The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-03

| Cor. 20 The Democrat.)
All through the South, and more
especially in those sections where
business is most active, there is one
word that is uppermost IN the
thoughts of the people. 1t is "boom."
To the wealthy and Influential cap
talsts, the shrewd business men Of
more limited means, the superin
tendents of mines and mills, the me-
Chanics, the spectators in mineral
lands and town lots, and to all the
citizens, this word expresses a desir-
able state of affairs. This interest
is because it is q real condition, q
present part Of southern industrial
history.
1t has had its natural causes and
will effect its train of natural results.
The South is to become great min.
ing, manufacturing and commercial
section. These new industries as
the ceDters of wealth will he the
centres of influence, and those who
are identified with them will be the
prominent and influential citizens of
their community. Fortunate is the
South that her netive-bO-n citizens
are so largely concerned in these de.
velOpment8. The new power gained
by these interests should be largely
with those whose homes are on her
soil, and not to q marked extent
with men whose home interests are
in foreign or the more distant of the
American cities. This is the ex-
pressed opinion Of the ablest men of
the South and the tone of the south
ern press. This plea is not based on
any feelings Of sectional prejudice,
nor does 1t indicate that the entrance
Of foreign or northern capital is not
earnestly desired. But for self
governing community the political
power should be in the hands of
those who know its local politics and
whose homes are under the jurisdic-
ton Of the laws they make. And in
a country rapidly developing its
material wealth, the power Of in
dustry, is the power of legislation.
Good as 1t would be for the South
to be developed solely by men from
abroad who will establish and direct
factories; it would be better, u when
they come to invest, they would
make their homes here. But 1t
would be best, if greater part of
this work were done by the native
citizens Of these States. The max
ing and enforcing Of laws will then
be with those whose deepest interest
is in the good government of this
section.
A great many Of the older south
ern men are taking an important part
in these industries. But not enough
of the younger men have decided
that their life7s work shall be in this
field, and large number who are
engaged IN it are not pursuing the
best and surest Of the new occupa-
tions opened.
Many who prefer professional work
prepare themselves for those pros
fessions already firmly established
In the South, and must in the begin
ming compete sharply with age and
experience, while those who choose
one Of the more rapidly extending
fields OF technical work compete as
sharply perhaps, but with younger
men and with better prospects of adj
vancement. The creation of material
wealth is the solid foundation of this
prosperity and the workers in the
mines and mills may look with con
fdence for the highest of the re-
wards.
The young man naturally works
for wealth and influence, because he
sees in them a power and Ike knows
that any part he may take in the
ameloration Of the human condition
here, requires just such power for its
accom- mDllshucnt. Tncn let those
who look most hopefully to the failure
note these significant words OF De,
1eH: 'Business and commercial
success now so completely dominates
the public Judgment and lmagiDa
tion that it has dwarfed the Cabinet
Minister and United States Senator
so that their personality, movements
and opinions are 10 longer potentj&
and hardly influential. Even the
leaders of the bar and the most
eminent men in the pulpit do no.
now have comparatively anything
like the social position and leader