St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-04
IN THE PRIMARY GRADE.

The debate which is going on in
Georgia between Secretary Smith and
ex-Speaker Crisp on the financial cues
ton is exciting to us chiefly as show
Ing that the people Of one of the most
progressive states Of the South are
just passing through the primary
grade in education. We commented
lately upon the intelligent survey Of
Col. Mcclure, Of the PHILADELPHIA
Times, of the political and other
aspects Of the South. He states the
fact that the people of that section are
In state of mental chaos and uncer-
tainty. They are just beginning to
con the primer of economies. There
has been little intelligent public opin-
lon in the South since the war. The
entire attention of the people there
has been concentrated upon domestic
problems. For nearly thirty years
they were occupied with the difficulties
Of reconstruction, with the reorgani
zation of PROSTATE industry, and with
the desperate struggle against bayo-
net rule. Patriotic and public-spirited
Southerners, no matter what their pre-
vious political affiliations, sank every
other idea in their obedience to the
first law of nature. To preserve their
right OF self-government, to fight force
bills and to deal with the race prob
lem that was clamoring at their doors
filled all their time and commanded
all their energies.
To these people the tariff question and
the financial question were almost in
truders. They have had little time TO
study either. Now. for the first time.
they find themselves relieved from the
apprehensions of the whole period that
has elapsed since the war closed. In
that epoch a generation has grown IN
and acquired voting privileges which
has made no study Of economics. and
IS obliged to participate in the
great controversy that has been going
on without requisite preparation. No
section Of this country needs -ucation
In the elements of the great science
progress, whatever men may do to
assist or retard it, as much
as the South. It is because
of this fact that the cheap money
delusion has obtained there so strong
foothold. The Southern people are
still poor They are largely in debt.
Their great staple product, cotton, has
experienced within recent years a de-
cline in price as serious as that which
has affected the wheat raisers of the
North. To these people have come the
demagogues with their project for pav-
ing debts with fat money, and raising
prices by act of legislature.
1t is not becausey the people Of the
South are any less honest or any less
intelligent than others that so manv
of them have been won to this notion
1t is because they are deficient in eco
nomic education, and must go through
all the grades before they can compre-
bend the inevitabIeness of the natural
laws that govern in the world of
finance, as memorable as those that
prevail in the world of science. Their
education is now going forward, end
no men deserve better of their country
than those who, taking their political
fortunes in their hands, are going
through the South giving instruction
to the people, pointing out to them
the fallacies of the cheap money the.
Dry, and marking the advance to the
next stage in their political education.
This is what Secretary Carlisle did in
Kentucky, when his splendid cam
paign converted that from a free sill
yer into a sound money state. This
is what Secretary Smith is -oing in
Georgia against one of the most bril-
liant leaders Of his party.
One has but to read the accounts of
their joint debates to understand that,
whatever may be the immediate re-
suit, the ultimate effect of sound doc
trfne will be salutary and lasting.
Secretary Smith has not the better