The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-10-11
A Hopeful sim.


We have lately had occasion to note a per-
.ceptible improvement in the tone Of cur vari-
GUS Southern exchanges in their discussion of
the difficult political problems Of the hour
Evidence. accum MI to show. that surely,
though it may be slowly, the darkness OF
Southern prejudice is lifting, and the light Isl
breaking in. 1t needs but time and patience,
and the persistent efforts of the judicious
friends Of humanity, and the harshness, bit
terness and
the minds of the Southern people will give
place to better things. And among the many
cheering indications of the growth Of
healthier public sentiment, we may mention
the greatly increased attention which, through
out the South, is being bestowed on plans for
developing the material resources and stimu-
lating the industrial enterprise of the. commu-
nifty. The interest in subjects of this nature
has increased to such an extent that it even
shows a tendency to overshadow and thrust
aside the exciting political questions of IL e
day. 80 sSes ~
This is of course true only to a degree, but
it is enough to show change in the current.
1t serves to show that the stern necessities Of
their position have been soberly surveyed by
the people of the South, and that with the
keen, practical sense of the American mind,
they have grasped the facts Of the case. They
understand that the main question for them is
of material subsistence, not of political pow
er. They see: the task before them and
are preparing to grapple with il. So their pa
tyhian. 1a1rhflocc 4
the best and most intelligent class. teerniwith
projects for the Improvement of their back
ward agriculture, for the organization of new
manufactures, for opening the country to an
increase of population, for the utilizing of
their vast, but now idle water-power, for in
creasing the facilities for transportation. and
last, hut by no means least, for securing the
means of better and more universal educa-
ton. In no less than four leading papers of
as many Southern States, which have come to
us within the past,week, we find articles writ
ten with earnestness and care, the object of
which is to urge the claims of universal edu-
ton. rsA EadW q rItoakI ooc3 Il
Werepeat, this is most cheering sion T.
shows that the spirit of the. nineteenth CEN
fury has at last got foothold in the South
that feudalism has. had its day. The bitter.
disappointing experience Of the last five wears
has taught the people of the Souththat there
are things in the world besides cottons that a
Z single great monopolizing interest based upon
Save labor is powerless to cope with the vast
iorces developed in free community by the
varied industries Of the people. 1t has been
nard lesson, but it is pretty wen LEANED. and
TINS Is why we find Southern journals praisino
industry, and calling upon ssIl cIassao - ,,a
with brain and hand to build IN q new mos .
perity for the Southern States, p boldina r ~ -
to working men the inducements ' of 90 80
school systems, of greater persona, I,A,,s ~
than mechanics have eYer. enjoyed in tho ~
glon," beginning to talk of a middle clssa y
and to admit that "a few great estates. ami :
mass Of ignorant tolers do not make the firm
estfoundation for state.v Ia taa Dc .aoa,.9 y
When these ideas shall have become fully
disseminated, when they shall have been re-
celyed INTO the faith of the whole people, and
manifest ~ themselves in their acts and institu
'ions, then indeed viii come to them a pros
perty such as the Southern Statesmen of
-. .ns past could not even imagine for thar land
Ivy favored and scheIned ana plotted }orh