New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-25
SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS.

The report Of the condition Of Southern In
dustry which The baltimore Manufacturers
Record published on the Goth justifies the
bopeful conclusions which that journal sub
mits. The South is indeed advancing marvel
lousy in Industrial activity, in wealth, aud In
prosper:t w. and it would seem ungraclous 10
urge that it might gain still more rapidly and
surely, Just where its industrial system Is
weakest, if it would put aside and under foot
altogether that liberation Of violent lawless-
ness, and especially that passive endurance OF
political despotism and organized denial OF
rights, which will be found In the future rs In
the past greater obstacle to the development
of Southern resources than any other that now
exists. III the whole South was in the best ana
broadcast sense law-abiding and law-enforcng,
as some portions are now, there would nowhere
in that fertile and bountifully endowed region
be lack of capital, of enterprise. or OF willing
and competent labor
The South ought to advance more rapidly
than any other part Of the country, because IL
has Jagged 80 far behind and has left such ex-
traordinary opportunities and resources 80
nearly undeveloped. Nowhere else in the lard,
within so short a distance of seaports and other
markets, or so favoraby located for access to
materials or to consumers, can there be found
such rich endowments of nature still unem-
ployed for the National welfare. If there were
men who wanted the South 70 remain forever
pastoral and feudal in character, so that it
might afford footing on this continent Tor
such rulers IA they wished to be. they came
remarkably near succeeding. But so much the
more splendid are the opportunities now
offered to those who wish to put the South IN
line with advancing civilization.
The prospect this year Is in truth most favor
able. though perhaps not in all respects as
bright as some suppose. The cotton crop
seems certain to be the largest ever grown.
but IL is not yet so clear that the worlds de-
mand for cotton goods has expanded in keeping
with the production of the raw material. with
an Administration which makes 1t boast that
it cripples the foreign mail service for the sake
of economy and which does not know itself
how seriously il may have impaired the useful
ness of the consular and diplomatic service by
recent changes, there is at least possibility
that the South will find that there ia no oppor-
tunity 10 market the goods for which II has
grown the material so literally. The develop
ment of iron and coal mines, and of iron and
steel manufacture, Is InOsJ cnCouIhSihS' D"s
there are men at the South already who know
that there would be millions more 10 seek in
vestment and employment in developing the re-
sources of the South, If there were not pros
pect of another struggle about the tariff, with
its inevitably disastrous consequences to Amer
lean producers 1t is quite within the limits OF
possibility, too, that Southern members of Con
gress may vote with considerable unanimity, rs
they have done in times past to continue the
coming Of silver and thus to expose the whole
country to disasters which the South would
feel at least rs much as any other section.
With so many new enterprises just getting
started and rooted, the South stands more IN
need than any other section of stable, solid
and safe monetary system, under winch the
confidence of capital could be completely re-