The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-06-21
THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH

THE FUTURE. OF THE SOUTH.
The slightest survey of the mag
niliccnt domain beyond the Potomac
and the Ohio is sufficient to reveal its
immense capabilities, We doubt
whether there is, elsewhere on the face
Of the-carth, as large an area of con-
tiguous territory SO rich in natures
gifts, so well adapted to the support
of Il dense population, so full of ev-
cry thing needful fer the health,
wealth and happiness of such a pop
ulation. IneXhaustible soil, salubri L.
ous climate, unlimited mineral re-
sources, an abundance of navigable
rivers and some of the best water
power in the world, wood and coal
ample for any demand, scenery ard
products belonging alike to the TEN
perate and trcpic zone-what more
could be asked?-what more could be
given? That the whites of the South
have profted by the sharp experience
es Of adversely and are much more
anxious about their material interests
than to gain supremacy in national
politics, is evident even to the most
careless observer. They keenly real
ize 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 out their financial salvation.
Industry, energy, economy, are now
the rule among them, rather than the
exception; and when we see what has
been done in despite of the innumera-
BILE embarrassments flowing from fed
eral interference, We may form some
idea of what will be done when these
embarrassments are entirely and per-
manently removed. The blacks, of
course, are not likely to contribute as
generously to the public welfare at
present, but the final overthrow Of
carpet bagism will stimulate them to
that individual exertion by which
alone they can become a self-support-
ing race; and when they join heartily
with the whites in a common effort for
the common good of alias they even
tually 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 ofpolitical, social,
industrial and commercial recon
struction must necessarily be slow,
and perhaps painful; but it will be
sure, and when consummated, will be
permanent. No one doubts the abil-
ity of the Southern people to make
the most of their remarkably favora-
BILE surroundings, and their DISPOSE
tion 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 baud of robbers,
backed up by the resistless authority
of the federal government, they had
small encouragement to do anything.
Now that 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 Development of her
e~xhaustless resources as Congress
can constltutionally grant. The
first she will have nov that she is free.
The second she ought to have as
soon as it can be extended to her.
For, as we know to our sorrow, what
ever hurts the South hurts the North.
and the growth and prosperity OF
the South must inevitably react upon
the North, and thereby enlarge and
enrich the national life.-EG.