National Republican., 1883-08-15
The New South.

One of the delusons under which the
democratic party is groping is the supposi-
ton that tho solid south will remain con-
Rcaled. Tho political leaders and managers
who imagine that the southern states will en-
thuso and shout for FREQ trade In 15S arc
blind to tho growth of enterprise and thrift
in that section. Before tho Inauguration of
Abraham Lincoln the people south Of Mason
and Dixon's limo were united because Of thoir
peculiar institution. During the years Of his
administration they were unified by
hope Of ACKNOWLEDGMENT and separate
national existence. Since the close Of
the war they have been nursing their
grievances and rcyivifying tho lost
cause. Nothing could be moro natural be-
cause human than the persistent obstinacy Of
their dcmeanor toward the government.
Their intimidatons, murders, assas5inations
have been born Of the mislircctcd thought of
centuries Upon tho scene are coming now
men, new interests, new opinions Ante.
bollum hatrods are slowly but surely fading
away. Cotton is royal, but uncrowned. No
staple can long be king. Independent OF the
unrequited labor of ignorant slaves the men
Of the new south are contralizing thcir cner.
gics and wealth in manufacturing industries.
They are teaching and employing skilled
labor. 1t is n we'll known fact that the New
England manufacturers realize that cOmpeti-
tion in the south is seriously affecting their
business. The end of the American conflict
u sections is being attained by silent forces
more potent than all the engincry of war.
The fields and mines of the south arc no
longer removed from the marts of trade by
distance and negligence. Mills and
factories are springng up in every state
from Maryland TO Texas. The planter and
miner find markets for their products within
easy reach, They no longer pay transporta-
ton to northern mills, and duplicate or double
the cost of return to their homes. They are
becoming a new and wonderful people. The
delivers in earth and ore and the skilled re-
lincrs Of their goods are taking broader views
of the situation as the horizon of theirintelli-
gence is enlarged. County and state lines no
longer hem in their ideas and fetter their
growth. The iron men, cotton men,
rice men, the dealers in sugar, to-
bacco, and cereals are looking to the ma
tional government for protection and foster
ing care. The exceptions to this rule are
they who quarrel ingloriously with the pro-
gressive spirit of the ago. Time, which scat
tors silver upon their heads, would put gold
into their pockets but they refuse it. The
| new generation is gathering the fruits of
honest industry. They look with kcener in
sight into the national constitution and
expect the government ut Washington
to provide for the general wei
fare" by closing our ports against the
influx of those things which would paralyzc
all of our domestic labor and pauperize our
laborers. They are beginning to appreciate
the fact that by regul ating the tariff so as tc
encourage home manufactures tho republican
party is, as it always has been, the best friend
of the south. Those who are most advanced
in thought understand that in its contest
against slavery tho republican party was
subscribing the best interests of the slave
holding states. These opinions are grow
ing, not alone in tho minds of the
race which was personally ben Gifted by the
republican party, but the sentiment is taking
deep root in the minds of what has beer
termed "the dominant race" The whit,
men, not only in Virginia and North Caro-
lima. but throughout the entire south, are
coming to an appreciation of facts as they
exist, regardless of the prejudices and hatred
Of the past. The enemies of the south to
day are tho surviving relics of the lost cause
Time is rapidly thinning their numbers
popular intelligence is benumbing theil
power and influence. The new south i,
growing into republican faith and national
iea.ty