The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-01-12
THE SOUTH.
Views of Mr.. S. j. Tilden Upon
Her Prospects.
His Letter in Answer to an Invitation to
Attend the Atlanta Cotton
Exposition.
CAtlanta Constitution ]

GENTLEMEN-I have had the honor to
receive your resolutions inviting me to
visit the international Cotton EXpOsi-
tiOn as your guest, and designating
Messrs. Robert Tannahill, John IL. In
man and NJ. Il. Fielding as a special
committee to communicate them to me.
have also had the honor of personal
presentation of a copy of the TesOlu-
tiOns at the hands of those gentlemen,
accompanied by Gov. Colquitt, the
President of the Exposition, and GEN
eTal Gordon.
1t is with much regret that l feel
obliged to deny myself the great pleas
ure rendered me with such distin-
guished courtesy. 1t would delight me
to interchange friendly greetings with
the citizens whom | should expect to
meet in Atlanta, and tO avail myself of
so favorable an opportunity for Obsery-
ing with my own eyes the elements of
industrial growth which promises a fu-
ture of marvellous prosperity to the
Southern States. Above all, | desire to
contribute nv influence, however in
considerable, toward encouraging a
movement to organize investigation
and intelligence concerning subjects of
vast interest, not to the South alone,
but to our whole country and the world.
l may venture to hope that the public
spirit which created and has sustained
this Exposition is not exhausted, but
that the signal success of this first es-
say will induce similar efforts, attract
increasing public attention to them,
and secure for them wider co. operation
and more perfect development.
The last time [ visited those islands,
which were the homes of most of our an
cestOrs, | realize what a benefactiOn it
was that had set i'll these heavens sun
which is generally radiant and some
times blazing. 1t is what climatOlO-
gists call the upward curve in the
hourly and daily tides of heat, which
makes our 450,0OO,OO0 bushels of wheat
sure crop, which ripens our 1,75O,-
100000 bushels of corn, and which en-
ables us to grow 100000 bales of the
best and cheapest cotton.
The invention which separates by ma
chinery the fibre of the cotton from the
seed gave new comfort to every fire
side. Better clothing at less cost was
boon to mankind. The fact that one
half of the present cotton crop is the
product of white labor has diSpelled the
illusion that the Caucasian race had
been excluded by Providence from their
natural share in so important culture,
and assures in the future an ample sup
ply of labor from sources of indefinite
extent. This result derives mOmentOus
importance from the fact that the actual
culture of the cotton is now applied to
less than One-thirtieth part of the lauds
embraced in the cotton belts.
The development of your agricultural
industries will soon be followed by
A mature community,
while it is enlarging the positive vol
ume of its external commerce, increases
the proportion of domestic manufactures
which enter into the local consumption.
The advantages of a superior adapta
tion of climate soil, and other spOnta-
neOus bOunties of nature, and of a geo.
graphical protection to the local indus
tries, founded on the prOductiyeness of
human labor in supplying the wants of
man, and upon the utmost saving in the
cost of transportation between the pro-
ducer and consumer. 1t contrasts with
the unskillful, and often perverted by
selfish greed, which generally have the
effect of diminishing the productive
power of hun an labor, just as # soil
were rendered less fertile, or the climate
less genial by act of Congress, in order
to enable the deluded beneficiary to make
some profit out of enterprises otherwise
unremuneratiYe.
The south is rich in natural capacities
of production, as yet mainly unapprO-
priated. To utilize these capacities is
beneficial process. Its results may come
not so fast or so soon as some may hope,
but predict thatwhen they do come they
will III magnitude transcend the antici-
patiOns of the most sanguine.
Your fellow citizen,
SAMUEL j. TILDEN,
GraystOne, December n, 1881.