The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-03-13
EULOGIsI &c OF North CAROLINA
AND THE SOUTH.
An Intelligent EngIishmani.who IL
About to pay a Visit to :" Old COun-
try" Writes About North Carolina
and the South.

EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-Having taken
the liberty of addressing you on several
former occasions on subjects principally
pertaining to the Southern States in gen
eral and North Carolina in particular,
now crave one more indulgence before
leaving Henderson on q visit to my
native country. 1t is now eighteen years
since | first saw the Sunny South, and
from that time to the present, l have
constantly spoken and occasionally writ
ten my candid convictions OF the cOun-
try, and if my observation and Judgment
is worth anything, the South with its
mild and salubrious climate, is one OF the
finest pieces of land on our planet; conse-
quently the tillers of it's soil ought to be
numbered among the most wealthy and
the most happy of all their universal
brethren; but owing to a slip-shOd, de-
fective and ruinous system Of the cultiva-
ton of their land it is to be feared that
the reverse is the case. 1t is q pertinent
lesson in political economy that the ex-
ceptions of wealthy tillers of exhausted
soils are few and far between.
Should l arrive safe in England, l shall
be asked one hundred and one questions
respecting this country. My answer will
| uniformly be that if this land received the
same kind treatment and had the same
| Justice done it as what the soil in far less
! favored countries has, it would produce
| in astonishing abundance any and every
kind of crop with which we are acquaint-
| ed; but no land can stand the strain of
fincessant cropping without some ade-
quate return. Now, the question arises
can nothing be done to rescue the coun-
try from this land butchery and destruc-
tive system? Ii not, future generations
had better remain where they are it is
an admitted fact that the salvation OF
the country mainly depends Oil the sub
stantial encouragement of immigration
and factories; but we frequently meet
with those who are opposed to immigra-
ton on the ground that the country
would be overrun with strangers; they
forget that their forefathers came here
awhile ago, and not only overrun the
country but mercilessly run it's rightfu
owners out. Senator Vance, when he was
at Henderson, said something about
North Carolina for North Carolinians
with all honor due the worthy Senator
| would respectfully call his attention tt
the fable of the COW, the dog and thu
manager. We may infer from the grea
designs of creation that it was divinely
intended that each habitable portion o
the earth should be occupied and cult
waited by just as many of the human rae
) as it would be capable of supporting il
all the necessaries and comforts of life
The present sparse population OF thi
State are numerically incapable of effect
ually handling the country and to de
velop it's inexhaustible resources; tel
millions of population would not be to-
many to bring about such desirabl
contamination. The country needs NOR
population and less politics; but the as
pirations of it's leading men seem to ris
no higher than the political principle; tn
: tenure of public Office is so very shor
that there is no time to be lost in attend
ing to, and successfully carrying out tn
necessary and interesting duties of tn
r nestieathering department.. Possibly
some private power, either individual o
collective, may yet arise equal to the OF
: casion, and elevate this grand. but niue
abused country to it's natural altitude
when it would become the admiratio
and the envy of the world.
1t would require the united and con
bined power of the State itself to success
fully carry out such laudable and pc
9 triotic scheme; the Western States is
striking example. The provincial go,
eminent of Canada and Australia, NO
: only give away land, but materially as
t sist those who are unable to pay tn
whole of their passage fare.
Should any wrong impression wit
E respect to this country come under m
notice nothing will be wanting on m
part to remove it.
i If any interesting incidents shoul
4 come under my notice will communicat
them to the GOLD LEAF, which paper wi
at all times be a welcome visitor
D Your respectful and humble servant,
I RICHARD MARsToN.
Henderson, N. G., March II, 1890