The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-08-22
NECESSITY
FOR FEDERAL
QUARANTINE
Past and Present Yellow Fever
Conditions Prove ii to Be ES-
Sential to Safety.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal
has the following to say relative to the
necessity for a federal marine quaran-
tine:
The necessity for a federal marine
quarantine has been amply demon
strated in the past and present yellow
fever conditions in New Orleans and
along the Gulf coast serve significant
ly to prove low absolutely essential
TO the safety Of the South and the de-
velopment of its resources is a ma
tional protection of this nature.
Yellow fever does not belong in
New Orleans. Always it is claimed
that the disease is imported from some
of the countries to the south. This
assertion we believe to be true, for it
is commonly reported that the federal
blockade of the Gulf coast during the
war between the states and the conse'
quent prevention of trade with fever
infected countries served effectively
TO keep the pestilence out Of this coun-
try. Gen. Butler, too, though leaving
a name in the Crescent City which is
far from being loved or respected, us
co to boast that he kept yellow fever
out of New Orleans.
II this is true history, and the evil
J dence seems to point that way, it
/ proves conclusiyely that an efficient
d Federal marine quarantine backed by
the proper sanitary endorsements IN
New Orleans would prove a certain
! safeguard against this disease, which
more than anything else. tends to re
tard the growth and development OF
/ the south.
! Long ago indeed just after 1873, the
business bodies Of this section of the
7 country recognized the necessity for
the federal marine quarantine. With
\ the possible exception of New Orleans
1 every city Of any size in the south
passed resolutions and took action
asking the Government to give the
country a national protection from
diseases from other countries. New
Orleans, believing the movement to be
a AGAENLADA uDOn 10 ClCduAlACcSs w
posed the plan, raising the old cry OF
federal encroachment upon state
I rights in order to defeat the expressed
/ will of the wiser element of the bal.
4 ance Of the south. Ultimately this ILL
considered opposition prevailed, but
not before something was accomplish.
ed. for the late DR.. Robert Mitchell of
/ Memphis and the late Senator Isom
/ G.. Harris of Tennessee. with the as
= slstance of others, managed to actual
| ~ establish the nucles of a federal
| quarantine. II was in this connection
that Tennessee's war Governor-Sen.
stor used his famous expression when
accused Of fOrsaking the doctrine of
opposition TO Federal encroschment:
To hell" said he, with politicians;
MY country is suffering"
The words are as pertinent today as
they were when Senator Harris used
them. They constitute an appropriate
motto to inscribe upon the banners
of those who would fight for the Jer-
lection of the sanitation of the south
and the preservation of the health
OF this country. They are an ade-
QUate and complete answer not only
10 the political question involved, but
also TO any absurd bubbles of prOfes-
siOnal ethics which may be injected
into the question.
We have cleaned Havana with fed
eral aid and the Plat amendment tells
the Cubans to keep the city sanitary
or else expect United States assist
ance in doing so. Thus far the pride
OF the Cuban health boards has been
sufficient and the indications are that
the Plat amendment is unnecessary.
What the ssnitarians Of Havana have
accomplished certainly should not be
difficult for New Orleans 10 emulate,