San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-30
NorIN SOUTHWEST TEXAS.

The st. Louis Globe-D Democrat in its
Friday issue comments upon one of
Mr. Grady's recently delivered speech
es in which he eloquently implored
the North to send her sons South in
order to help solve the political and
social problems of that section. The
same article also calls attention to the
deliverances of Congressman Brecken-
ridge, ofKentucky, to the same effect,
quoting this last named gentleman's
remark: ave want you to send the
best men you have to help us do for
the colored people what is generous
and right and just" AS to such invi-
tations the lobe-Democrat does not
think that the white democrats Of the
South, to any considerable extent, en-
dorse such invitations, and affirms
that the experience of Northern men
going South does not justify others in
going without some better assurance
than the rhetoric of an after-dinner
speech. On this subject the big st.
Louis daily says:
at is true that Northern settlers in
the. South are not driven out with
shotguns, nor forced to swear allegi-
ance to the Democratic party; but
they are made to realize that they are
distrusted and disliked, and that the
voting of q Republican ticket is not
recognized as one of their rights.
The boosted hospitality of the South
ern people, they soon find, is curious
ly limited by sectional and political
prejudice. The freezing-out process
has sent majority of the Northern |
immigrants back from the South, |
disappoin led and indignant. They |
have not found that eager and hearty |
welcome which the orators so bounti- |
fully promise. Wherever they have
Jared differently their good fortune
has been due to the presence of
predominating Northern element,
and not at all to Southern kindness
and fair dealing. 1t is proper that
the truth should be told in this re-
spect. The North would willingly |
send intelligent and, worthy men
South to help in the work of develop |
ing that part OF the country, and in |
settling the questions by which it is
hindered and perplexed, if they could |
expect a cordial and satisfactory re-
ception. But so long as such re-
ception can not be counted upon, 1t |
is hardly worth while for Southern |
speakers in Northern cities to make |
appeals for that class of immigrants"
This criticism of the Globe Dem.
ocrat is pertinent and no doubt ap-
plicable to the states lying east Ct
the Mississippi river; and also, to
such sections of the trans-Mississippi
states as have their colored popuia-
lions largely in the majority. The
criticism does not apply to Western
Texas, or to the Texas panhandle
and is particularly inapplicable to
Texas. Here speech is
free in the full and lawful sense of
the term. There is neither social or |
political ostracism in southwest Tex
as as the result OF .avowing republic
can sentiments and voting the repub-
lican ticket. Whatever may have
been the facts in the past these are
the facts now, and southwest Texas
can and does offer full, free and
hearty welcome to the very best
northern citizens to come and help
build up the industries of this great
Every avenue Of business
is open, all doors of society |
are on their hinges and the |
social recognitions do not follow any |
ne of political policy. Northern men
and northern capital, northern brains |
and northern ideas are welcome here
and no more inviting field is found |
in any quarter of this vast country. |
True, here as elsewhere, there are
bigots and the nsrrowminded, and |
are not dead, but these
are the exception not the rule and |
in the general exchange of business
and social life do not count. The
LIGHT is in position to speak know
ingly on this subject and it can and
does most heartily assure all good,
capable northern men of
a free field and fair fight in South
west Texas.
THE Waco Day would be lust first |