The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-06-09
SOUTHERN SENTIMENTS
jeff Davis Pilgrimage an Unexpected Result
for the New South.
Atlanta and Birmingham-Their wonderful
observation-disclosures Own Nc
Donald Considered the Coming Man
-Florida's Indiana Colony-Per-
sonal Notes and Gossip.

dDlc ldSlc pIdCblCnulllbJ VI dhdhculuS tic
discussion of issues closed by the verdict of
war has demonstrated that by far the ma
jority of thinking men in the South are
averse to any but the live issues of the day.
This is not only true of business men, but
citizens generally, even among those who
wore the gray. Hon. ThomasJ. Davis, a we'll.
known politician and railroad king of Aiken,
s. c., SAID to me: "You nave no IDEA, sir,
how we welcome Northern energy and capital
in our midst. Our wants, now were our
wants. in different sense, during the war
men and money Say to your people to
come among us without fear for the future.
Those. of US VINO fought against
you accepted the arbitrament of
the sword, and long to see our land devel-
oped by your energy and your money"
Speaking of the Northern cities, he added:
1T makes my heart sick to go North and see
your dash, your enterprise and evidence of
real prosperity, even in times of such depres-
sion, and in my very soul | thank God the
problem of slavery is solved, and that the
issue OF war was after all fought with real
good to our sectlon." He did not think it
would take another generation to overcome
the prejudices of the past, but pointed to the
already too apparent fact that the North was
peopling the South alongside the generation
born since the war, bringing to the surface
of business and politics those who turn their
backs on dead issues and think only of
united land, with its wonderful resources
common to all its people. The Jefferson
Davis episode in unearthing the past has by
that well known principle of opposites in
mental science called greater attention to
the present and future. Instead of being I'M
fortunate in any sense, except for the few
octogenarian participants, it has brought
into clearer view the real decided
change of sentimedt and infusion
Of into hat
Nor were Davis sentiments rightly under
stood in every instance. An ex Governor,
who desired his name should not be used,
| told your correspondent that Davis himself
| accepted the situation, and quoted the eX-
chief as saying in his terse way: This is
perhaps less than a nation, but certainly
more than union"' demonstrating clearly
| that in his view war had closed the weak
| points of confederation, and left Us an integ-
| raj whole, stronger than ever, and vastly TO
our advantage considering the enormous
| speed and development of the nation since
| the days of jefferson.
Atlanta and Birmingham are striking ex.
| amples of the new South; the latter with an
unparalleled growth bids fair to rival the
| great cities of the Northwest, and outstrip
| the manufacturing towns of Pennsylvania.
| IL has substantial blocks, well-paved streets.
and hotel-the ''Florence"-the equal of
ANYTHING in the West. No idle mills are
| miles around; every branch of trade and
commerce shows thrift and prosperity. II
| our townsmen needed anything further to
| convince them of the suicidal folly of
| even discussing such thing as the rebuild
| ing OF our Union Passenger Station
| elsewhere than in the heart OF the city, they
| should look in upon Atlanta by way of
| contrast. Here is new depot already in
| adequate to the wants of the public; trains
are constantly pouring in and out, landing
| their passengers in the very center of busi-
ness activity. As a result there is no sec
| tional controversy of the North Side against
| the South Side" or vice versa. as with us,
but magnificent blocks and hotels are spring
| ing up on all sides of the focal point. The
hotels Of Atlanta are widely known for their
excellence the two leading ones being ex-
actly opposite the station at either end. Said
a passenger as he took the train: what
magnificent hotels. l have stopped at both
of them and pledge you my word, no western
| city can show better; at midnight sick and
weary the other day, my family and |
| trudged into that one over there-the we'll
known Markham and though perfect
| strangers were received into a crowded house
| with an attention to our wants and suffer
ings that was positively touching. How
| they made room for us, do-not know, but it
| was done somehow, and for one want it to
| go on record, that the diamond-pin burdened
hotel clerk has not yet invaded Atlanta, to
| lord it over the weary tourists" The hos
| pitality of the old South and the sincerity of
t t6S new unt"n assabo-a by t the icy
distinguishes the Southern hotel of to-day !;
may it continue. The Markhams are the
Lelands of the South, with this difference,
| that the Lelands were brothers and cousins,
| while the Mark ham talent has for several
generations descended from sire to son.
The anti-bellum habit of making the hotel
the rendezvous for political gatherings in
formally and discussion of public issues,
| continues. One can not fail to hear public
| sentiment well reflected who will but OBJ
serve and listen; and in this connection it
may not be amlss to state that the name
| most frequently mentioned in the hearing of
your correspondent even when his domicile
was unknown, was that OF Senator
| Mcdonald. That this gentleman has
la following in the South not
at all appreciated by us is evident to
even casual observer. go home and tell
your folks" said a railroad man OF promi-
hence, that we rely upon New York and In
dian to keep our party in power; without
them the Democrats must retire. Tell them
that we of the South are tired of New York
domination in our counsels, as are the Repub-
licans in theirs, and that everything on
both sides points to an Indiana man as the
next President" Upon being asked whom
they regarded as the coming man, he quickly
replied: Joseph 4. Mcdonald, the man of
force and brain, with a record available in
every section" Little or nothing was said
favorable to the reelection of Cleveland.
l spoke above of the influx of Northern
people. Take Florida, for instance, DR.. p.
g. c. Hunt lives at Longwood, twelve miles
from Orlando, in the orange belt, and In.
gram Fletcher at the latter place. 1 was
told by resident OF Altamonte, midway be-
tween those points, that there were actually
in that space of twelve miles more Indian
ians than Floridians, all tremendously cul-
tivating the golden apple of fortune, the
Florida orange. Driving out to "Hoosier
Spring" a wonderful freak of nature on In
gram Fletcher's farm your correspondent
passed two country stores, in one of which was
an Indianapolis boy. cousin of Auditor
Jesse Adams. as proprietor, and in the other
two clerks who lately served on the South
Side at home in like capacity. Mr. Fletcher
himself is at most thriving county seat do
ing good business in real estate, cheerful,
occupied and contented. He calls his home
"Hoosier Nest" and Hoosiers are royalty
welcome. George Thayer has a farm at Cat
lin, near orlando. Mrs. Sam Frazee live:
near there also. The Mayor of Orlando is
Mr.. Reed, formerly of Vincennes, Ind. The
Superintendent of Public Schools is Pro
| lessor Beeks, once an Indianapolis bow