The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-04-10
AroLirIcAL PHHNIN.


foes, Just eighteen years since she presente'
almost as complete ruin as was eve
chronicled in history. The scant and scat
tered fragments OF LEES army at that tim
represented fifty the scant and tattertd
south, land in ashes, with its sons slain
by the hundred thousand, four millions o
slaves turned loose upon it, poverty ant
want everywhere, the fields bleak and bar
rem, the means and appliances OF has
tandry gone, the workshops closed and III
hearts of the people heavy with sorrow ah1
gloom. II was at that time an open art
doubtful aues ion if prosperity would eve
a gain visit us, and none were so hopeful a
10 imagine that the south would ever agar
resume its old-time prominence anC
weight in the administration OF the gov
eminent of the United States. How grea'
has been the change What reiuvent
ton, reyivilication in less than two de
c,des 1t is the proud boast OF those liv'
ing now south of the old MASON and Dixon
line that they can point to the most pros
porous section OF country in the world, and
the one most inviting as promising field
for settlement and Investment TO both the
capitalist and the man of small means, the
professional man, the manufacturer, the
agriculturist aud the mechanic. What was
war-stricken section and almost barren
eighteen years ago only, is now land OF
plenty aud peace and prosperity, forging
rapidly ahead of all Other sections in the
industrial and commercial spheres, and
gaining population and political power with
an unprecedented speed. However
much the enemies Of the south may ira
ducc her, the fact can be easily established
to any unprecedented mind that nowhere in
the Union to-day is there more Conscicu-
tious enforcement OF the laws or higher
regard for human life and human rights
than in the south Freedom Of thought
and speech are accorded to everyone ms
cheeriully and generously as can be wit
messed anywhere else in the world, ana
both politically and religiously, every man
IL Tree w uihhC MS oNh ooi',eiVh' 80" "''
from his own convictions. Commercially,
there is activity and rapid growth and OK
pansion throughout the entire section.
Railroads have, within few years past
been built with startling rapidity, aud man
ufactures on n comprehensive scale have
sprung up everywhere. The credit and
stability Of our business mon are as good
as found in the Union, and The man u
Judged by his individual worth and
upon his own merits. Indeed, the
south has again become giant, politically
and commercially, and is rapidly regainne
that preponderating influence in tho I'D
ministration of affairs that was hers before
the late civil war. She Is, in word now, u
political Phmnix, which has arisen strong
and beautiful, from the rum and ashes to
which the results of the rebellion reduced
her 1t has been u hard struggle to reach
again tho prosperity of her former times, u
harder-lought battle than that against the
north for supremacy in the field of Mars,
but the victory has been gained against
frightiu odds, and we are now rejoicing in
its first fruits. The contrast between the
south of 1883 and the south of 1865 Is
enough TO astonish even the most hopeful
of her sons and strongest believers
in her power to regain her
old standing, who prophesed for
her after and Immediately succeeding the
dark days of the period OF the surrender at
Appomattox. In the face of poverty, poit-
ical Acknowledgement, carpet-bag rule, and
the thousand attendant evils, the same
pluck and energy, the same enthusiasm
and intelligence that enabled the .miserably
fed and clad, and equipped little armies Of
the south to stand up against and win
glory and brilliant success on many q little
field in contest with the millions of the
north, outnumboring their foes ten to one,
and provided as if Tor II holiday encamp-
ment, has rebuilt the splendid ediIce Of
southern prosperity and greatness in tho
conflict with the innumerable obtacles that
the war left in their pathway. The con-
trast between the South OF April 9th, 1865,
and the south OF April 9th, 1888, is stand.
ing and wonderful tribute to the pluck
the intelligence, the grand moral
and physical courage and the energy of Il Q
southern people. 1t is pleasing rotrosr, ct
that the southerner has when he looks back
over the last eighteen years of his section g
history. While the north.s remembcri &
and celebrating its victories of war at this
time, the south can look back to that dark
period in her history from the present
prominent and bright outlook and reflect
with pride that her own recent history fur.
nishes another admirable illustration OF
the truth OF tho expression that peace
hath its victories no less renowned than
war;" In our present greatness aud rap.
idly growing prosperity, we can look back
without anger and with u Modified SORROW
to the dark days at Appomattox court.
house in 1865.
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