The Republican journal., 1877-04-26
The South and its Future.

The recent change III the political sit
uation at the South, and the consequent
frightening prospects for business, are
putting new heart and courage into the
people, north as we'll as south. The ST
Louis Republican torcibly portrays the
outlook when it says that there is, no
where on the face of the EARTH as large an
area of contiguous territory 50 rich in ma
lures gifts, so we'll adapted to the sup
port of dense population, So full of
everything neediul for the health, wealth
and happiness Of such d population. In
eXhaustible soil, salubrous climate, I'M
limited mineral resources, an abundance
of nayigable rivers and some of the best
water power in the world, wood and coal
ample for any demand, scenery and pro
ducts belonging alike to the temperature
and the tropic Zone-what more could De
asked what more could be given? That
the whites OF the South have protited ~
the sharp experiences of adversely and
are much more anxious about their ma
terial interests than to gain supremacy in
national politics, is evident even to the
most careless observer. They keenly real
i2e their poverty, but they realize, too,
that they have within their grasp what
will, if properly utilized, make them rich,
and they are determined to work ont
their financial salvation. Industry, en-
ergN, economy, are now the rule among
them, rather than the exception; and
when we see what has been done in de
spite OF the innllmerable ADVERTISEMENTS
flowing from federal interference, we NAV
form some idea of what will be done when
their embarrassments are entirely and
permanently removed. The blacks, Of
course, are not likely to contribute as gen
erously to the public welfare at present,
but the final overthrow Of carpct-bagism
will stimulate them to that individual en-
ertion by which alone they can become a
selt-supporting race; and when they Join
heartily with the whites in a common
effort for the common good of all as they
eventually will-the ultimate triumph is
assured.
The future of the South is radiant with
promise, and will more than compensate
for the bitter trials Of the past The
process Of POLITICAL social industrial and
commercial reconstruction must ncceS-
sarily be slow, and perhaps painful; but
it will be sure, and, When contaminated,
will be permanent. No one doubts the
ability Of the Southern people to make
the most Of their remarkably favorable
surroundings, and their disposition SO to
do is not questioned by those who know
them intimately and have watched them
closely. AS long as they We're practically
at the mercy of an organized band of
robbers, backed up by the resistless au-
thority of the federal government, they
had small encouragement to do anything
When they are their own masters, the
arbiters OF their own fortunes, they can
and will do all that men may do. The
South wants just two things: First, to
be let alone IN her local administration
second, such assistance in the develop
ment of her eXhaustless resources as CON
gress can constitutionaly grant The first
she will have us soon us Louisiana is free.
The second she ought to have as soon as
it can be extended to her. For. as we
know to our sorrow, whatever hurts the
South hurts the North, and the growth
and prosperity of the South must nevita-
bly, react upon the North, and thereby
enlarge and enrich the national life