Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-26
The Boycott and the Political situation
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS
". Va, July a. 80.
n "a EdN0r of ~ DIspaIct:

To ne Editor Of ne DiSpG'cb:
Allow me TO add my commendation upon
your editorial of yesterday deprecating the
uroposed movement 10 e5top the passage Of
the force bill now before the United states
Senate by the threatened boycott OF the
North - on the part of the South should
that measure become a law.
The unwlsdOm Of such a policy. IFS lilu-
rious effects upon our reylvlng prosperity,
from its bare discussion would seem so
manifest that the agitation might be AL
lowed 10 pass unnoticed but FOR the emil
hence and influence of many OF those who
would urge our people 10 such course.
Briefly stated the proposition Is, to
unite the people of the southern states III
their opposition ~ The measure, and then
through duly accredited representatives. III
convention assembled tOserve notice upon
the people OF the North that in the event
of its enactment there shall be iuaugurated
throughout this Southland a boycott-a
policy of Observation-Disclosures ana
prescription the effects of which shall
fall with banefil force upon every mort H.
ern industrial aud commercial enterprise
which now finds in the South "A market Tor
its products: IN other words, II IS proposed
that If the Government of which the com
planning Commonwealths are component
parts sees fit To enact statute the enects
of which il is thought will be preJudlciaI
TO their interests. that then the people OF
those States, while Welding sullen acqul-
esconce TO the law. shall retalate for this
assault on the part of the Government
upon their rights by n movement when
shall bring loss and disaster To the business
interests of the peOple-friend and zoe
alike of the other section OF the common
country. | take issue with the wisdom, the
Justice, and patriotism Of such sentl-
ment.
,.;.I1 . ID, 81, ,,a,, IN my nrofouud anprc-
citation Of the lawless and sectional cha
racter OF the Republican party rs record
Is a record OF crimes against constitution
al government and popular rights. Every
decade of its existence IS marked by some
new device to huniliate and Cypress the
people Of the South. The bill alluded 10
now before the United States Senate well
portrays these characteristics OF the party
and is itself the desperate effort of despe-
rate men 10 retain their hold upon the
Government when the sober thought OF
the country, uniniluenced 10y considera-
tons of sectionalism and the revival OF
past hates, would drive them from power:
The Republican party has little regard
for constitutional limitations; 1t has less
concern for the rights and interests OF the
people: it has no desire 10 obliterate sec
tionalsm in this land nor 20 secure domes-
tic peace TO the people of the South. For
all this we well may fear It: and because
the proposed law is virtually an assault
upon the integrity of the Government as
framed under the Constitution, and Is
fraught with menace to our peace, we may
well seek TO compass its defeat.
But the road to estop its enactment. or
to secure its repeal in the event OF It's
passage, is not along the line suggested by
these eminent advocates of the boycott.
The policy proposed IL wrong because
the boycott itself Is wrong III principle.
II Is not the argument TO merit or achieve
success for worthy cause. 1t belongs to
an era of lawlessness and intolerance. 1t
has no place among the potential forces Of
an enlightened and progressive civiliza-
ton.
II is wrong because to the inherent vice
OF such a course there would III this in
stance DO the added injustice Of visiting
friend and foe alike with the same retalia-
ton. | take issue with the quasi intima-
ton that the Republican party and the
northern people are synonymous terms.
Throughout the North there are men by
the inyriads who through years of disaster
and defeat have chung with unfailing loyal
ty to the principles OF Democracy and stood
unfaltering in their defence of the rights OF
the southern people. To-day there are no.
where IN this land more earnest opponents
OF this measure, in and out of Congress,
than among these northern people.
On the floor of the House of
Representatives they We'd with the
southern leaders in their patriotic ef-
| forts 70 compass its defeat. The sections