Daily Republican., 1889-03-22
FRIDAY, MARCH 2a, 1889.

The duration of the Solid South is
only q question OF a very short time,
and there is no doubt but before the
end Of President Harrison's admins
tration some, at least, Of the Southern
States will have wheeled into the Re-
publican line. This would have been
the case at the last Presidential cleo
ton had ii not been that for at least
two years Mr.. Cleveland devoted all
his efforts toward making and per-
petuating a Solid South, with the hope
that II would insure his reelection.
The Solid South will be dissolved
more by social than political agencies,
and that is being accomplished little by
little, but none the less surely. North
ern capital is now, and has been for
years, developing the vast mineral
wealth and industries OF the South,
and consequently has attracted thous-
ands of Northern mechanics, many OF
: whom work side by side with men of
Southern birth. These men from the
North take with them their social aud
political ideas, and us these ideas are
promulgated among the people, the
old race prejudice and the false views
on the tariff question, which for years
have been entertained by the South,
are gradually but surely disappearing.
In this way every workshop, factory,
mill or mine becomes u school, in
which the Southern people are being
educated in the principles OF social
economy and political equality. These
influences must and will have their
effect, and will eventually end in free
dom OF the ballot; when this is once
accomplished there will be no more
Solid South.
The greater the number OF indus
tries that are established, the sooner
this will be realized, for no State that
depends on its industries Can Afford u
be Democratic for any length ol time
That these facts are understood by
many ofthe Southern people is shoTu
by the tone OF the most influential OF
their journals. Since the war the
South has made rapid progress and
would have been still further advanced
bad it not been for the four years Of
Democratic administration which has
done everything possible to keep alive
the old sectional prejudice. North
Carolina may be taken as an example
OF the progress made by the new
South. Previous TO the rebellion II
was, with the exception Of its tar
rosin aud turpentine factories, an agri
cultural State, but now In the vicinity
OF Newbern .alone there are twent,
steam saw mills, ranging in Capacit,
from five thousand to forty thousanl
feet OF lumber per day, with an an
nual output amounting to sixty
million feet, valued at six hundre,
thousand dollars, As the greater par
of this lumber comes TO the North i
follows that just that amount of none,
COWS annually into the State.
In addition to these there are TiC
mills, grist mills, cotton seed oil mill
cotton gins, oyster cannerles, guam
factory, wood plate and wood pull
mills and q number OF other industries
furnishing employment TO thousanC
Of hands, These and similar industrI,
will be largely increased as last as Ii
capital Is furnished for the purpos
The same is the case in Alabama al
some other States, and these thin
give the greatest promise for the f
ture. We Of the North do not want
solid South or solid North, but v
do want a solid and united countr
for In 1t lies the only hope of the pc
petuation of the Union, and the rea
Aation Of the principle thai man
capable of self-goyernment. Let Il
South improve her opportunities Al
cease to be solid as arrayed against
North, and before twenty years nj
shall roll around she viii be the N
prosperous section of this, the great
country on the face of the earth.