The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-17
The West and South.


ests of the west and south Identical
both in politics and in commerce.
The leading interest in both sections
is agriculture, and policy which fos-
tiers agriculture necessarily fosters
both alike. The south has always
been soundly free trade in her senti-
ments, and long before many of the
western states had political organiza-
ton of any kind whatever, the south
was engaged in bitter and determined
struggle against class favoritism at
hehands of the general government
the policy which built up Pennsylva-
MIA and New England, while it de-
stroyed the south and retarded the
development of the west. Hitherto
she has fought without allies. Hith-
erto she has herself fronted fearful
odds alone and without aid or comfort
from others. She has won no victo-
ries IN her struggle, but she has, with
her able and devoted minority kept
back the rapid advance toward cen
traliZation threatened, and she has
forced circumspection which has re-
tarded the march of the column, if
it has not quite rolled it back in
utter route and confusion. Now
the west is coming forward responsive
to the touch of her recent won
derful advancement. She is beginning
to wonder why, with all of her tremen-
duous sum of production, she is still
in debt for her improvements, and
many of her most productive farms
are still under mortgage for the
money which was necessary to open
them. Sheis beginning to understand
that the main cause of this hardness
of reward is found in the heavy con-
tribution she, in common with the
south, pays for the privilege of using
eastern manufactured goods. She is
growing FESTIVE and uneasy, and is
looking about for relief.
The late move to project an air line
road from the city of Denver to Gal
weston or New Orleans, thus seeking
southern outlet for her productions Of
fell, ranch and mfn6 IS an evidence
that this feeling, this desire to escape
the levy Of the east, has grown to be
an uncomfortable passion, and with it
has come the determination to seek
an immediate and practical relief by
going through southern ports direct
to the markets of Europe, both to sell
and to buy. This is no ephemeral
move. 1t is not the result
of a momentary pique, but it is the
Inauguration of broad, deep and wise
policy. 1t is the earnest of close flu
ture alliance of the two sections. first
upon commercial basis the sound
est of all, to be followed by social in
tercourse and that by firm political
alliance which has for its ultimate OBJ
ject the arrangement of tariff or
business policy which will eventually
effectively emancipate the agriculture
of the west from the ruthless domi-
nation of New England, and the iron
princes who, although mere hand
full in numbers, as compared to the
west and south, dominate absolutely,
and give the law to the nation. This
policy, had it been inaugurated soon
enough, had prevented the war, but
coming now it is in time to revolu-
tionize trade and build up CONNER
cial empire the richest and most pros
porous on earth.
When the commercial and So
cial interests of two nations
are 1ndentical their political
policies become and remain
Identical. But when these two inter-
ests belong to people living under
common government and divided only
by the shadow OF dead prejudice the
coalescing will come that much sooner,
and be that much more perfect and
Indissoluble when it is accomplished.
In the light of this wonderful, this al
most staggering possibility it becomes
plain that if the democracy would re-
Jain its ascendency in its own proper
Dailiwick, would give its wise and
policies to this vast nation,
t must put forward men who can see
over the tops of the Aneghenies and
grasp the idea that there is something
Else excellent in this nation besides |
'he mills and FORCES of Pennsylvania
md New England. There is a broader
ind better possibility for our people
han that which is bound up in the
'rejudices of single district, con-
in both numbers and extent,
" in the preferences of sing le class
made rich and great by exacting and
oppressive policies which grind the
aces of the farmers of the west and
he planters of the south.
THE Star Vindieator does THE
proud in its last issue.
t is very sweet, indeed, on u.s."