The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-22
Direct Trada

the Savannah branch of the Mississippi
Valley Society of London, which was held
IN this city April so, 1875. The proceed
ings as published were correct. but there
was wanting interest in the matter by those
who were members 10 give il that life and
activity demanded Indiffereuce killed the
project, so far as Savannah was concerned.
had received letters from London asking
me, as secretary, to have meeting called,
and TO lay before the society the contents Of
the letters. Those who should have called
the meeting took no interest in the matter.
l wrote TO Mr.. Norfolk, the secretary in
London, that our people were Indifferent to
the project of direct trade. nor did they
seek TO interest English capitalists as re-
CARDS the resources of Georgia.
Truth and candor are always best in bust
ness matters, and that ended the existence
of the Savannah branch of the Mississippi
Valley Society. | did not think the project
a hnmbug, for l knew that southern men
were In England trying to interest English
capitalists In southern enterprises. But the
Infamous reconstruction measures aud mis-
representation of the south and her people
by active agents from the north, and the
Indifference of our people, killed a project
| Dig with prosperity for the south, If we had
only taken hold of it as we should. But
there were influences working on the minds
OF our business men. Politics-I should say
sectlonalism of the bitterest kind was
working against the south and her people,
| and you cannot well mix politics and bust
ness, any more than you can mix partyism
and religion. They cannot and will not
work together.
But times have changed since 1875, and
for the better, very much for the better.
Georgia had a population in 1875 of
LISA, 1903. In 1880 she had 1,542, $50. In
1890 she has nearly 100000. AS Georgia
| grows, SO grows Savannah and her other
cities There is such a thing as natural
growth, forced growth and a speculative
growth. Georgla's growth is natural; the
western states are forced growth, begotten
| OF immigration, and the growth of many of
the cities speculative. To know how to do
thing creates success. Mere experiment,
| theory and guess work may provoke action,
and in time experiment may be developed
| into fact or truth. The building of the
Central railroad was an experiment backed
| by theory and supposed advantages. The
building accomplished more than the theory
| called for. and the result was more roads IN
every direction. and to-day we have 4, $50
| miles OF railroad in the state.
1t is said that circumstances develop men
| and make them great, or show that there Is
no greatness in them. That is true in a
| degree; but great men create circum-
| stances, and control them after they are
created. We have pointed illustration of
| that truth in the declaration of indepen-
dence. 1t took mon of character to inaugu-
rate such movement. Napoleon was
another illustration of man who created
| circumstances and controlled them after he
created them. He did not wait for things
| to turn up, but turned them up and con-
| trolled them in his own interest after he
had turned them up. Il is to know when,
and how, and at what time to do thing tc
make it a success.
The time is now ripe for direct trade
with Europe. We have the population the
| products, raw and manufactured; and the
railroad facilities to command an immense
territory, teeming with population and
products. The population are consumers
and producers; both able to buy and to sell
Buy what they want aad sell their produc-
tions, which the world needs. Our wheat,
| pork and cattle from the west; our cotton,
rice, sugar. tobacco and fruits; our naval
stores, our lumber, etc., all call for direct
trade and European products in re-
turn. Plain, practical business, common
sense methods are all that is needed. Bust
ness men want facts, not theories they
want trade, not talk; they want TO see a
thing, not to think about it. We can show
| them all they desire to see. We eau give
them the names of states and cities count
ing population of millions. We can give
them productions which will fill their yes
sells and which the people of Europe need.
Reciprocity is the word that we should
| sound in the European ear; reciprocal trade
is what we desire. Send two or three bnsi-
ness men to Europe with maps of our rail
roads, covering Thousands Of miles. Write
upon the face of each state its chief produc-
lions which are seeking the best markets
put those maps in the hands of capitalists
| who own vessels and manufacture
ers who are seeking markets; huat
out men who have capital to invest in
mines, foundries, factories etc., and show
them where they can invest. Don't sup
pose to them" but say we can, we will, we
are determined to do thus and SO, and the
| thing Is DONE Confidence in ones self, be-
gets confidence in another. The south no
longer doubts herself; she knows and feels
her resources aud power. Throw partyism
| to the dogs, and talk busir eSs is what
is wanted. Do not let sectional
legislation stand in the way of aggressive
business methods, but by an aggressiveness
in business make up things. The man who
fears you will always respect you. More
or respect. "Meet fire with fire, threaten
the threatener," and he5soon comes to his
senses. The south should step to the front,
| and ask no odds of any one. She has the
population and resources to command all
she needs ask. Do business in a business
way, and the thing is accomplished
| Your writer. as secretary, sent on to Lon
don, England, a Report OF the Resources
of the State of Georgia" and 10000 copies
were printed in London. That looked like
business, and desire to do business. Two
thousand copies were sent me, aid 1 have
many on hand. Mr.. Norfolk. the London
secretary, wrote me that IL was the
most satisfactory report he had ever
received. My report was printed in
full in the MORNING NEWS in 1875.
The report as published in London, reads as
follows: Report of the Resources of the
State of Georgia. by the Savannah Branch
of the International Chamber of Com
MERGE and Mississippi Valley Society of
London. Approved by the patent office
and published by its Bureau of General In
formation. London, 1875" R. M. o.