Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-29
Labor to the Front.

DOT 10 TIC IIOhNs
piftv wears have made immense
changes. But the changes it once re-
ouired 30 years to make in this country
arc now accomplished almost in de-
cade. What a wonderful transformation
we have witnessed IN the last ten years
Railroads have been built without stint
and the work is still going on, carrying
onward in its march all other enterprises
and interests, settling up lands, building
M towns, crowding in laborers and ad-
yeuturers to lay hold upon everything OF
which money is to be made, aud gradually
wiring out the old slip-shOd, easy-going
rerlme of Southern industry. 1t is no
longer so easy to live and make money IN
the South. because we now have the whole
North to compete with, and tens OF thou
sands of nOrtherners are among us, bring
ing their money to buy us out,and their en-
srgy and push to turn our scant estates
into ample fortunes. They have made
theextravagant South like the rest of
America, of which Northern cotempo-
rarv saws: "Yes, it is root hog or die. 1t
10 no longer good home for any man, ma
tive or foreign, who has not the capital.
talent or capacity for hard work. In the
cities and towns competition is great.
Our own young men, with all the advan-
tages of social influence and training di-
rected to certain aim, find it hard to
make their way. In the West the condi-
ton is worse. The large capitalists and
corporations, with huge cattle ranches
and farms, have driven the small farmers
to the wall. And they will drive him
harder and land will get higher and
scarcer. All the result" says the terse
writer 1.-THE Philadelphia Press ''Of the
ineatiate greed of the American senti-
ment to absorb the millions of Europe's
people-ta settle our broad domains, no
longer boundless. II so years have done
this, what viii the next generation see?'
Selfshness and greed run into all kinds
OF extremes and are ever blind to the fu-
ture evil results. For present gain they
sacrifice future prosperity and involve the
loss of all we profess to be struggling to
secure. Reasonable men are supposed to
be more anxious to secure happiness to
their posterity than to themselves; but
our policy seems to be the reverse-our
energy Is directed 10 Ihe innings OF IO-Oay
Without any regard for the future.
Judging by our sentiments and actions
We are not at all concerned about the diff
ficulties the near future will bring to our
sons and daughters, perhaps because we
have sort of vague notion that we shall
yet get rich, ''by hook or by crook" and
secure them against the evil days our
own policy is Bringing forward. But they
cannot escape tie results of our action
what we SOW for them they must evil
IDENTIFY reap. 1.-THE lands are all settled
up, or risen in lrice above their means
the masses must remain landless, while
the colossal fOtunes Of the few continue
to absorb the wealth of the nation and
gradually enslsve the people.
If there is any remedy to this advanc-
ing evil it is thlt every American should
pride himself il owning land, which he
should now procure while within reach Of
moderate means and hold it against every
temptation of capital. The tendency
of the South to cut up the large planta
lions into small farms should be en-
couraged. Byt1is means the people can
all have lands, and the future stability
and power of the government, as well a.
the happiness Of the people, will depend
largely upon tlis wide distribution.