The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-07
The New South.

projects in the South, have an important
meaning. The South is, virtually, an I'M
occupied field so far as internal improve
ments and industrial enterprises are con-
cerned. Before the war, the system OF la
Dor prevailing was better adapted to plant
ing and agriculture than to manufacturing
and the staple products of the field, con-
fined to the hands of few, were concen-
trated at given centres OF trade, and
shipped in bulk. Free labor had no induce
ment to venture into sections where slave
labor was abundant, and met the wants OF
the ruling class. There was no occupation
for it, but a social repulsion, which revolted
the self-respect and manhood Of skilled la
Dor. No vast schemes and railroad enter
prises were encouraged or demanded. The
fixed products of the South limited indus
trial endeavors, and consequently the local
development essential to the profitable OPP
Grafton of railways, was not stimulated
The revolution through which the country
has passed, radically changed the methods
and relations of the South, and while We
ever before, their benefits are more :gener-
ally dffused, and the industries more diver
sified Comparatively little attention was
given to the enormous wealth represented
in the mineral formations of the Southern
States. The gold, iron and coal mines were
not approached with skilled labor and sci
entitic knowledge. The slow and Ignorant
methods of manual labor pervaded every
thing, and material advantages and endow-
ments allowed to rest unutilized. All these
things have changed. Vast plantations are
farmed in smaller areas !; the proprietary
possessions have been many times multi
piled; the centres of trade shorn of their
monopoly and smaller trading points cstab-
lished attention is being drawn to mining
and manufacturing and as consequence
of all this, new lines of railroads projected,
old ones improved and enlarged and new
systematic combinations and consultations
being effected. In this we find the date OF
a new South-new methods, new aims, and
a new destiny. Capital and experience are
coming to the rescue. Material develop
ment and railroad qualifications, COW
ering and penetrating, and bringing
to the light the varied resources and Won
derful wealth of the Southern sections
The Goulds, the SCOTS, the CARROTS,
the HUI ntingtons, are venturing out to
grasp the rich fruitage of this new birth;
to stimulate by contact the sleeping ener-
ges of our own people, and at the same
time open the way for the ingress OF
fresh and vigorous element to strengthen
the forces which are to win the victories OF
peace, that will bring greater renown
than the achievements of war, A great ma
terial, and by reason of this, great po.iti-
cal revolution awaits the South. Railroads
and the industrial enterprises they beget,
are great reformers and transformers. They
promulgate progressive ideas, and these
brush away the fossilized notions of effete
and obsolete systems and usages. These
railroad invasions are American propagan-
dists. They develop resources, create
trade, open the channels Of commerce. link
the interests of the sections together, break
down and destroy prejudices, intensity and
spread intelligence, and revolutionize the
methods, the thoughts and endeavors Of
communities. Railroads reflect the states
manship of the country. They are the
great civilizers of the age, SCATTERING the
idols of ignorance, charging the intellec-
tions and elevating pursuits. Every rail
that is laid, every engine that steams along
its pathway, every furnace that sends out
its flame and fire, every factory that huns
with the instruments of industry, is but
the evangel of the principles OF the Repub-
lican party, and the death knell OF Democ-
racy. While Lamar, Hampton, Hill and
Brown are preaching the constipated doc
trines and policies of the Bourbon Democ-
racy in the United States Senate, Gould and
Scott and Huntington and Garrett are en-
filading their strongholds, sweeping away
the distractions to Southern prosperity
and progress, building up new South to
be directed and controlled by new inspira-
lions and ambitions, and weaving the
winding sheet of modern Democracy. 1t
cannot stand before the intelligent enter
prise and progressive spirit of the age, and
must give way before the advancing strides
of the material forces which are soon to
batter at its entertainments.
The Dispatch proposes Democratic coali-
ton with Senator Blaine. Coming from
the Dispatch, it would be bad movement
for Blaine, for the momentthe ends desired
were accomplished to Democratic liking,
bad faith would follow, as usual, and Blaine
be denounced as traitor. We have very
kind feeling for the brilliant Secretary OF
State, and hope to live to do some good