The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-20
LEFT TO ITSELF"

author of the States rights doctrine, painted
pretty picture of business prospects in the
South, and said: Race feeling is dying out,
and if the South was left to itself there was
no more danger to be feared from it. Cap
ital could then find secure investment" 1t
is because the South has not been 'left to
itself" that better condition of things now
exists in that portion of the country. The
North came to the rescue and saved the
South from itself. Upto the close of the re-
bellion the energies of the South were
crippled by the burden of human slavery,
The wealthy men OF the South depended on
the labor of the negro slaves to maintain
their fortunes. AS for increasing them, there
was little ambition and practically no effort.
Limited thus, labor was not fully utilized to
the advancement of wealth and to the inn
provement of the general condition of the
people. A few were rich, and very many
were wretchedly poor. During the palmiest
days of slavery the total value of the annual
product of the South was $13S, 000,
600. in 1880, with free labor, and
under the impulse largely of Northern cap
ital and enterprise the value of Southern
products rose to $7OOO00,0OO, an increase of
over 400 per cent Neither North nor South
should ask or desire to be cleft to itself" Let
Northern capital add still more to Southern
wealth-the interest will return in the shape
of cheapened products. The renaissance of
the South is not yet complete. The process
is still going OH, and wealth is building up
marvelously fast.
The New Orleans Times-Democrat has
gathered figures from trustworthy sources to
show the increase in wealth and the indus
trial progress made in the Southern States of
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida Georgia, Louis
iaua Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas dur
ing the past four years. In 1879 the assessed
valuation of property in those States for the
purpose of taxation was 81, 2l5, 662, 1913 This
year it is 81, TIC, 498, 798-an increase of 1894,
S36, 668, or over Al per cent. in four years.
During this time the average rate of taxa
ton has decreased from per cent.
to "a per cent This gratifying
increase of wealth is not the result
OF niggardly economy; there have been lib
eral appropriations made for schools, public
Improvements and other useful purposes.
Nor is this marvellous advance in valua-
ton" says the Times Democrat, "the result
of any imitation in value, but the natural
sequence of grand crops, new industries de-
veloped, new manufactures, mines and lum-
ber-milS established"
In the same degree have railroads been ex-
tended In the eight States named in 1879
there were IL ,604 miles of railroad There
are now II, 891 miles, an increase of 6, PSI
nearly SIS per cent. In 1879 the value of
products, including all crops, lumber, cattle
and WOOL was $685. 900, 900. In 1888 it is
$567, 600 000 or an increase of $l69, 100000.
During these four years the mineral output
of Alabama alone has increased from
$4 900, 900 to $40, 900, 0O0-nearly 400 per cent.
and the lumber product of Arkansas has
increased from 81, 100000 to So, 1000 600. The
increase of traffic at New Orleans has been
equally remarkable. During the fiscal year
1SS1-82 the value of domestic produce in
that city was $3.50, 100000. Last year
(18S2-83) it was 5000 000 The value
of exports to foreign countries in the former
year amounted TO $6S 900, 900; in the latter it
reached $50, O0O00 All these figures col
lected by a Democratic paper from official
sources.
The South has awakened from the lethargy
of years. The North lifted away the incubus
of slavery, and made possible the industrial
achievements that have since been accom-
plished. The North does not intend to
"leave the South to itself" The commercial
interests of all sections are too closely allied
to be kept apart. Southern products will
find a market in the North, and those of the
North will be sought in the South. There
are no longer institutions peculiar to any
section; there is no sectional interest that does
not apply to the entire country. The people
are coming closer together and realizing
more than ever the advantages Of national
unity. The prejudice OF the past IS dying
out The Calhouns and Davises-the dis
turbing elements in the government-are
passing away. They are justly losing infu-
ence, and the rising generation will do its
own thinking. With slavery and its friends
out OF TIE way, the commercial interests of
the country are rapidly unifying the nation.
Each portion of the country is wealthy, but
no portion is independent of the Others
The whole nation is indeed independent,
nnd in ,rrnrdnnr If ita institntinns and In