Birmingham age-herald., 1894-09-23
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
Sam Jones Takes an Optimistic View of Present and Future.
He Thinks tho New Tarlr Bill Great Improvement Over the Mckinley Law Signs Of Better Times-An Era
 of Prosperity for the South.
TcoPYR1GHT, 1694.1

pleasure to me to note the improve ment in the times for the last sixty days. On every side I see and hear signs of cheer and words of encourage tnent. How much the settlement of the tariff issue has had to do with it I cannot say. The tariff bill we now have, to say the least of it, is great improvement on the Mckinley tariff
 I have talked lately with some mem 'bers of congress, and while they freely admit 1t is not all they desire, yet they say it is long step towards the reform of our tariff laws and a wise adjust ment of our tariff issues.
 It is a hard task to settle at this time with the conflicting interests of the different sections of this great country, one section crying for protection on this and another for protection on that article.
 When we are through abusing the senate and our lawmakers and sit down quietly and think over the mat ter we will give them credit for an honest effort and strong endeavor to do the best possible thing under the circumstances, but the facts remain that things are looking up and looking brighter on all sides. I note this first:
 The fact that almost all trains on which I have ridden lately are crowded with passengers. The numerous freight trains moving from one end of the road to the other. The crowded resorts and well patronized Chau- tauquas, and so on and so on, giving evidence of the fact that all things are loosening up, and after all there is life in the old land yet.
 I note again the more cheerful tone amongst the business men, bankers and manufacturers whom 1 have met here and yonder, They say the rebound has come, that times now will improve; they look for better things.
 Again, note that the growler is rel. egated to the rear. His neighbors have lost. their respect for him, but he seems to have no self-respect and he is now fixing to change his tone.
 Again, I note that more money is being drawn from the banks for legiti. mate purposes along the line of trade and manufacture.
 Again, I note that all the railroad securities, stocks, bonds, etc., are ad. vancing as the reports come in of in- creased earnings and better business as reported by the operators of the roads.
 Again, I note I am feeling better my self I am but one of the sixty odd million of people in this country, yet am one with sensibilities, with eyes, with work to do, with life to be made.
 We partake largely of the nature of our surroundings. While we are not chameleonsnand cannot take on color from objects which surround us, yet we are not impervious to the views and conduct of others.
 It has been my privilege to mix and mingle with almost all classes in the commercial, manufacturing and f1nan- cial world, and the aggregate consen- sus of opinion is we are rising above the depression which has so long over- shadowed us. Day is breaking at last. The south especially has reasons for happiness and gratitude Scarcely in the history of the thirteen southern states have we, had suchgenerous crops and so much agricultural prosperity. Our fields are loaded as scarcely ever before, and this at time when not more than half crop of corn is made in the corn belt of the middle and western states.
 Our corn will command good prices; we will have much for sale.
 The eyes of many are turned towards the south now, and I believe in the next eighteen months we will move out upon an era of prosperity such as the south has never known before, for we have resources we have never touched and sources of wealth which have never been developed.
 Again, we have better citizenship, all told, than any section of this coun. try; we are free from the anarchist and communistic spirit which curses many of the eastern and western states.
 The brother in black is good citizen compared to the many who dcspise our laws and would overthrow our institu. tion; really the brother in black differs more from his white brother in the south in outstinl1 than he does in his instinct. The negro is not a bad citi- zen.
 Our genial climate, our productive soil, our fruits and flowers, berries and parks, our persimmons and ginseng, our 'possums and potatoes, our mountain corn. our parched goobers, our ma nly men and our womanly women can't be beat this side of the stars.
 We do something, however, that is wrong. Mob law and lynch law can work no good to moral men or any com munity, and it is fact thnt mob is cowardly thing. generally exercises it's vengeance upon a helpless victim whom the law would speedily convict and the sheriff promptly execute. want to see mob try it's hand on big dog one time. Like our governor of