The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-12-12

railroad systems ccntering here.
Southern Newspapers and Indus
trial Movements.
1t was hoped that after the throcs OF
tho recent election, the Southern news
papers would devote at least goodly por-
ton of their space to the new industrial
movement in the SOuth-a movement so
important not only to the prosperity oft
Southern people but to the welfare OF the
nation Yet, they are no sooner over one
election, than they begin to fill their
columns with the new plans and the same
old plattudcs of the politicians, as i!
human happiness depended only upon the
ascendency of one party and the downfall
of another. Take the leading papers OF
this section, the Nashville American, TIL
Atlanta Constitution, the Couricr-,Iournal,
the Memphis Appeal Avalanche, the
Charleston News-Courer, the Richmonc
Dispatch, and even the Birmingham Age
Herald, and one looks in vain for new;
about the great developing and manufac-
turing movement which has been inaugu'
rated in spite ofthem and not by their aid
movement which has in ten years restored
to the South all she lost by the war, anc
upon the continuance Of which depends
not only the prosperity of her people, but
her influence in national politics and af-
fairs.
Their own position shows them to be
short-sightcd and narrow minded; for il
countrys' power and prosperity de-
pend upon the triumph of their economic
views, they should know that they can
best give the South political Importance
by increasing her material wealth and
prosperity When the war was neediessly
precipitated by our own Southern leaders
the South was placed at disadvantage
which has no parallel in history. 1t was
the mailed warrior, with spear and shield.
against the unarmed peasant in his russell
ierkin. But now that the South is also
clothing herself in mail land developing the
resources of her material wealth, they
stupidity ignore the progress of the move
ment or array themselves in open hostility
to it.
One need not look very far for the ex-
PLANTATION, which may be found in the
knavery and sel6shncss Of some and the
misguided zeal of others. All these pa
pers are arrayed against the protective
system. One Of them is almost certainly
a representative and agent Of the English
manufacturers, who want monopoly of
our markets, and others seem to he led by
the nose by uniformed public sentiment
and the clap trap of brood of provincial
politicians. Most of them will repudate
the ascription of favoring downright
free-trade, while they do all in their
power to promote its cause and hasten ITS
consummation. They know that the
growth and power of the protective SEN
timent increase with the growth and power
ofthe mining and manufacturing interest;
and, taking their queue from their file
leader, the Courier-Journal, they devote
most of their space, and all of their talent
to theory OF politics, which, is not only
hostile to, but destructive Of industrial
progress Only one of these journals
comes out in open and avowcd hostility,
but others play into its hand and con-
tribute to its end. II set my foot, re-
Gently exclaimed Henry Watterson, in u
public speech ut Charleston, S. c., upon
the cant of the new South about which
We have heard so much. Under this
spurious label it is sought to bring among
us the delusivc morality Of the quack
philanthropist and the swindling methods
of the bucket shop. Whenever and
wherever you see 'hoom hit it. When
ever and wherever YOU see "boomer"
spot him. The boom is the devils own
invention-frst to rob the victim of his
money and then the boomer of his soul.
Of. course every man who is engaged in
opening our mines and building up these
manufacturing cities is a "boomer;" and
here is notice to the capitalists of the
world, given with the air and tone OF an
oracle, that they arc to be robbed, while
the "boomer" himself is informed by this
apostle of pure morals that the devil is
after his soul.
In point of fact the "boomer" is man
who is not only laboring for his own in
terests but for the interests of his COM
mnnity and his country. He is not neces-
sarily thief any more than an editor is
necessarily dead beat and bride taker,
clergyman hypocrite, lawyer liar,
or doctorsa quack There are honest
men among boomers" as there are honest
men in other pnrsuits-men Of character,
and intelligence who appreciate the value
Of q country's wealth and seek By fair
methods to develop it.
All the founders Of cities have been
.boomers. Historyis full Of their names