The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1886-01-30
Opportunities at the South.
New York Star.

Opportunities at the South.
New York Star.
Recent articles in The Star calling
attention to the vast agricultural re-
sources of the South have, we are
gratified to observe, attracted wide.
spread attention. Those articles
were prepared in no spirit of reck.
less exaggeration. They gave only
faithful pictures and carefully accur-
ate statements. The South offers,
as we have shown, the most inviting
field for northern industry, thrift
and skill. 1t is a field as yet unex,
| plored, but one OF whose riches we
a,e abuLda'hly apprizcd aud cuu
speak with authority.
The South is still paying the pen.
atty Of the folly of.a generation now
passed away. The spirit thai,
brought about the rebellion a quar-
ter of a century ago no longer gov
erns in southern politics. 1t is more
completely dead than the Ptolemies
themselves, for it has not been even
embalmed. We assert, without fear
Of contradiction from any reputable
southern source, that if the question
of restoring slavery were put to the
vote to-day among the white men Of
the seeding States, it would be de.
fea'ed oyerwhelmingly-.it would
not receive one ballot in 6fly. We
assert further, that if proposal for
dismembering the Union were simi
ilarly tested, it would be even more
signally rcpudiated. No fair-minded
man who has visited that section
aud made an intelligent effort to as.
certain the truth will withhold his
cordial Endorsement of these asser-
tons. Such men know as we'll as
we do that the Union has no stan.
cher champions than the Southern
States. They know that no more
unjust punishment was ever visited
on locality or people than the
avoidance and suspicion of which
the South is now the victim.
We see tina, our apprehensions as
to the New Orleans Exposition have
been fulfilled. That admirable en-
terprisc has proved a financial taiI.
ure and is now in extremis. The
display was imposing and instruc-
tive beyond description. The anxi.
ETY. OF tie people to turn it to legiti-
mate account was intense. The ex.
position, however, was too faithful a
microcosm of the section. 1t was a
bewilder'ng presentation of splendid
resources aud magnificent attractions.
without the material Or The appli
ances of realization. 1t. reproduced
with pathetic eloquencc ai the con
d,ions of the South itself-inexhans
tiblc fertility Of soil, the climate Of
paradise, untold trcasurers of miner
al and agricultural wealth, bound
less possibilities of industry. without
the means of development. Districts
that conId support nultitudes in
peace and p;cnty lie idle. Prime
val forests cover MILLIONS of acres of
the richest land. Broad streams
that shonId turu d hundred thousand
mills and bear dpon their bosoms
a countless f,ci Of argosles run
through dismal s!;litudes. All the
Of prossic.ity are there,
Just as were lie delights and sur
rriscs and lcss,us Of the New Or. |
leans Exposition !: brt capital and |
industry, enterprise and population, |
have thus far passed them by. Mon
cy, muscle; aud thrift continue to
seek far less inviting fields.
But we DO rot despair of brighter
auspices end ituer appreciation for
the South IN iina. We believe that
the expositions df The last two years,
however unpro'l'ah'e they may have
proved 10 their projectors, will teach
important tru'lls I'd he the means
Of circulating them far and wide.
The result may hot he at once per
ceptib'e, but tile ftrmcnt is at work. |
Sucl, material opportunities as
abound on every hand at the South
cannot always be ignored, nor can
the real kindliness, manhood and 10y.
atty of the southern people be for
over obscured by party hate and
sectional persecution.