Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-21

Try IN the world comparable to the south
IN mineral resources, In timber and in cot
ton industries. have Just come across
some startling figures showing the develop
ment OF my own state. You know Georgia
Is the largest state east OF the Mississippi
In 1873. the taxable wealth of Georgia was
$2S5 100000: In 1893 1t was $453, 000, 600 Rail-
road values Increased in the same time
from ITO 100000 to s4o:ooo0o0. And our cot
ION industries grew from 81 $4,000 to $12,-
UU.Voo In value. 1t Is simply wonderful
thirteen years ago I heard Edward Atkin-
son say that the south could never be q
Sos,1n rnsa the raw cotton
manufactures Today, in certain products
OF cotton, We control the market There
were 100000 spindles idle in New England
last year. There was not q spindle idle
in the south. except on yarn, which Is a
product sent almost entirely to New Eng
Land. We ship to England now and to
China In Augusta, we are doing every
thing that is possible to foster these In
dustries. We have spent 100000 on a
canal to furnish cheap water-power to the
mills. 1t takes time and money to develop
industries. 1 have been to New England
and have seen that though she has not
the natural advantages of the south, she
maintains her immense cotton industries
against us chiefly because she has money
Some of the development Of Augusta has
but the great part Of it Is due to the enter
prise OF Augusta people"
But are not the people Of your home
more like the people Of the Eorth?" asked:
land IL not this the reason of their activity
and business strength?'
Robert Toombs used to call Augusta the
connecticut reserve" said the Senator.
1T was settled largely by New England
people. and their children are living there
today. Atlanta, too. IL more like a western
city than a city OF the south But the rea-
son the mining and manufacturing interests
OF the south were neglected before the war
was not because OF the Indifference of her
people. They believed that agriculture con-
Quoted by slave labor was more profita BILE
and they believed that mining and manufac-
turing, requiring free labor, was a menace
to slavery. Slavery has been abolished, and
since the local self-government of the south
ern states has been restored, they have gone
ahead with the development of their ma
terial resources as fast as the lack Of cap
ital would permit. The people of the south
are to blame for their poverty in part: par
ticulariy are the agriculturists of the south
to blame. The south was enormously rich
before the war because the southern people
stayed at home and filled their corn cribs
and smoke houses. When the south raises
her own food supply agein the price OF cot
ton viii rise. because there viii not be over
production, and the southern farmer viii
thrive because he will not have to depend
on any one for the necessaries Of life The
south needs diversified agriculture. That is
one Of her great needs. The others are the
development Of manufactures ana the pur-
suit Of mining.
But the development OF the manufactures
OF the south Is not going to be brought
about IN day. 1t took New England a
century to conquer her present position in
the manufacturing world. 1t will take many
years yet for the south to assert her natural
rights"
Believer In Immigration.
Mr.. Walsh is a great believer In immigra-
ton. very naturally. for. as he says. he was
once an immigrant. and there are thous-
ands where he came from just as good. he
believes, as he is. and just as desirable
citizens
I'VE ought not to raise a hue and cry
against the honest and industrious people
OF Europe who want to come to this coun-
try" said Mr.. Walsh. Seeing the great
west am only sorry that but 1900 Of the
10000 immigrants who land in New York
every year go south. 1 heard Gen. Toombs
say that there was no more land in Georgia
than our children and our grandchildren
would want. / do not believe this Georzta
and all OF the other southern states would be
greatly benefited by the influx OF honest
and industrious Immigrants"
Speaking Of his article on the new south
MI. Walsh said that he was bearing In mind
another saying of Mr.. Toombs, that figures
is preparing to demonstrate what ne says by
figures taken from the other side-the north
ern SIDE OF the question. When the article
is finished Mr.. Walsh hopes to work IL into
the Congressional Record and II Is possible
that II will form the material OF the first
speech which the new Senator from Georgia
delivers on the floor OF the Senate