The Palatka Daily News

The Philadelphia Times, which has been printing recently a series of forcible editorials in which the merchants and others of that city are charged with provincialism and lack of commercial acumen and enterprise, reproduces in its issue of Monday the following well-timed article from the Bellefontaine (Pa.) Watchman, on the causes which led to the loss of the southern trade by the Quaker City:

Twenty-five years ago Philadelphia had the southern trade almost exclusively. To-day it does not have one-tenth of it. Why? People who don't want to look the matter squarely in the face or acknowledge their own foolishness may lay it to "shameful provincialism," when the truth is it is the "intolerant political bigotry" of its capitalists, its merchants, its financiers and its citizens. Individuals or communities do not, as a general thing, patronize their enemies. And where in all this broad land has the south, as a section, a bitterer, more vindictive or abusive enemy than Philadelphia, as a city? Her newspapers teem with continual condemnation of the south and her people, her societies and clubs denounce them in their resolutions, her stump speakers point to them as outlaws and ruffians, her capitalists contribute to any and every movement or cause designed to annoy, belittle or degrade them, and her people approve of all that is said and done at the polls. What else is there for the south to do in a business way but go by Philadelphia, with her millions upon millions of traffic yearly, to a city where her people, their opinions and institutions receive at least respectful consideration.