The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-03-17

In yesterdays issue we commented
upon that sectional unfriendliness which
manifests itself in prejudicing tho
Southern States in the eyes of the world
to an extent which seriously interferes
with the immigration for many reasons
80 desirable. This unfriendliness-
which it is hardly necessary to say is
almost exclusively confined to the Re-
publican party-shows itself in other
ways quite as inexcusable, if not equal
ly injurious. 1t is specially noticeable
in Congress and in the more pronounced
journalistic representatives of the par
ty. II Southern Democrat asks an
appropriation for any public work in
his section. however necessary, it is, in
nine cases out of ten, opposed by his
Republican colleagues. ostensibly be-
cause it is not of National importance,
but really because it viii benefit the
South moro than the North. The i'm
provement Of the Mississippi is nota-
bic instance. Most, if not all, the OPP
position it has received has been due to
this cause and no other. If the Missis-
lppi ran from Maine through New En-
gland, New York, Ohio. Indiana, Hi
nois. and emptied into the Gulf some
where in Iowa or still farther West,
it would have been improved to the
utmost OF human ability long ago. AS
many millions would have been voted
as the work required. and every Re-.
publican paper in the land would have
encouraged and Endorsed Congression-
al action. But as the great river hap
pens to run from North to South, and
as the South is perhaps more directly
interested in its good navigablc condi-
ton than the North, whatever Republic
ans in Congress do for it is done grudg-
ingly, and in the face of sharp criticism
from the majority of their party organs
What is true of the Mississippi is true of
all enterprises in. the South for which
Government aid is asked. Republican
opposition in and out of Congress could
scarcely be stronger or more persistent
if the South were a foreign country
separated from the North by impossible
mountains or an unknown ocean.
Now this apparently firmly estab-
lished feature of Republican policy is
not merely ungenerous. but ridiculous
and suicidal It is an illustration of
'.biting your nose off tospite your face"
Northern Republicans lose sight alto
gether of what ought to be and is suf-
ficiently self-evident fact: that any and
all assistance rendered the South in de-
vcloping its matchless natural resources
aud advantages must and will be
returned to the North q hum
dred fold in the shape of in
creased trade. taxable property,
etc. 1t is really only taking it out Of
one pocket and putting it into the
other" North and South belong to the
same country; they are one and indivis-
ibie. and must so remain. Whatever
advances the growth and prosperity OF
the Southern section must of necessity
benefit the Northern. There is no help
for or escape from that even if it were
desirable there shorld be; and, onsthe
other hand, whatever retards Southern
growth and prosperity intlicts more or
less injury upon the North. When the
South was under the heel of carpet
baggers. its energies crippled and its
credit well nigh DESTROYED. every bust
ness community in the North was more
or less affected; and when the South
was released from carpet-bag rule and
began the task of financial and COM
mercial reconstruction. what business
community in the North did not have
reason to rejoicep 1t is certainly time
this latest and meanest form of section
alism were hooted down and out If
the blood and gold of four years war
did not. after all, restore the Union, let
proclamation be made to that effect,
and the people govern themselves
accordingly. If the Union Is restored,
if.South and North are one country and
not two. let Republicans treat the South
accordingly.-St. Louis Republican.