Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-09-04
THE SOUTHERN TRADE.


The Boston Post appeals to the selfish IN
terest Of merchants to vote the Democratic
ticket, with the remark;
Before the war we sent south yearly, Of
domestic goods. S240, ,O00, 900; of imported
goods, SI06, 700, 600 We charged her as
interest and brokerage, $63, POS, 200. Isn't
this business wortk reco7ering?'
1t is not only worth recovering. tits worth
doubling, or quadrupling; il is worth putting
on a sound foundation; it is worth managing
in such way that il shall not ruin those
engaged in it once in every dozen years, by a
general failure and bankruptcy Of southern
debtors.
The way 10 accomplish all that is to Sc
cure peace, free speech, equal liberty and
equal rights in the southern states; to break
down the influence there of the old and
stupid poHticiaHs--the Cobbs, Toom bses
and other men ofthat class, who are striving
under democratic eolors, for renewal of
their supremacy.
The old southern leaders, the former
planting aristocracy, were but poor custo-
mers; they wasted good deal, but they did
not encourage a substantial industry, such
as makes a country rich and its trade
profitable. They would like to return to
the old state Of things, and they have
persuaded the democratic leaders here to
help them; they wish once more to bully
and coerce the laboring classes in the South
they threaten to starve the workmen who
viii not vote as these imperious masters
command.
But is starved workman a good custo-
mer2 Is slavish workman a good Gus
toner? There has been good deal said Of
the old southern trade; but what was il?
What did it consist of? The planters were
men of wealth, but they were few in num-
Der; they lived luxurious lives and spent
much money abroad: and their system kept
the mass of the whites and all the blacks
in abject poverty. 1t cost, according to an
eminent South Carolinian, Governor Ham
mond, less than twenty dollars per annum
to feed and elothe one of the South Carolina
''pOor whites before the war; and he ad-
ded that most of them did not earn that
much What was the southern trade,
with these people worth2
The planters purchased for the slaves
only the cOarsest and cheapest stufFs, tools
and food; they kept down. with all their
ingenuity, the expenditure for these slaves.
What was the southern trade" for those
three millions worth?
Now all are free; all have an incentive to
labor, to acquire, to live comfortably. to
dress respectfully. The poor white, no
longer cast aside by the proud planter to
make room for his slaves, has now for the
first time in the South, the chance to earn
decent living; for the first time his ambi.
ton is aroused; be finds himself no longer
robbed Of employment by the intrigues OF
the planter, who would give work only tC
bis or his neighbor's slaves. For the first
time the poor white has chance to know
what it is to have money to spend. and i
we can only secure peace and equal rights,
if Grant and his sensible policy rule the
country for the next four years, the mil
lions Of poor whites, turned TO useful in
dustries, win be far more valuable cgsto.
mers than the few pampered planters ever
were.
Then there are the other millions o.