The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-25
ALWAYS READ TIE TINES
FRIDAY, JULY d, 1890.
,uY PROPOSED BOYCOTT

rvv T,vys has so far made no ool'o'''
- 20 tho proposed boycott OF Nor'n'
-, business men by the Nouth' "0""''
,noro was no Just ground Tor "huo'P''r7
,no, tho suggestion would attract eve" "
"' Of popular attention when II ""S
'''', V'.',I Examined in a purely economic
-, ,no succcstion is substantially li"'
,r,cticahle. The commerciM ie''''o -.
,,,oon the two sections are no" :" l"''"'''
v,orsiyc that it would tie linloss'-
. hroak these relations, or even !"
,,oaken them 10 an appreciao" "Vs,0,.
z,o,,,,or II NAV be taken for gran'e" '""'
-. a. no sentiment in business unless "
decision is 10 be reached Det"e'" ~
,ions which are precisely similar u" V''".
clio The necessities aud the eNis'"''V' W
,rodo confronting almost every nrnl' 'o'0,
- mon into the cheapest ana h'os'
convenient markets; whether the ia'''' "i'
:, tho Northern or the southern o'a'es' J." -
a matter of practical indifference r''',
,,ho, the North and south were Dil''''! anu
rodicaIIy arrayed against each o'uc' III '"'
-. 90 ,bo abolition movement, Northern
merchants and manufacturers continue" ~
SUNNY the Southern people with tue s'e"''i
r, 81 ,ybat they were compelled to pur-
ahoso If j. true that the South Is III Il
much better condition to-day to mahu'Hc-
,uro ovorvthinc which is required by It's H.
babitants than it was before the wal '"'
Us ability TO do so is still very limited
The proposed boycott is not only lmprac-
,,oo,,o from an economic point OF view, put
also inexpedient in many essential respects
-, political standpoint. The position
taken by our Chamber OF commerce was
entirely correct. Why seek TO cross 3"
hridoe before we have come 10 IL: 30 l"'
as the Republican senators are dre''l
,,,,.or,ed in whose hands the power OIL
,,oss;ng the bill rests. the agitation IN the
south of the boycott proposition Is more
likely 10 decide those who are watering ana
Vacillating 10 cast their votes against IMAM
in favor of the election measure Inc oo!-
colt movement, if it were supported D! 'Hc
General approyal Of the southern people, a.
exhibited in the press and in public meet
jngs. would certainly be used by the he-
publican politicians with view TO lur'hci
STRENGTHENING their position at the Morrill,
If i true that the southern states nave al
readv suffered as much from the sectional
feeling against them prevailing among
large portion Of the Northern people aS
could possibly be inflicted upon them IN
political way. An increase OF TINS sec'lo"ai
feeling. for any apparently good cause
MIGHT however. serve 10 diminish the force
of the reaction IN Northern sentiment whlch
NAV be expected to arise, against the
measures which the Republicans nave
PASSED or brought forward during the pres
ent session Of Congress.
There is only one light in which the pro-
posed boycott appears al all likely 10 ac-
complish the slightest good. Inc Peo-
nile of the North a. a whole have undOuDl-
odly grown weary Of the agitation OF what
was formerly known rs the Southern ques-
,;on They want peace. not uncnding strife
and turmoil. Ire boycott movement II
once inaugurated, will renew the condition
of chronic confusion and disturbance Nhlch
preyailed in the Southern States a. long as
they remained in the control of the KepuD-
Iican Marty. I'm anticipation OF this and IN
deprecation Of its actually occurring the
most influential portion OF the Northern
people may create such general puohc
sentiment in opposition 10 the election mea-
sure that the Republican Senators VINO are
besitating AS 10 how they shall vote, may he
led to oppose that measure when they are
compelled 10 decide as to how they shall
act. This is the only probability which CON
firms the adyisability Of the boycott agita-
tiOn.
There is, on the whole, a far stronger pro-
liability that when the south is sOlidly
arrayed, both politically and economically
AGAINST the North, for the boycott proposed
does not distinguish between those WI" are
friendly and those who are hostile 10 the
south, a general feeling Of opposition Will
be aroused in the Northern people as a
mass. which will do us far more injury IN a
political sense than the boycott can do
GOOD. Ii would seem is il the best step Tor
the south 10 take under the present clrcun-
stances. would be for its chambers OF COM
merce and business organizations TO pro
test. forcibly but temporarily, against the
passage Of the National Election BILL dwell
ling most fully ON the damage which that
measure, il passed, will inilict upon all our
industries, and indirectly upon the indus
tries OF the North. No real benefit VIII be
derived from holding political meetings IN
the South, for they will be considered at The
North as Influenced entirely blythe same
feeling which actuated the southern mem
hers OF Congress on the door of the House,
and will have Just about as much weight.