Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-10
VINO Caused the WARY

The general impression throughout the
| north is that the southern leaders who adj
vocsted aud carried into effect secession
were responsible for the civil war that
drenched American soil with the life
blood of its bravest citizens. Combining
ourselves to the year 1851 and the pre-
ceding administration, no other verdict
could be rendered. But to examine into
the causes from the time of the formation
OF the government until the great conflict
opened in all its fury that contributed to
this result can we in Justice hold the
southern politicians as reprehensible as
the anti-slavery agitators of the north?
Human bondage is wrong. In the earlier
days of this nation every state permitted
slavery within its borders. But as it was
not so profitable in the wheat and corn
growing states as in those that produced
cotton, the slaves north of Mason's and
Dlxons line were sold to the planters
further south. The northern slave hold
ers obtained value received for their HUI
man chattels. The voluntary abolish>
ment of this monstrous evil in these states
led the northern people to look with dis
favor upon system that they had cher
ished.
Anti-slavery societies were formed.
Had these organizations proposed to re-
lmburse the slave-holders of the south to
an equivalent of what northern owners of
bond men had received, there would have
been no uprising of the south to perpet~
nate their ownership untrsmmelled in
man.
The northern sgitstor demanded as
slavery in itself was wrong and contrary
to the nineteenth century Interpretation
of the bible on that point, it should be
abolished in every portion of the land A
different or prescriptlye construction of
the scriptures WAS prescribed by southern
churchmen. The planter regarded the
theory of the abolutionists from a bibli-
cal standpoint as I'm orthodox lie also
considered himself entitled to an equal
compensation for whatever chattels he
owned; that the constitution guaranteed
him in as the farmer owners had received.
Self preservation is the first law of nature
whether in an equitable or unjust cause.
Human nature IS such that man will ad>
vocate and defend, even in an unjust
cause. that which if be were deprived OF.
would be pecuniary loss Thus we find
the STAKEHOLDER in 1861. The theoretical
conflict had been waging for years be>
tween the abolition and slavery leaders.
Who were to succumb? 1t was only a
question of time. Slave limits had
reached their utmost boundary the
undeveloped north would be carved into
enough states that the constitution would
be so amended that slavery would be abol-
ished. The rebellion was necessary
hn oil bNll
politicians who opened hostilties in de-
tense of their own or posterity's property,
as culpable as the anti slavery incen,
diaries who had driven them to
this step. There is always an under
lying cause to an event of as
much magnitude as the war between
the states. Can the attitude Of southern
leaders at and Immediately preceding the
great conflict be attributed to them as tue
originators and morally reprehensible for
this bloody strife? For example: Should
the great majority of the people of this
nation, not living off the proceeds Of their
investments, but from wages received
from physical and mental effort demand,
as the average profit on labor did not ex
coed 3 per cent, that all money loaners
receiving more than 3 per cent should
forfeit not only excess of interest, but all
interest and principal, because of loan
ing money at unjust rates? Would it be
right 10 contiscate the property of those
who had loaned money at rates permit
ted by law? Would it be jast to deprive
the STAKEHOLDER, without compensation of
his human chsttels that We're permitted
by law2
Had the anti-slavery real sgitators of
the horrible intestine convIlsion that
shook this nation from center to circum-
ference. advocated that the government
should exercise its right of eminent do
main by condemning property in slaves
by fair valuation at q reasonable future
time, would not the great slavery ques-
ton have been determined without loss of
blood at fraction of the expense that it
has already cOstf A certain class of pol
iticisns are the bsne of society in a re.
publican form of government. Who are
the most loyal today to the theory that
this is government for the people? Are
they southern politicians or are they
those of the north, contending that the
people should not conduct their own
elections? E. S. GIRBs.
Lyons, Iowa, Sep. %. 1899.