Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-08-01
FRIDAY MORNING, AUG. 1. 1890
TBE BOYCOTT IDEA.

In nothing, in later years, has the South
shown in SO high degree it's patriotism,
common sense and self control as in It's
general reputation of the i'll considered
suggestion of Georgia paper, as Thought
lessly endorsed by a prominent and beloved
Confederate General of that State. The
yery idea seems to us akin to madness.
That in great nation with sixty millions
of Americans, bound together by the ties
of Interstate commerce, each section
largely buying the products OF the other.
and with one section, the North, investing
millions in the newly revived South, the
proposition should be advanced that to
resent the apprehended action OF rabid and
fanatical partisans of a political party
temporarily in power, twenty millions OF
these Americans should commence boycott
ing the rest of the nation, seems so absurd
as not to merit serious discussion.
We can well understand the irritation
which upset the judgment and for moment
possibly the patriotism of the Georgia
authors of the proposition and the few
supporters that it got, but we are sure that
by this time all hands have come to their
better senses. Indeed we see that in At
Ianta, where it originated, public meet
ing has since protested against the Force
Bill, but made no reference to the boycOtting
idea. 1t was too wise to play into the hands
S of the Republican leaders who would like
only too well to sting and goad the South
1,4o "a Foil
tai of it.
The situation of the Southern States OF
1890, is just this: They are part and
parcel of the American Union and intend
to have their equal rights therein and I'm.
der the flag that floats over the whole coun.
try. They don't intend to separate them.
selves from their countrymen by any boy
colt, and they don It intend to allow them
selves to be separated from them by any
Force bills. We have perfect confidence
in the patriotism Of the American people,
and we don't fear that any law passed to
affect us, apart from the whole nation,
will ever be permitted by that patriotism
to remain on the statute books.
We don't know that we can do better in
this connection than to publish the follow
ing patriotic letter from Senator John w.
Daniel to the editor of the Lynchburg
NelUs:
WASHINGTON, July a. 1890
My Dear Mr.. Mcdonald Il observe with
great interest the steps proposed to express
opposition to the Davenport Force bill, some
times miscalled the Lodge Election bill. The
expressions of public opinion North and South
are against this measure Of tyranny and par
tisan ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The common sense
and liberty-loving business sagacity of the
people are opposed to it; and if it be resisted
by those dignitied and earnest appeals to JUS
tice and interest which must at last control.
there is good hope that it will be defeated.
hope you and our conservative citizens
will oppose the threats Of boycotting North
ern merchants which see are being made in
certain localities. Such course as this would
he irritating and not convincing 1t would
not be maintained with any steady purpose.
1t embraces friends with foes. 1t is not an
American method of dealing with public ques-
tons, and it would aggravate without solving
the issue.
Let us all keep cool and steadfast The
great conservative masses of the North have
as great interest in maintaining public liber-
ty as we have. The desperate game of politi-
cal manipulators to seize and concentrate
power under the false pretenSe of s'a free bal
Lot and fair count" are pretty generally I'M
derstood, and are weighed by enlightened SEN
tlment at their true measure
l am, most truly yours,
JOHN W. DANIEL