National Republican., 1880-11-29
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covered that the south is not prosperous
and is annually falling behind in material
wealth-thNt is, if we understand Alright,
she is not producing any more than she
consumes. if so much, and is eating herself
up. We arc not familiar with the statistics
which show this, nor do we know that they
are reliable to that degree which iustifles
the conclusions of the eminent Georgian,
but there Is u strong presumption in favor
of his statement, founded on his we'll
known habit of careful investigation and
his standing rs II statesman and publicist,
Oh the fact that many careful observers
who have travelled much report so many
evidences OF exhaustion and decay in that
region, and on our own knowledge of the
nature aud effects Of the social and indus
trial system that has prevailed in the south
for 50 many years.
The subject is one of very grave impor-
tance to the whole country north and south
and should receive immediate and careful
attention from the press and statesmen OF
all parties. We want no Irelands among
our numerous family Of states, and if there
is a condition of things in any section lead
ing directly to exhaustion and poverty of
states and communities the causes and
remedy furnish a theme for the most pro-
found wisdom and the most thorough
study No past politics, no former division
of parties, no question Of federal relations
or state rights or Interpretation of the con-
81, %, l.,
allowed TO interfere and divert attention
from n fact of such immense significance
and such appalling consequences MS this
enc, if it be truly fact.
The power Of large community to MAIN
tain itself should in this day of productive
agencies be unquestioned, and the south,
which proved its fertility Of resource and
its tremendous vitality in the great strug-
gle for independent nationality, surely has,
with its natural advantages Of soil, climate,
mines, rivers, forests and immense cotton
fields, rs many elements of prosperity as
any part of the United States and any gem
eral poverty must be due to something out
side Of q deficiency Of natural resources OF
material wealth. Clearly the trouble arises
from the inability to utilize natural re-
sources, and the reason of this inability is
the thing to be discovered.
1t has been the fashion to attribute this
to hostile legislation and to assume that
the south has been made poor by being
taxed to the point of starvation 10y Tn,
government for the benefit Of northern
manufactures. This does not meet the
case, because when the tariff was instituted
there was no such thing as manufacturing
at the north, and the way was as clearly
and freely open to the south to enter into q
favored branch Of industry rs the north
The tariff was passed by the south and
middle states against the protest Of New
England and was claimed as q national
measure. II it ever became sectional
which we do not admit, ii was simply be-
cause the north accepted and took advan
tage of its benefits, and the south neglected
to do either But the south has been dis
eliminated against no more. than the west
and there is no claim of inability to main
tain itself on the part of the west, and it
prosperity is as well assured as that of New
England, and better assured, even. So tht
plea of hostile legislation cannot stand.
More than thirty years ago Mr.. WHLIAS
GREGG, an eminent essayist Of Charles
ton, S. c., and a gentleman in no way af
hliated with 0boitionisls or fanatics, dis
covered the cause of the difficulty, ani
writing in the interest Of his native south
said "Aly recent visit to the northern
states has fully satisfied me that the tru,
secret Of our difficulties lies in the want o
energy on the part of our capitalists ant
ignorance and laziuess on the part Of thos,
who ought to laborn This is roughly put
and might be offensive coming from any
but Il soulheuer We viii not apply i
oflcusiyoly, but must affirm our belief tha
the statement accounts for much Of tht
trouble. The south raises hides, bark, OF
aud everything that goes TO the making 0
leather and boots and shoes; and there Ur,
plenty Of men with nothing TO do, but still
she buys boots and shoes at the north
Here is % direct daily need supplied by
outsiders not because the tariff has pre-
vented the south from making leather and
shoes, but because the south has not had
the energy to educate her own people in
this most essential art Ofciyiliaalion. There
is both the necessary energy and the skill
lacking. and as q consequence the power o.
production so far as this goes has been
lost to the south, and to the extent Of tho
loss sho has suffered. In other words, Sc
much labor has not been utilized, and TIA,
men who should have been telling tree
aud peeling bark aud tanning hides ant
ppggng boots have done nothing but grow
at the imposition ofuuiust laws upon then
by thenorth, and the products of labor hav,
not counted. And what is true of boot
and shoes Is also true Of nearly all olhe
manufactured articles-they are made else
where, and the labor and the material
largely are lost to the south, Her peopl,
consume and do not produce. 1t is the OLD
topic of diversity Of employment offer
stated and reiterated in these columns
Tho recent statement of Mr. STEPHENS is sc
direct to the point that We cannot refrain
from improving the chance it invites 10 Q