Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-28
THE SOUTHERN MISTAKE.

The DISPATCH has expressed itself
plainly on the false policy of the elections
bill and the folly of those Republican
leaders who display their determination to
let all necessary business stand undone
rather than that their precious means of
securing party supremacy by act of Congress
should go untried. As that effort has spent
itself, for the present at least, there is no
necessity of enlarging on that phase of the
subject. But there is pertinence in pointing
out that the Southern States which are
making their participation in the Worlds
Fair at Chicago conditional on the abandon
ment of the force bill show an equal stupid
ity and similar sectionalism.
There was an attempt to justify this action
in the Southern legislatures by the argu-
ment that the passage of the elections bill
would SO injure the South that it would be
useless waste of money to make an
exhibit which will induce immigration.
This rests on a false assumption. Moth
ing can injure the South industrially
except the disorders and lawlessness
of its own people. Such legislation might
injure the South politically in common with
the rest Of the country; but if the Southern
people can learn to meet political wrong
on the highest plane it cannot effect her
industrial progress. Even if it could, the
best way to meet it and minimize the injury
would be to make such an exhibit of the re-
sources and arts of peace as to convince the
nation through the medium of the Chicago
Exposition of the progress of the South,
and thus furnish the best answer to its de-
tractors.
There is no doubt of the real meaning of
such action as that taken by the Tennessee
and Alabama Legislatures. The element
represented there proposes to hold one To-
cality especially responsible for an act of
national legislation, and the whole nation
responsible for the act of political party.
Chicago is the one city most vitality inter-
ested in the Exposition of 1898. But for an
act in which Chicago has very little respon-
sibility, this Southern element proposes to
do what is in its power to render the enter
prise failure. Then, too, viewing the Ex-
position as national enterprise. the whole
nation is held responsible for what is done
course, politically responsible; but it is an
evidence of very rampantprejudicet to extend
that responsibility to business enterprises in
which politics are outof place. Yetthatis what
this element of Southern opinion proposes
to do by preventing national enterprise
from having its full national character.
Since that course would deprive the South
ern States adopting it of the undoubted ad-
vantages to be derived by making good
exhibit at the Fair, it would amount to q
peculiarly fragrant case of biting off the
nose to spite the face.
Another very grave aspect of this line of
action is its proof that among the class
adopting it the national spirit is still quite
weak. The declaration is practically made
that a single piece of legislation offensive to
Southern suscepti bilities is sufficient ground
for throwing overheard national pride and
national credit. The credit of the whole
country is involved in making this Exposi-
tion success. Yet the Southern attitude
proposed in these Legislatures is that if the
South is offended by an act of legislation on
a subject entirely distinct from the Fair it
does not care to do its share to sustain the
reputation of our common country before
the world. THE DISPATCH has repeatedly
blamed the Republican partisans for neg
lecting the interests of the whole coun-
try in order to push their pet meas
ure; but this action displays the
same partisan spirit in another form. 1t is
a more or less distinct avowal that the
Southerners supporting still place their own
section above the nation, and have not
enough love and pride in the nation as a
whole to rise above the spite of sectional
| politics.
1t is pleasant to note there is a consider
able element South entirely free from that
mistaken sentiment The Charleston NeaUs
and Courier very distinctly points out the
error of the policy proposed, and makes the
clear-sighted prediction that if the South
should meet the elections bill and similar
legislation by showing its readiness to join
in national enterprise. and its promptnes.
in adopting all opportunities to secure
progress in its industries, the surest meanl
will be taken to secure a speedy correction
of the partisan legislation. It is to be hoped
the South will generally appreciate tht
wisdom Of this advice.