Evening journal., 1895-08-05
Business and Political Outlook in. the
south


Hon. Burton McMlllin, NJ c.. of Ten
nessee. is greatly encouraged by his
recent trip through the South. he Is
enthusiastic over the Industrial and
commercial outlook OF that portion OF
the country. 1T Is really wonderful. -
says Mr. McMlllln, mo one who was
acquainted with the situation IN the
South year ago can rsalizs the wonder
ful change exespt by personal obssrva-
tion. don't care what you attribute II
to, Il is sufficient for me for the time
being that 1t is here. Aud this Is no
ordinary boom, TO make hullsbaloe and
then peter out Not a bit OF It.
This has a solid foundation, and has
come to stay. People say good times are
coming. But that is not all. They are,
in a measure, already here, and will.
mark my words, be followed by an era
Of prosperity just as remarkable and
senseless as was the panic from which
we are now recovering"
We do not agree with these last words,
the panic and the hard times produced
by II were undoubtedly ssnseless, but
we cannot attribute the return Of pros
perity to senselessness. On the oontrsrg.
1t has been produced by return to good
sense on the part Of the people. The
same element is rapidly emancipatlng
the South from the silver folly. We
agree with Mr.. MsMlllin, however, that
the main cause which led to the panic
was lack of confidence Men grew
afraid Of one another, and commercial
houses that had always had their gilt.
edged paper discounted by the banks
without hesitation FIRST met with delay
and afterward by refusal to loan. There
vas really no reason for any such condi.
tion, nor Is there any reason at this time,
according to Mr. hcMlllin's views. for
the remarkable change TO the other
extreme; but It is here and In no case is
the change any more remarkable than In
the South. The South stands to-day at
the very threshold OF a commercial and
industrial revival such as II has never
known. Business Is booming, factories
are all running on full time, soma over
time, while the crops are wonderful The
corn crop Will In Mr McMlllln's judg-
ment, be the largest ever known and
bids fair TO be the best.
Il IL thus seen that all natural con
ditlons favor this return OF prosperity
and there seems to be no doubt--no
uncertainty-abou the future Every
one is eaiisned but the chronic calamity
hoWler who will be out OF business for
long time, the longer the better We
agree with Mr.. MoMillln that politically
this great tidal wave Of prosperity cannot
fail to have a marked effect, and this
eject VIII be as national In It's character
as the good times. The party in power,
whether justly or not. is always held
responsible for existing conditions, as
witness the vote Of the people at the
last election. when Democratic voters
were 80 scarce In some sections Of the
country as to almost be curloslties. 1t
will be different next me, and between
now and the nsxs election we are sure
will be Witnessed one OF the most
remarkable reversals Of the peoples
judgment on record.
There is no reason for further discour-
sgement on ihs part Of Democrats
The Republican game OF decelving the
people and doing everything to bring
about the hard times is now beginning
to react upon them They cannot fool
the people when they are prosperous
under Democratic administration, they
viii remember Lincoln's famous phrase
that 1T Is bad time to swap horses
when crossing a river"