Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-12
THE SOUTH'S
Unparalleled Prosperity Through Her
own Pluek and Enerxy-RelIey's
Hid FOR Southern support.

The Hon, William d. Kelley, Republican
congressman from Pennsylvania thus spoke
TO the New York Tariff Convention Of the
South:
In conclusion let me appeal to you to urge
the earliest possible repeal OF these taxes as
an act of justice savorisg of maguanimity 10
the South. Their enforcement is con-
siantly-recurring reminder of events OF which,
In the interest OF our common country, we
should be glad to obliterate every painful
memorial. The war did not close until the
Southern people had parted with every spe-
cies OF their property but their fenceless
fields and dilapidated buildings. A less
heroic people looking to the necessities of
The future would have demanded of lis lead
ers an earlier surrender; or finding them
selves 80 h-lrlasslY Impoverished, so wanting
In the means Tor orgAEi-;-e the few ipdns.
tries with which they were familiar, LII
have abandoned themselves to sullen de-
SPAR. Their entire labor system had
been overthrown; their farms were
raj implements, or working or productive
stock; they had no continuous system of
transportation connecting the interior OF
their States with the seaboard or with the
capital or the leading cities of the Confed-
eracy. The hopelessness OF their condition
cannot be exaggerated; yet they did not
despair. Having believed supremely in the
cause for which they had made such sacri-
ficer, they could not recognize their COZ
querors as friends, and appeal to them for
sympathy or aid. They had not honored
labor but committed it to slaves, and had
even con6ded their few commercial opera
tions to factors and agents. 1t took ceutu-
ries to bring couciliation and common pros
perity to the contending factions OF Britain
between whom there were no distinctions of
race, and IT would have taken many genera
tions TO reconcile the South had her people
not accepted the hard conditions their rash
ness had involved, and determined 10 con-
quer them by their own energy. 1t is not
seventeen years since the war closed, yet the
impoverished people OF the South prepared
an exhibition of the resources of their coun-
try which illustrated Southern energy, enter
pris. and industry, thus marking the man.
The Southern people are not only eDgag-
ing in familiar industries, but are creating
new ones. Cotton oil and oil cake are novel
items In our list of exports; and the Gulf
States, while producing ju,e, which has been
pronounced by English and Scotch experts 10
be equal 10 the best Indian jute, promises to
add ramie for the further diversifcation of
the productions of the spindle and loom.
1t was the boast OF the South that she was
purely agricultural, and she enthroned as
king her leading staple. Yet her agricuItu-
raj methods have been revolutioniz ID A
the ante.war traveller cav only cotton, corn,
or great stretches OF exhausted land waiting
in fallow natures slow and imperfect recu-
peratiou. Fertilizers and improved imple-
ments have invigorated the arm Of labor In
a recent issue of his paper the editor of the
Atlanta Constitution said:
1t is easy, with the aid of fertilizers to so force
the plant that 1t will flower, boil, and mature in
the proper season. and produce its crop. SO great
is the advance made in the manufacture OF fer
soil the exact elements that it lacks. just ply
stefan will doctor sick person. Already the use
pushing the acreage North and West.
AS Southern man unwilling 10 see tex
tile factories established in this country,
John Randolph said he never saw a sheep
without wishing 10 kick it; but now sheep
hush ,ndry is pursued in Texas and other
Southern States as passion, and on a scale
unknown to the people of any Northern
State. The water-power which flows through
cotton fields is creating prosperous manu-
featuring villages, and yarn and fabrics en-
bodying Southern labor constitute an i'm
portant element in our domestic and inter-
national trade.
But not to the manufacture of fbers alone
has Southern enterprise and energy been
directed. The extent and variety of her
mineral resources can hardly be exaggerated
these are being explored, and, as rapidly SIS
work and wages TO freed slave and poor
white in the construction and operation of
industrial establishments. The new South
has her zinc fac cries, her copper works, her
kaolin pits and porcelain factories. To
name Lynchburg, Chattanooga and Birming-
ham is TO suggest her progress in the CONVEX
sion of her fuel, limestone and ore into iron
and steel.
The diversified industries of the South,
however, are in their infancy. The capital
they create is each year applied to their ex-
tension, but more than can be thus produced
is required for their rapid development.
They need the fostering care of the govern
ment, and in no way can this be bestowed more
accepiably than by the immediate repeal of
our internal taxes. Most of the Southern
States are heavily burdened with debt
Should the government, in view of our over
flowing treasury, remit to these States all
the ordinary sources of taxation, it would
inspire the people with new measure oil
confidence in the North, and with faith in
their own ability to pay their outstanding
oblig stions. The fact that they need what
revenue may be justly derived from these
sources, and that the nation does not need
what ii COLLECTS, is frequently referred to by
Souihtrn representatives in justification oi
the prevalent belief that these unnecessary
taxes, imposed for conquest, are retained In
spirit of vindictiveness.