The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-19
OPENING OF THE ATLANTA En-
POSITION.

Yesterday, at noon, the Exposition at
Atlanta broke the bounds of local en-
deavour, and became a thing of the
South.
And the spirit in which it was con-
eeived is no broader than that with
which it is contemplated by every South
ern State.
For, after all, what does it mean, if
not that the South, through Atlanta, is
giving an account of herself, through all
these thirty years gomez
For one hundred and twenty days At
lanta will tell the story, and her sisters
will listen to it, and Git is not too much
to say the world win listen to it.
There will be pathos in the story, but
pathos only by anthithesis of the pres
ent progress with the prostration of the
past.
There will be brought together within
the limits of this city these things that
we make in mills and dig from mines,
and the cattle and crops upon the hills,
and the handiWork of people who labor.
1t will be the happy outcome of peo-
pie who with happy heart have pressed
forward only,-the outcome, too, of pa
thence under collateral political compli-
cations, of purpose that, ignoring non
essential regrets, saw solutions OF prob
lens in keeping at work to the end that
there ought be industrial increase.
Atlanta has not been alone in such
spirit: this has been the moving prin-
ciple Of the whole South.
But Atlanta must not be put by as
having been an ordinary factor, only,
in the phenomenal forward movement.
1t means no detraetion to other South
ern cities to say that Atlanta has pressed
itself upon the attention of this country
in a way that has probably not been
equalled by any other Southern city.
Nor must all be put down to her topo-
graphical position, which, however, is
commanding.
For Atlanta may be called the small
place in the hourglass among the cities
of the South. It is the South's great
midway focal point, whether from New
York or Kansas City; whether to New
Orleans or Savannah. 1t is the centre OF
the spider-web ofrailroad systems 1t con
centrates, for hundreds of miles around,
the demand for city which is made by
unseen trade-laws that envelop it. II
has this and many more advantages.
But it has been strong in her young
men, too, who, with Henry Grady at the
head, have interpreted the tone of The
tune, without regard to prejudice, il
only they were proclaiming truth. AnC
their great watch word has been more
men and more work.
And they have been met by men anC
labor. For those people Of the Soutf
who belonged to the class that Lincoln
called the plain people-the men wh'
fought the battles, have since the va
been high privatas at the plow
And org IMITATION has followed sur
plus, and UGH organized surplus ha
ma ie market, in manufactures for on
Own raw material, as we'll as turned th
hand to tue pa ,tical fashioning of tn
finished product.
And it has ali been done in the spiri
that would prompt such words as these
''let US 10. BE- idle and talk in the mar
ket places Of troubles that ar
past and that we cannot remedy
but let US rather find all remedies i
development. Then will be the time t
look back from the strong industrial
vantage ground with pride to post tina
is historic and that is our own"
The people who will attend the Exposi
ton will run into the hundreds Of thous
ands, and they win all see with thei
eyes the story of the New South.
There are now notes already in tn