what is needed, This is
the matter ofleyees, and just at this june
turc the representatives and senators in
congress from the Mississippi valley cannot
too vigorously press the government for
speedy intervention in the premises, and
the passage Of the much.needed appropria-
tons for the Mississippi and its tributaries.
AS suggested by GENERAL HANCOCK, this is
question of national Importance. He
says: "a bill should be introduced into
congress FOR the survey of the Mississippi,
Missouri and Ohio rivers, as well as their
principal tributaries, such as the Arkansas
and White. The survey being made, Il
plan of leyces should be devised which
would be sufficiently strong to protect the
country, Whether the government or
states, or parishes build them,
they should be constructed on the
same plan. If the southern states can't
afford to build lcvees, the government
should help to protect the vast bodies of
land now overlooked in the south and west
lnmy opinion that is OF national import
ance, and should be so regarded by con-
gress, but whether tho government builds
or helps to build leyecs, it certainly can
afford and should cause survey to be
made" The general indeed should know
that there has been and still is legislation
before congress of the character referred to
by him, and we only quote his remarks as
the Endorsement of prominent man of the
propriety and necessity for generous legis-
lation, where there has heretofore been so
much delay and niggardly assistance.
THAT PROPOSED FINED LINE.