Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-12
The South and Immigration.
Nav York UaraId mi

The South and Immigration.
New York Herald. 1911
The South has experienced a new
birth and has entered upon q new life.
A new industrial South is taking the
place Of the old political South. The
country and its people are on the high
road OF industrial activity and bust
ness prosperity. The repellant social
and political prejudices Of the past are,
fast disappearing, and even the Solid
South OF yesterday appears to be.
breaking up. In short, the South is,
daily coming into closer harmony anil
sympathy with the North, and the,
two are fast becoming one. Under
these circumstances will immigrants
continue to stun the Southern State 6
in the future as they have in the pas d?
We think not. Will desirable inn mi.
grants probably seek and find IL the
new South the attractions ard s.dvan-
tages that were wanting in the old
South? We think they will. There
are in the South no n,hural barriers
to shut out immigration. Neither its
climate nor physioS.l geography, nor
soil. nor any lack Of natural resources
is untavorable to immigration. The
question OF imml grafton or no immi-
grafton turns Oh economic and social.
considerations. The main point with
the average immigrant will be whether
he can there find profitable employ
ment and comfortable home.
In the consideration of this subject
the colored labor OF the South is not
to be overlooked. The blacks now
number about six millions there, and
will continue to multiply rapidly.
They are native to the country and
used to its system of labor. But the
field OF profitable employment of the
blacks will always be limited and
never equal to the coming reOaiisz.
ments Of the South. Negroes NAV do
the work in cotton, rice and tobacco
fields and sugar plantations, but the
industries of the South are destined
to grow in magnitude end multiplv in
variety. The South is now buying
agricultural products which it might
better and doubtless will in time raise
itself. The production of wool and
the rearing OF cattle can be extensive
" carried on with advantage. The
South can be made a wine producing
country and an extensive producer Of
tropical fruits. Its valuable woods
and useful minerals are substantial
sources of wealth. Its manufacturing
resources are beyond question. The
progress which it has made in recent
years In the manufacture of cotton
has already attracted the attention
OF the world and new mills are going
up every day. Its advantages for
manufacturing its own chief staple are,
SO great that it can be but a Qnestinnl
OF time when the South shall BECOME
a great center of the cotton industry.
Capital has already begun to flow
literally in that direction, and with
the agricultural and industrial de-
velOpMent Of which the country is
capable must come new demands for
white labor and new opportunities for
the idustrious, thrifty immigrant. We
do not expect to see any considerable.
tide of immigration set in. suddenly
toward the South. The change must
be wrought slowly and gradually. II
is not probable that very many im,ni.
grants will 90 there in the next few
years, although the Atlanta E.xposi-
tlon will exert strong Influence in
favor. OF immigration, by showing to
the immigrant, as we'll as Ia the
capitalist, the great resources Of the
South and the change that has come
over it. But the signs are un mis-
taxable that IN due time worthy i'm
migrants win seek the Southern
states with advantage to themselves
and that part of the country.