The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-17

extend our commerce. 1t simply at.
tempted to destroy the work OF a Re
publican Congress byreducingt the tax on
wool, on tin plate, and on binding twine.
Protesting to DO free coinage silver
party, it defeated two silver bills.
Pledged to economy, retrench and re-
form in expenditures, it has expended
at the rate OF more than 81 600 OOO, 900.
1t appropriated $507, 7ll,lSl 90, which
is Sl4,0OO,OOO greater than the appro-
priations for the first session OF the
Fifty-frst Congress, which was Repub-
lican. Its committee on claims reported
in favor OF the payment OF over S1O,O Oo,-
600 worth Of war claims from the south
ern states, while from Sl00,0OO,OOO to
$500, zoo, 900 OF war claims have been re-
ferred to the court OF claims.
THE SOUTH AND ITS RESOURCES.
A great future awaits the South. She
is nearing period Of great prosperity.
The West has been taken, and the tide
of immigration that has so long moved
westward has reached the Pacific ocean.
In the future it will turn toward the
South. The South should be in posi-
ton to receive and welcome it. The
South has every variety OF climate and
soil. Last year the shipments OF truit
and vegetables amounted to $50, 0O0,0 900.
1t produces three-iourths OF the cotton
crop Of the world, and its grain crop ex-
ceeds the cotton crop. Its lumber
products amounts to S400,000,00 per
annum. Its rivers and sea coast will
always regulate the freight on railroads
and make the transportation OF prod
ucts low. According to the best author
ity, the richest portion Of the United
States lies in that section covered by
the Allegheny mountains and
their spurs, reaching from Penn
sylvania to Alabama, embracing
strip OF country about seven
hundred miles in length and from
one hundred and fifty to two hundred
miles wide. 1t contains the largest de-
posits OF coal and iron ore and has
larger area OF forests OF timber than
any equal area in the United States or
in the world. Iron ores. limestone and
the best coal for fuel and making steam
and coke, are found in unlimited
quantities often only few miles apart.
Mr.. Edward Atkinson says this favored
belt has an area OF about two hundred
and fifty thousand square miles. In
point OF climate, pure water and health
it stands unsurpassed. All that man
can desire to contribute to his physical
comfort may be found there In addition
to its vast natural resources. The
wealth OF this section consists largely
in what is called raw materials"-lum-
Der, coal, iron, lead, zinc, wool and salt,
and upon the development and DISPOSE
ton OF these the future OF the south de-
ponds.
West Virginia ia the first state on the
list covered by this favored belt. She
stands at the gateway OF the South.
She ranks first of the Southern states in
the production OF coal, and third in the
Union. The following will show the
increase in coal and coke produced in
West Virginia in the last ten years:
In 1880, ], 253, $40 tons Of coal and l2l,-
7l5 tons coke.
In 1891, 1881, 4SO tons Of coal and
], 1888, AIS tons coke, showing an increase
in ten years OF about six million tons OF
coal and one million tons Of coke.
The Democratic party declares Tor
free raw materials in addition to its
war on protection. The south has
reached the most important point in
the history OF her development. 1t
is for her to decide now the wisest and
best course to pursue, looking to her
material interests and industrial pro.
gress. Is it fair to West Virginia and
the south, after other states by reason
of protection have established vast in
dustrial plants, gathered around them
large population, with schools,
churches and banks, and have reached
point where money is abundant and
the rate OF interest low, to say, after all
this has been done, that in the future
raw materials which feed these facto-
ries and industrial plants that have
been growing strong for half century
shall be admitted free and that these
states shall do the manufacturing for
this country and for the south? This
would be repeating the history OF the
conduct of old England toward the Uni
ted States nearly one hundred years
ago. The south once followed her lead
ers, who through desire to hold power
precipitated war that brought defeat,
and in its train "unnumbered woes. }"
Had the Southern people been wise and
listened to reason, they would have
averted war, with all OF the disasters,
ruin, and despair that followed, and not
only been paid for four millions OF
slaves, but had the advantage and bene-
fit OF their labor on better basis, and
now be the richest peoplei in the United
States. West Virginia and the South
stand in the presence of another crisis;
one to be fought out, however, on lines
of peace and with peaceable methods,
the result OF which, in a certain sense,
and so far as material interests are con-
cerned, will be more far-reaching than
the one fought with arms and in which
everything was lost. The raw materials
of the South are worth thousand
times more than its slaves were worth.
Democratic Southern leaders stand
ready now, as in the past in order to
hold political power, to sacrifice these
mighty interests, which should make
the South rich and her people prosper
Gus. Will the South, guided by pas
sion and prejudice, living over the past,
unmindful OF her opportunities, and
nourishing the bitterness and irrita-
tions growing out OF the war, refuse to
listen to reason and again stand by.her
leaders in contest where SO much is
at stake?
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE MONEY
QUESTION.
The money question OF a country con-
Germs the people more closely than any
other. Above and beyond all other
things, the people want good money, an
honest dollar, one that will buy asmuch
as any other dollar in the world. The
..nn.i az thu nnmncrntic marty has