Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-14
SLANDER or THE SOUTH.
Paper by Gov. FiSiback Show
ing Injustice to Our section.

Governor Flshback also offered the
following. He stated that he had sent
q copy Of the paper to each Governor
whom he thought would moi be present
and had received from Governor Stone
his hearty endorsement Of 1t:
10 His ErccHeHcy the President Of the
THjfcd Nt0fCs.'
The Governors OF the Southern States
Of our Union, in convention assembled,
beg leave respectfully to call your at-
tention to a condition, not theory "
which coulronts and affects our entire
countrg, but more particularly the south
ern halt of 1t.
What are known as the southern
States Of the United States are unques-
tionably superior in climate, III SOL, N
natural resources. and in their capaoity
for greater diversity OF agricultural and
horticultural products to the northern
half OF the Union, ii indeed not t. any
other region Of the world while their
svst m OF laws, their social amenities,
their love fC" law and order, and their
general refinement, though differing IN
some peculiarltles, are not inferior TO
those OF any other portion OF our coun-
try. Yet the fact stares us in the face
that in material Advancement these
States are far behind their sisters Of the
North.
For ten or fifteen years after tine late
civil war the uncertain condition CT the
race problem not unnaturally repelled
immigration and Investment from our
section. but happily this condition no
longer exists Yet what is commonly
known as "the South " does not receive
that share OF immigration and that flow
Of capital which ber unparalleled in
ducements would lead US TO expect.
ARE GIVEN FALSE IDEAS.
The reason for this lies not in the
facts Of the situation. but IN false ideas
of the real state OF things IN this region.
This is an unhealthy condition that af-
fects the prosperity of the whole Union,
for so interdependent are the various
sections Of our common country one
portion cannot suffer without ITS ahect-
ing the whole.
Much. if, indeed, not most, OF those
false ideas originated in the systematic
slander which one of the great political
parties of the United States has thought
ii its interest to promulgate
Weuse the word " slander advisedly.
Take as an illustration in proof the
State OF Arkansas There IS no other
section OF the country upon which has
been hurled so much vituperation and
abuse Her people, her laws, her lnstl-
tutions. her society have alike been de-
nounced in unmeasUred terms, until
the idea prevails in many places that
her people are lawless, if not unciyii-
lied Yet IA congress composed OF a
majority of these very slanderers-he-
publican in both its branches-only two
wears ago. when called upon to enact q
BODY of laws for one OF the Territories OF
the Union, having the laws OF every
State in the Union TO select from, chose
the entire code from the statutes OF tins
yerv state OF Arkansas. They cannot
escape the alternative CONCLUSION TO
which this inevitably leads-they stand
convicted of either slandering ono OF
their fellow Commonwealth or OF re0k-
lesslv triflng with the rights and inter
csts OF another.
But while the SANDER is made more
apparent in the case OF Arkansas 10y TINS
qualification, yet it is not peculiar 70
that State. The whole South IS ln-
cluded
EVEN sLANDERED ABROAD.
Nor are these slanders confined to
this country For the past thirty years
the United States have been represented
in all the countries Of the world with
whom we have diplomatic relations by
men who were not only preJudlcedi
against the South, but whose political
interest demanded. as they seemed to
think. that they spread misrepresenta-
ton and intensity partisan prejudice
against this portion of their country.
Believing that you appreciate the
situation and that your patriotism Is
broad enough TO cover all sections OF the
great country over which you ere called
10 preside. we respectfully ask OF you
that Won award 70 the South larger
share of the representation, especially IN
those foreign ports from which most OF
our immigration and capital come, than
has heretofore been permitted us, TO the
end that the mind OF mankind be DIS
abused OF the false impressions oil the
South which have been 80 sedulousiY,
10 systematically, and so injnriously'
spread abroad throughout the civilized
world. W. NJ. FIsHpAcg,
Governor OF Arkansas.
In Governor Stones letter OF endorse
nept he heartily commends the objects
OF the convention and expresses great
regret that he could not participate IN
its proceedings.
GEORGIA AND TENNESSEE.
Mr.. @. 0. waddell. representing
Governor Northern, OF Georgia, read .
PAPER on Georgia prepared by her Gov.
crnor. 4 he paper follows the general
limo OF tho paper on Arkansas read by
0oyernor Fishback. but Is specially ipll