Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-11

To the Editor of the World: S1R-Your
paper of to-day contains statement which l
ask leave to deny. In your criticism on Henry
l.. Nelson's article in the International ReUieiC
you say substantially that the industrial ben
et1ts to the South Of the Atlanta Exposition
were made possible not by Mr.. Malone and
Mr.. Speer but in spite of them.
Now, for myself, l do not choose to rest
under the imputed crime of Obstructing the
industrial progress Of the South. There is no.
| thing in the brief record of my public life
which in any sense will justify this imputation
1t is true, as I have heretofore said that owe
no allegiance to party which controls my opin-
ION OF the proprlety OF public measures. am
not elected by the organization of partV and
therefore am not in any sense obliged to obey
the dictates of its caucus. 1t is not logical
however, to conclude for this reason that |
have impeded the industrial progress of the
South.
Indeed, it would be a most gratifying exposi-
tiOn-in truth, revelation to many who love
the South-f your able and discerning journal
would disclose wherein the caucus has sup
gested any economic legislation which will
tend to the industrial development of that sec
ton.
Now cannot, Of course, assume that the
editor of the World who determines the indus
trial questions Of the day has ever permitted
his mind to hover for a moment over any ut
terance of tyrO in the work OF economic leg
islation, but in view of the serious charge
allow me to call attention to the record In
the last Congress while the Cotton Exposition
was in contemplation I took occasion to say:
In the manufacture in the South Of cot
! ton goods the best investment for
Southern capital is found. By nature
every condition is afforded to Tnale
this great industry profitable. Cur snowy
Southern staple, OF which We have the mo-
nopoly. will flourish and produce at the very
door OF the factory. Plentifully supplied with
water: the motive power Of our factories is
Iurnlshed by nature When the streams of
your Northern rivers are frozen from bank TO
oank ana the wheels of the factories are
clogged with ice, under the influence Of our
genial climate the work of the Southern cotton
mill goes on unimpeded. And, sir, by some
subtle law of nature the cotton is spun and
woven with more facility in that climate
which is its habitat In freights, in transporta-
ton, IN labor, in climate, in everything the
Southern manufacturer has the advantage of
all others. These are no conjectures; they
are facts. They are proven by the prices Of
factory stocks in the Southern States
There are few cargoes which are freighted
fro II the ports Of our country which possess
the merchantable value Ct ship load Of com
pressed cotton bales, a ship load Of wheat
or OF bacon, or of iron are not worth so much
But, sir, II you would have forever the balance
OF trade IN favor of our country help us to
manufacture in the South the cotton crop that
is gathered in the South. Sir, in that waV EN-
ployment will be given to our citizens The
wages that are paid to the srtisans of Man
chester and the cotton manufacturing world
Will go TO the working people Of our own
country. The profits Of manufacturing the
cotton Will enhance the individual and national
upthe exports and strike the balance Of trade
you will find that ship load of manufactured
cotton goods is worth far more than a shin
load of compressed cotton"
So far from obstructing in any form the in
dustrial developments OF the South / have
endeavored to so Use the representative no.
sition hold as to advertise its great natural
resources and to direct the attention of cani.
talists to the inviting opportunities for invest
ment therein. In an article in the American
OF March 10 Iventured to say: There is one
fact which, with the diversified industres wise
legislation VIII give US, will make rs rich and
that Is that no country on earth can comnate
with our favored latitp1e in the growth OF cot
ton. Ii, however, the benefits OF our produc.
lon shs.i go to enrich the manufacturing CEN
Sres of Europe end the world the South will
be like that improvident farmer who impover-
ishes ais land by luxuriant crops that drains
the soil and restores nothing to preserve its
fertility. But il the wages Of the laborer, the
frohts or the manufacturer and the increased
value OF the material IN cotton manufacturing
can be added to our incomes, the day is not far
distant when the condition OF our Southern
States will be a subject of national congratu-
lation wherever the flag floats and Of admira-
tlon to the rest Of the world
Allow me to say that so far from it being
true thai the results Of the EXP osition have
been in spite OF Mr. Speer. TO quote your
language the able and patriotic men who de-
signed and organized the exhibit of Southern
industrial enterprise elected me as one of the
Vice Presidents Of the Exposition itself It is
well informed and knew whether my ''rhetor-
ic" had been a "hindrance" to the cause in
which they were engaged. Nor has my general
conduct in Congress tended to retard the pros
perity OF the Southern States. have been
conservative, as understand conservatism !
knew that the people whom represented, in |
spite OF all that had been said to the contrary,
we're devoted q use the word advisedly) TO the |
Union under the Constitution, and IL
a different impression OF their eenti- |
ments existed in the minds Of the
Northern people It was erroneous, I
knew, too. that logically 8 representative
was thought to express the opinions of his
constituents, and knew that could do the
people who sent me here no greater service
than to remove If it were possible, any dis