Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-03-15
RAILROADS. IN THE SOUTH.

eagerness for close railroad connec-
tons with the North. We admit it is
a text for the display of high sound
ing, but unmeaning ealogy upon the
facilities for commerce and the pro-
gressive expansion of a great people
the benefits of easy and rapid inter-
communication with all of this great
country. We challenge any man to
point out the benefits, to the South,
growing out of railroad connection
with the North. The benefits are nu-
merous, in the estimation of those who
believe that the South should maintain
its present status of commercial and
political vassalage, but to the true pa
triot and statesman who desire to see
the South politically free and CONNER
cially independent, those fancied bene-
fits are but another name for curses.
Is it benefit TO the South that she
can ship her raw material to northern
markets where the price is fixed by
corrupt financial rings-paying in its
transit, exhorbitant freight charges,
commissions and insurance? Is it a
benefit to be able to procure from the
North all that we wear, all that we
work with and much that we eat, pay
ing for their transit similar charges
and the profits of middle man? But
to prevent our original proposition in
another light, let us suppose that the
only channels of commerce, between
the two section, were the Atlantic
Ocean and the circuitous inland
streams-does one believe that thep
pie of the South, feeling the necessity
for the advancement of their domestic
interests. by encouraging every enter
prise looking to the supply of their
wants, would now be generations be-
hind the North in manufactures, agri-
culture and the mechanic arts? Sup
pose the lost cause had been won,
would it have been the policy of the
South to build railroads to be sold or
leased to northern monopolies? We
think not and had the system of po-
litical economy which we have ad-
vOcated, been adopted years ago,
! the South would now have been
working up its own raw materials
and making the market of the world
tributary to its prosperity-the growth
of wise policy and we'll directed ener-
g. Hence we argue that whatever
retards the adoption of system OF
internal improvement that must lead
to wealth and commercial independ-
ence, in anything but a blessing to this
section. Nothing, in our opinion,
tends more directly to the postpone
ment of such a policy than our present
facilities for rapid interchange of
commodities with the North, the OBJ
vious effect of which is to perpetuate
the indisposition of the southern peo-
pie to build manufactures and devel-
ope agriculture, the chef agencies for
multiplying wealth and securing com
mercial independence.
As our readers we'll know, we have
never written line against Railroads
per Sc, as a means of material develop
ment, and it IS palpable mis-repre-
sentation to report otherwise; but we
have consistently and persistently
condemned the South for its eagerness
to build roads to be controlled by
northern monopolies for the depletion
and impoverishment of this Inflated
but naturally favored division of the
Union. We write as a southern man
and, as far as VIC are able, as a south
ern statesman, considering the issues Of
to-day only in relation to their bear.
ings upon the future development Of
the boundless resources of the South
For this development, railroads viii
be valuable agents when owned anC
controlled by southern companies, bu
when, as now, they fall under the con.
troll of Northern monopolies and rur
in northern interests, they are a ours,
to the South for reasons already given
We may be wrong in our view of tn,
question, but can't be set right by mere
factious criticism and ungenerou'
misrepresentation.