The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-29
THE SOUTHERN EXPOSITION.
People Of the North Invited TO
the South.
Tho Resources of tho South to BE Ixhib-
tied at Raleigh, y. C.-Many States to
he Observation-Disclosures Will he
There.

and industries is no new or novel uE-
dertaking, since. the one held in Atlanta
in 1881, and that subsequently at New
Orleans, not to speak of that at Boston,
in which the South was conspicuously
represented and amply demonstrated
what a store Of treasures in natural and
created wealth the South possesses. if
the touch-stone of local pride and of
united interest be applied to evolve
them. Yet, though these cXpositions
were so splendidly illustrated, though
they were so largely visited by people
of all sections, and though the display
was so surprisingly rich and beautiful
the good results have to some extent
failed of the full appreciation of the
Southern people; and while SO many
Northern men, enlightened by their OBJ
Bervation, instructed by information
and acquiring confidence by amicablc
intercourse with the Southern people Of
their respective States, might have i'm
pressed this experience on others, yet
large body of the Northern people re-
main in ignorance of the true value and
conditions of the South, adhere to pre-
conceived prejudices or cherish the
distrust engendered by long years Of
non-intercourSe or partisan misrcprc-
Sentation.
TITS to renew tho impressions made
by the former eXpositions referred to. ID
enlarge the sphere of beneficial in
fuence, to give still further proof of
Southern advancement and the growing
development of long la tent resources and
again to invite our Northern brethren
to the ample participa ton in all that so
grNtly blesses us, that the exposition
IN Raleigh is to open its doors and in
vito all from all sections to enter freely
therein.
The South gladly invites Northern
invasion made in the interest of peace
and fraternity. Loyal to it's own Gus.
toms and institutions, true to its honor
able past, it would gladly forget in the
happy career expanding it that there
had ever been occasion for drawing
sword 1t upholds the olive branch as
the banner under which it will ALWAYS
choose to march
While the South not only extends
this welcome to the North, and urges
its acceptance, it is not unmindful that
1t has duty to itself perform, recalled
and enforced by the coming, as we'll as
by the preceding eXpositions. 1t has
been reproached for it's Incidence, cen.
sured for its want of sagacity and rdi- |
culed for it's inscnsibility to it's good |
fortune. The South is to prove that it |
was neither Incidence, stupidity nor in |
sensibility that kept her in the back
ground. Before the war her energies |
were applied to the great advantage of |
the whole civilized world. After the |
war conditions were changed; ruin was |
upon her, and poverty for the time |
pressed upon all her energies.
The South will prove in these cxposi-
lions how much Of har I'll fortuna hn
has retrieved through her own energy
and intelligence, how readily and sue
cessfully She fell into now channels, |
how sagaciously and prospcrouslv she
applied her new resources. And the
exposition will give contldenc to the
steps she is newly treading, and
strengthen her to further and more
magnificent efforts. She will not only |
be the foremost in agriculture, she will |
stand as the equal in manufactures: she
will be the rival in mining and metal
lurgy. And with her numerous naviga-
bic rivers. her extensive railroads and |
her fine accessible seaports, she can
fairly enter into successful rivalry with |
her sister sections in the profitable pur-
suit of commerce.
There is one more instructive lesson |
to be givon to the unthinking and unin-
formed world. The negro, tho once |
Northern minis an object Of pity; the |
needless stupidity of cxacerbatcn The |
exposition will give proof that the |
negro is no longer in tutclagc: that he |
stands in no need of Federal bayoncts |
Tor projections; that he is no longer de- |
pendent upon Government rations; but
that he is a free, industrious. sclf-re- |
specting citizen. And the very fact that
he stads side by side With the white
man, the equal competitor for industrial
honors, acquits the whites OF the South
smphatically and forever of the charges
no strenuously urged, of Injustice, on
preston and cruelty; for the oppressed
could never have competed successfully
in industry with the oppressor, and the
injured would never have presented
himself in friendly rivalry with his tor
mentor.
The eolorcd exhibit will DO entirely
nndor the control of the colored people
OF the South at in separate buildings
The exhibit will be opened during
the month Of July, and is designed to
be permanent. During October and
November grand exposition will be
helu, ana excursions run from every
section of the civilized world and it will
be advertised as no exposition has been
advertised heretofore. 1t will remain
in Raleigh until the first of January.
1892; from thence it will be removed To
Washington city or Richmond, or re-
main In Raleign, as circumstances GOV
ern; wherever exhibited TO remain dur
ing 1892: thence, in 1898, it will be taken
TO Chicago and constitute part of the
great Columbian display. Its future
location will be decided by the next
Southern Interstate Immigration Con
vention. But wherever placed. there it