The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-03
THE NEW SOUTH.

The suspicious opening of the Louisville
exposition. as an earnest of the regenerated
South's desire to enter upon an era of new
aims can but be source of pleasure to every
patriotic citizen of the nation. The gener-
Gus and evidently sincere welcome extended
to President Arthur and his cabinet was
more reassuring of fraternal good will than
almost any other episode since the war. For
once at least, the South forgot politics and
gave one day to the glory of labor and in
dustry. Hon. Charles A. Jacob, the mayor
of Louisville, in felicitous and kindly adj
dress of welcome, gave voice to the spirit OF
the occasion, when he declared that the cele-
bration was a united effort for the advance
ment of art and SCIENCE the development of
the natural resources of the South, and
higher and yet nobler, cementing afresh the
ties of brotherly love of all who live in this
broad land. The occasion was indeed one of
universal congratulation. The Louisville
exposition, as II new evidence of the renais-
sance of the South, let US hope, is an augury
of better order of things in that portion of
the nation. The approach to this consum-
nation has been very slow, very laborious.
Innumerable prejudices had to be overcome.
Under the shadow OF slavery mechanical in
dustries had never thrived. 1t was unnat-
ural that they should be encouraged while
manual labor was held to be dishonorable.
With slavery strangled and exterminated,
the new order of things became possibility.
But the results of the war had to be recov-
cred from before the South's crippled en-
ergies could again exert themselves. While
these were gathering strength the prejudices
of slavery died. The people that saw no in
alize new possibilities, and to know that the
South had other resources. From simple
growers of cotton they are beginning to be
manufacturers of cotton fabrics. Factories
are springing up ali over the South, and by
their side, rolling-mills and kindred indus
tries Iron and coal mines are developing,
and the spirit of enterprise and industry is
visible everywhere. To the credit of the
North, be it said, it not
only put down the rebellion,
but saved the South from itself The
South is to-day freer and stronger and prac-
tically richer than ever before. From wealth
in captive human beings it is rich in
whirlng wheels and rumbling factories.
With labor placed on the high plane it right
ly occupies, the future of the South is bright
with promise With the consuming prejudice
of politics placed we'll in the background,
and every intelligent energy bent toward the
development of the South rich resources, its
people will be prosperous and contented and
loyal. The interests of North and South are
one. They have never been otherwise, but
until within the past few years the South
has never been able to see it. With that sec
ton of the country prosperous, labor prop
erly fostered, there need no longer be fear of
rebellion or enlargement. In the same
spirit that the citizens of Louisville, and the
South generally, extended a cordial welcome
to the nations chief executive the North
extends the hand of hearty fellowship. May
all the people South as we'll as North realize
the kinship of all sections of the country, and
the identity of real and commercial and in
dustrial interests. Then will the good will
and enthusiasm shown at Louisville spread
to every town and hamlet and fuse all the
people into one undivided and sincerely
united nation.