Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-10
THE SOUTH's OPPORTUNITY.
Objects and scope OF the InternatiOn-
al Cotton ExpOsitiOn-A New Era
of Progress and Prosperity About
10 open.
Nashvflle American.

Nashville american.
MARIETTA, Ca, June 4.-The Interna-
tional Cotton Exposition, to commence on
the 9th Of October, 1881, at Atlanta, Ca,
was the result of an interview between the
business men Of the North and the South,
and Is meant as a great national fair. At
lanta, because of its central location, and
its facilities of approach and accommoda-
tions for visitors, was selected as the most
fitting point for this fair, or exposition.
There was nothing selfish in the choice. as
is spparent from the readiness OF the cities
of the North In their liberal subscriptions Of
money In Its aid. Nor was it intended sole
ly for the benefit of the cotton interests, but
as cotton Is the great industrial interest of
the South, 1t was deemed proper that 1t
should have the name of that great staple.
To the acute perceptions of the business
men of the North, its Immense agency In
promoting the interests OF all sections and
all interests was palpable, and they entered
with alacritY into the scheme. These men
are ambitious to promote the general well
fare, they are men of liberal views and en-
larged patriotism, and see clearly that the
interests of the South are the interests of
the nation, and desiring, as much as IN their
power, to aid the South In building up of
her broken fortunes, not only consented,
but desired that this Exposition should
be located IN the heart of the South,
and considering all its advantages for
such aa enterprise, selected Atlanta.
There was another motive; here could,
and probably would be assembled the great
est number Of the business men and plant
ers of the South, and through this means
the benefits to be derived to the South
would be more extensively disseminated,
which was so much desired. It would most
likely bring into closer communication the
North, West and South, where and when
might be discussed the great practical In
terests OF all sections, and their people be-
come better known to each other: where,
too, In their exhibits, might be seen the re-
suits of the experience OF every section in
the machinery, implements, and manufac-
lures Of each.
In thus organizing this Exposition It was
the desire of every one to benefit the South,
and by enlarging the intercourse between the
people of all the sections. Every Southern
man will admit that the great interest of
the South is the production of cotton, and
that interest is greatly periled by the pre-
sent system OF its production. Whoever has
read that mastery address of President
Morehead before the National Cotton Plan
ters' Association, at Memphis, will at once
recognize their peril. He demonstrates that
as we increase the quantity we reduce price,
and, of consequence, the per cent. upon
the capital invested in its production, and
shows that crop of 5000, 900 bales would
so reduce the prices that 1t would not, pay
l per cent. upon the capital. Such q state
of affairs would confine the South to per-
petual poverty. 1t must be abandoned or
else the Southern planter, as now constitu-
ted, must surrender his country aud home
to a superior intelligence, which will go
manage this mine of wealth as to make 1t
all that it can be made. A higher and more
economical intelligence must lay hold upon
1t and develop its wonderful capacitiee.
Cannot those now engaged in this indus
trial pursuit be taught that this is the OBJ
ject mainly of this international exhibition
of the appliances Of agriculture and the
arts.
When the higher intelligence Of the coun-
try are In council with the specimens of
every industry before them, will there not
be eliminated such truths as shall enlighten
and lead to the adoption of such means as
will greatly change the present ruinous
system of agriculture to the South? The
great mass of the Southern people are agri-
culturists; 1t is her great interest, and intel
ligently directed is destined to make her
people the most prosperous and most pow
erful OF the nation. 1t is especially In her
interest that the International Exposition
was conceived, and she is kindly invited to
give all the aid she can In making this
great effort in her cause a success, and
from which shall be dated the commence
ment of a new era in her history.
New industries are beginning to claim
the attention Of the enterprising men of
the South. To develop these, capital is re-
quired--the North has this In abundance.
1t only needs to be shown that Its invest
ment In Southern industries will be more
profitable than In those of the North, and
that 1t will be safe to induce It's rapid in
fux. The profits from the manufacture of
cotton goods are known to be greater here
than in any other section, AID 1t Is being
stimulated to active growth. The accu-
mulatiDg capital of the North is finding its
way in this direction, and in the building of
new railroads. Every section of the
South is being pierced with these, where
there is promise of employment for them
of such a character as will ultimately make
the investment pay. The vast resources of
the South in mineral wealth only need to
be known to be appreciated and developed.
The States OF Georgia, Alabama, South and
North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, ,Tennes-
see and Texas are all rich in iron, copper,
zinc and gold, abounding in the finest timber
for all the purposes of mans use. Here is the
finest water power in the Union, to be utilized
at the least expense. The climate is pro-
pitious and healthful, and every inducement
exists to invite population and capital.
This is only to be known to secure this, aud
to this end no means are so effectual as
those which will prompt investigation. It
is believed this great Southern fair, or ex-
position, will do this, because there will be
on exhibition specimens of all these min.
erals and woods of the country to demon.
strate their existence here Ia the greatest
abundance.
The time is especially propitious. There
G Nf Tbn nj
mosities created by the war are fast passing
away. Every one is beginning to feel that
the whole country is theirs, and that the
interest OF one Is the interest of all, and
that every person and every interest is
equally protected everywhere. Money is
abundant, begging for employment, and
enterprise is seeking for this. l. is the OBJ
iect of the international Cotton Exposition
to promote this, by bringing together those
wfo will impartially appreciate these
great advantages of the luth, and who
will lay hold upon and develop them.
No section is so much interested in this
enterprise as the South; her need Ia divis-
ion of pursuits, that all may equally pros
per and no one be overdone, and OF conse-
quence ruined. She wants the development
of her resources to augment her wealth and
population, to create capital and to keep
and to employ 1t here, not only to save the
millions employed, but to employ their
earnings here as part of her wealth. The
statistics Of the country show that whilst
the cotton planter aceumulates from
the growth of cotton ten dollars, the
manufacturers accumulate fifty, and In this
the South is but the vassal of the manufao-
turers in Europe and New Eogland, The
millions of iron and steel imported into the
South is but drain upon her industries, as
she possesses within her own borders all OF
this, and its elaboration by her own people
would, Of itself, save to her every dollar
which goes to pay for these imported ma
terials. We ask our people 20 arouse to
the exertion which shsll accomplish this.
Heed no longer the croakers' croaking
arise to action, and forget the past. Come
TO the Exposition, and believe that 1t is
what it processes to be, and that it Will re-
suit in great good to the South. It only
needs concert Of thought and unity of ac-
tion to build up rapidly our waste places
and to make the South even mere the gar
den OF the nation than she ever was. Let
every energy be put forward in this effort,