The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-07-26


seed tick and the lion.
Trouble i'll the South
The Constitution has made no attempt
to conceal from its readers the unprOmiS-
ing condition of affairs in the south, Il
condition that has grown out of unWse
agitation, Incorporate legislation and per
nicious litigation. We could not conceal
it If we would, for, in one shape 81 an
other, it is bound to make Itself felt.
1t Is not confined to Georgia, but covers
the whole territory which has been the
theater of such remarkable industrial 1t-
veopment during the PAST fifteen wears.
The Galveston News draws q striking
picture Of this situation. 1t is % picture
in which the colors may be somewhat too
thickly laid on, but in The main, it is
true enough to give pause fOE thought.
Referring to the bright prospects which
existed a few years ago, and comparing
it with the outlook Of today, The Calves
ton News remarks that 'the people Ct the
south, through their political ag tatiCns,
sIeir legislatures and their courts, have
alarmed capital and alienltad the cc1sti-
sentative capital puts its veto on the spirit
of enterprise when it sees dong the
southern borders yellow flags advertising
an epidemic of vast, complicated ptsti-
lence Of political, Legislative and indus
trial distempers"
Our contemporary reviews the condition
of affairs in the whole ''outh, ard thus
concludes:
In Texas further step on the line OF en-
ergetic contiscat0n was taken in railroads
run to earth and afterwards hauled into the
state courts to be operated IN the interest OF
political favorites, regardless of the rights
OF capitalists who paid for them. The south,
including Texas, has about lost her credit.
Money is scarce and high in Texas and through
ont the south while it is abundant and cheap
in the east and other portions of the coun-
try. Our politics, legislation, our Judg-
mentS stand up to condemn us, ana we must
pay the penalty. With tn" refusal of the peo-
pie, of the legislatures, of the courts TO pro
tect investments in southern railroads. In south
ern coal mines in southern lands, there comes
a want of confidence, scarcity of money, high
interest, hard times. We must pay well Tor
our own folly. That Is II debt from which
10 rClitcian or court can pro .ct us.
This is plain prose. There is more truth
than poetry III it. Our people seem to
have deliberately thrown away an o1por-
tunity such as no section Of this country
has ever had Qucll-witted capital had
seen it's opportunity and had pushed and
was preparing to push railroads into every
promising part of our territory. This was
merely the beginning, for railroads are
simply the pioneers of that larger indus
trial development which counts for every
thing.
At the critical moment the crusade
against the corporations began, not
reasonable or wise crusade-f0r ttat had
taken place some years befor2-but wild
and witesS agitation stirred up by dema-
gogl1es, some crazy for office Or nut0rety,
and others crazy for-fees. The Galveston
News credits the railroad commission OF
Georgia with the trouble, and gives it
slap in passing but the conclusions of
The News are wide of the mark. There
was and Is nothing in the commission cal
culated to hamper railroads. The board
was established in 1873, and has given
entire satisfaction. Since Then the state
has enjoyed its most profitable period OF
railway development.
No; the trouble was not n the commits
sion; but in that mischieyous spirit which,
taking advantage of the sentiment that
established the commission, continued the
crusade against "soulless corporations"
whipped and agitated the opposition to
railroads into fury, threatened them In
the legislature and in the courts, and
made senseless attacks on II combination
Of railroad interests and capital which
had for it's purpose the building up OF
Georgia and this whole sccJiol as the
east and west have been built up.
The result of that agitation is the pres
emit situation. Our railroad system has
gone to pieces and capital has run to
cover. Atlanta has been badly hurt;
Georgia has been hurt; the whole south
has been hurt. Those who are fond of
wrecks and paralyzed interests may have
a fattening time, but the people will
suffer.
1t is long and costly route over which
we have gone to get back to the motto OF
the state--wisdom, justice and modera-