Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-08-07
The South.
I haogss that Have Come md Changes
that are Coming.

shnt are tOmtnS.
Industrial South.
Between the South of twenty five
years ago aud the South of to day
there ARE contrasts, in almost every
point Of view. that are not only
: striking but startling. Some of
these contrasts are suggestive of sad
remembrnnces aud reflections; others
Of them are full Of inspiriting hol O..
confidence, and courage for every
southern man who has any knowl.
edge of ;he resources and opportuni-
ties OF his section.
For the man Of middle age who
was young when the war came, it is
melancholy to look back upon the
prosperity and happiness, the ease
and luxury of the olden, golden
days. But even TO him, if he be a
man OF brave and buoyant spirit, it
has become encouragingly clear that
while the war brought with it indie.
scribable losses, sufferings and sor-
rows, il brought also q great revolu-
ton filled with revelations in all the
directions of industrial progress
which are proving to be invaluable
blessings to our people. And with
the young man OF the South, with
him who has become a man since the
close OF tho unfortunate contest in
arms between tho two sections, it is
a matter Of curious reflection that so
noble people with SO grand coun-
try around them should 80 long have
been lettering as laggards on the
roads OF progress when it is now
shown that they have, and always
have had, every requisite of soil, Of
climate. Of geographical eligibilities,
OF everything in fact. for G material
wealth aud strength which no region
OF tho world has ever excelled. And
It 10 this middle-aged man, with bis
wisdom evolved from experience,
snd this young man with his intelli-
gent appreciation and comprehen-
siop OF southern resources and op-
portunities, who are the pillars of
strength on which the South in her
rsnascent health and vigor may con-
fdently rest her hopes. her expecta.
tions. her energies, and her pur-
poses. 10 rise to o higher height of
prosperity for all her people than
was ever known in her brightest days
Of the oIdsn time by the fortunate
few who were blessed with the great
est afiluencc and the best advantages.
There is no moro dearth OF capaci-
ties In the men of the South than
there ID Of capabilities in the mater.
ial rssoufces OF the South. In old
slavery days our people were not
enterprising and progressive, be-
cause the masters were themselves
snslaved by their own institution of
slavery. Their intelligence was en-
shaved. in being diverted by luxury
from vigorous methods in practical
affairs. Their energies were en-
shaved. in being permitted to rest
and rus. for the want Of necessity to
keep them active. Their aspirations
wsro enslaved, in being directed to
political honors and the pride Of hos.
pitality. instead oi the robust affairs
Mai bring ont all the vital powers Of
. people aud build up country on
the broad basis of its own industries
intslligently applied. All this is
gone now. The master and the slave
were both made free twenty years
ago. New ideas. new methods, new
directions Of thought, new stand
points Of observation, have all come
along logically in the current of re-
suits flowing from the grest politi-
cal, social, and industrial upheaval
by which tho South was shaken and
shocked 10 her very soul and center.
Aud with these new thoughts and
new methods, opsratively improving
asd snlareing, . new future is every
day unfolding 10 us.
In the South the changes that have
come are great. but the changes that
are coming are still greater. The
institution Of slavery, existing for
more than two hundred years, had
become interwovsn with every fibre
Of southern trade. with every senti-
mcnt Of southern education, with
every association Of southern thought
and feeling. 1t WAS an enervating
institution. II was An institution that
made men unenterprising. 1t was
an institution that rspressed inven-
tive genius and discouraged all ad-
vancement in the mechanic arts. It
was nightmare, disturbing all
dreams Of that aggressive ambition
which moves men of adventurous
spirit TO The great pioneer work that
widsns the footpath Of one genera.
tion into the great highway Of prog.
rsss for another. 1t was the high,
broad, thick wall that kept the
southern States from seeing out into
tAs world asd The wosld at ths same
ltims iromr seeing into The southern
J States. Il was the one thing that