Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-15
rEy SOUTH AND MONEY.

The Government Of the United States
is hostile to one-third of its population.
Despite this hostility, these prescribed
people are working out great problems of
progress, and keeping pace with the
spirit of the age. While the Govern
ment is at war with the defenseless peo-
pie of Carolina, the people of the other
Southern States are shutting off the coil
of carpet-bag rule, building railroads
and pointing the South to the goal Of
wealth, prosperity and power. Over
burdened with taxes as they are, and HUI
INFLATED and oppressed as they have
been for years, they have not lost their
"wonted fres' nor despaired of the
future. They clearly comprehend the
situation. 1t has always been maxim
that knowledge is power" If it has
not always been an adage that money
is power, recent events attest that 1t
should be now. The North has its
system of railroads Their connec-
tons are as complicated as a mathe-
NAUTICAL problem, and are understood
by few who are not guests at the
banquets of the rings. In these rings
resides power, greater than the power of
the Government, because they can com
mand more money. And here is the
great secret of Northern progress. Com
gress is the slave of the moneyspower,
and the head of the Government and the
tail of the Government bow to its author
ity. 1t is great shame, but 1t is a no.
torious fact. Well, if money exerts
such power, if avarice controls the ac-
tons of men, if greed is the predomi-
nant passion of the country, and men
and sections are estimated according to
the amount of money they can COM
mand, and the commercial facilities they
can control, why may not the South
command justice and respect by
the accumulation and use of money!
There is not living, moving thing that
may not be affected by money. You can
buy member Of Congress and shake
the integrity Of deacon with it. The
very pulpit is not insensible to its fasci-
nations. Well, then, we clamor for our
rights-personal rights, State rights, and
all sorts of rights. If a Government
.,aa,F 10 oruoraptan common ittetica IN
all sections, refuses the Southern people
all those privileges possessed by the
North, may they not command them by
every means that nature and circum-
stance place at their commando We
hold il to be within the power Of the
Southern people, not only to become a
balance Of power in the Government,
but the main power. Howl By money.
How is it to be obtained? By internal
improvements, by immigration, by
the exercise of a little sagacity, by
comprehending the situation and by
taking advantage of facts. Anything
to become great money power. That
is the only power that will ever profit us.
Build railroads, penetrate the wilderness
and bring into cultivation. Drive from
the market Egyptian, Indian and Brazil
ian cotton. Connect your cities by rail
roads, by steamers, and above all, save
the dimes for rainy day Construct
the Shreveport and Memphis road.
Build up great monetary corporations.
Discard any frivolous prejudice against
them. The day may come when they
will rescue an innocent, oppressed peo-
pie, by buying brace or two of tyrants.
Gentlemen, the South will never obtain
justice until she is able to buy it.