The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1886-10-20
The New south.

Ine speech Is so much above the
hayangue of the average candidate,
SO replete with rich thought, splen.
did sentiment and sound doctrine
that we take special pleasure in re-
producing a portion Of it, express
ing the hope at the same time that
Mr.. Phelan may be triumphantly
elected. We quote from the Mem
pins Appeals report:
He said he had been requested
by various friends in this county to
make several speeches through this
district before the joint canvass on
the subject of the tariff, in order to
correct some false notions about his
position. He had not time to do
this, but he would meet them 80 far
as to make one, at least. Before be-
ginning on this, he wished 10 answer
question that Upton county
friend OF his bad asked him the day
of the convention. Said this friend:
Il don't know if / know exactly
what is meant by the new South.
The newspapers say you are pro-
gresslve Democrat--a man Of the
new South. Now tell me what this
is." He had promised to give him
an explanation. He said it was al.
ways difficult to give explanations
it was easier and more satisfactory
to give illustrations. The phrase of
the New South was intended to
embody the idea OF the social and
industrial changes which had taken
place since the war, as well as the
spirit of enterprise which perfected
these changes. 1t was the working
of the progressive spirit. 1t meant
new methods and more highly de-
veloped modes of thought and ac
tion. The same atmosphere sur
rounds all objects. The difference
was in the currents which filled the
sails, foated the barges, turned the
mills upon the great plains. Take
two men standing at the same point
but on opposite sides of a rail or
worm fence; one looked at what was
before him very acute angle, and
the other from very obtuse or wide
angle. This made the difference.
In the farmer it meant improved
methods of agricultural implements,
diversified crops, experiments such
as Furman had made, the reading of
agricultural journals. 1t meant bees
aud fancy strains of chickens, and
fruit trees and Holstein, or Jersey,
or short horn cattle, and grasses on
farms whose owners had been ruined
by corn, cotton and commissions.
In the lawyer it meant the spirit
that rises above case learning, and
that goes into the literature of his
profession and the philosophy Of its
development. In the doctor 1t meant
something higher than the materia
medica-it meant keeping abreast
with the rapid rush of experiment
that from Vienna to Philadelphia is
changing his profession from black
art to science. In the merchant il
meant spirit of enterprise, the de-
velopment of new avenues of trade,
public spirit and an absence of spec
ulation. In Democratic statesman
it meant many things. 1t meant TO
be imbued with the spirit Of the
great priests of Democracy who had
in succession officiated at It's altar.
1t meant an earnest desire to know
the truth and fearless determine
tion to follow its dictates. 1t meant
a desire to accomplish practical leg
islation aud to leave words in abey
ance. IL means work and not rheto
ric. 1t 5eant above all things a
spirit of eminent humanity and a
liberaizing charity. 1t means a
spirit whose thoughts were borne In
to The hearts of the people by the
ceaseless flow of the currents that
run inyisibly from soul TO soul. 1t
meant distrust in self, it meant a
lack of arrogance, it meant feeling
of respect for our honest difference
of views, 1t meant careful and eau
tious formation Of opinion and an
unswerving adherence to the right.
1t meant a sweep of vision that em-
braces the heavens, the seas and the
mountains; not that which like the
dumb and driven cattle takes in
merely the circumscribed plot of
grass that gives foodfor the moment
1t meant, finally,that liberal spirit of
charity that bursts the confines of
a hard narrow and biggoted mind
and soul and comes out IN butterfly
radiance into the light of day.
The Arkansas Gazette is correct
IN saving our road law was formed
at time when mutual help was IN
vogue such as opening up high
ways, rolling logs, house raising, etc.
and as many portions Of the State
have out grown the necessity for
such assistance, 1T is time to have a
change In the road law. The man
a, ;thnnf t,rararfu and MIN baa No