The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-11-18
pEmocRAcYIs THE SOUTH.


| throughout the south, where everything IS
moving along smoothly, money matters
| are easy, and the states seem to be ENJOY
| ing the very greatest tide of success, are a
sufficient indication of the utility oil 'he
democratic rule in the south. Georgia.
Alabama, Louisiana, the Carolinas, ana
even Tennessee now are taking Eont rank,
from financial standpoint, TO say nothing
OF our own state, where our securities are
worth $l.40. The cry has been repeatedly
heard from the north that democratic rule
was running Othe country, and the demo
cratic states were going rapidly to the loss'
On the other hand, as the facts show, there
is no portion of the common
country where prosperity is so
marked and the obligations OF the state
sell so high as in the solid south" These
reflections arise upon aperusal of the tele'
graphic abstract published day before yes
terday, of the inaugural address of the gov
ernor of Alabama. Since the war the one
question in the southern states has been
that of finance. All Of the old members OF
the southern Coniederacy found themselves
after the civil war had ended in terrible
state, financially. Reconstruction govern
ments, where carpet-baggers and ignorant
negroes we're the bosses, absolutely con-
trolled everything, and debts were piled
upon the poor people like Pelion on ossa,
"a
when the democrats regained power, the
southern states were all weighted down
with terrible burden of Indebtedness,
reaching in every instance tar up in the
millions. At once patriotic effort was
made to cut these vast figures down, but
in peculiar way. The slave property, on
which the principal of the debt had been
originally based, had been swept away, the
land was vast ruin aud, as a consequence,
it was soon seen that to pay this big indebt-
edness in full would be an impossibllity.
Negotiations were at once set on foot in
many states for a compromise, and in
Georgia, Alabama AMI Louisiana, not to
mention other states, were en-
inently successful. Justice was with
the compromsers, and history cannot but
record that under The circumstances the
southern people did what they could. In
Virginia and Tennessee the same effort has
been made, but without success, and the
trouble in those commonwealths OF late has
been that the people could or would not
come up with the same unanimity of feel
ing and purpose that characterized the cit
liens of other states. Division has been
encouraged AMI fostered for political pur-
poses, and in those ancient but es-
teemed dominions the opprobious cpl
tibet of 'repudiator" has had to be
borne. Just as with an individ-
ual, however, the people have simply
been attempting to wind up their affairs
upon business principles. They have been
always willing to do what they can, but
further than that is impossible. Notwith-
standing, therefore, the denuncation OF
the northern press and the charge that the
rule of democracy is everywhere ruin and
the slur of "repudiation" cast upon the
south, our states to-day present the best
| financial status of any members of the
Union, and yet for twelve years democracy
has been supreme in these states. To rccuI
to our previous statement about AlabamG
which has just sent up straight demo
cratic delegation to congress, the message
| % 10 ahnwa n atata N affair,
hardly to be found in the republican states
There is, as will be seen from the message
a surplus in the treasury and the property
of the state has increased in assessabl,
value at least % per cent. in the last year
A surplus exists in Georgia, and our T"xa
surplus all know of, The financial Condi
ton, in short of the southern states, is IL
the healthiest fix and peace and prospert.
in all departments are witnessed. lndoe,
liz is doubtful il to-day there is
happier or more prosperous section il
the world than the south. The inference
extremely easy. Democratic rule has don
for the masses all that could have bee
wished. The reycrscs consequent upon tn
rebellion have been rectifcd; the debt
that corruption piled, mountain high, upo
the southern people just after the war, hay
been compromised, cut down, settled; VA
ues have increased and tax
ton been reduced, and the cour
try has grown with startin
y rapidity--all under democratic rule. Tn
. is the result which democracy presents
! the south. Tho record is good one, il
deed; and as it stands out boldly, 9th,
i portions OF the Union may rest free iroi
apprehensions OF evil from the trust whc
e the people little over a week ago reposc
: in the democracy
u ~ --at =-----
\ Gouid's Narrow Escape.