Evening star., 1896-10-23
IN THE S0UTH H
One Thing That is Strengthening
Sound Money Sentiment.
MORE CAPITAL FOR INVESTMENT
States That Contribute to the Re-
suit viii Be Benefited.
A DEMOCR ATS VIEWS

An assurance which is greatly strength
ening the sound money cause in the south
and notably in the border states-bears
upon the material benefit to that section
certain to follow the polling there OF a
large sound money vote. Virtue is its
own reward, but something besides the
consc;ousI ess of having declared for the
maintenance of the public credit is to
come to those states which demonstrate the
possession of healthy business sentiment
at this time. Their credit is to be ad-
vanced. and their industries, new and old.
are to be in every way assisted. In a
word, their vote for sound money Is to
be the beacon light to attract capital from
distance.
Capital is Wise.
The argument upon which this assur-
ance is founded is irrefutable. Capital is
not only sensitive, but as rule very wise.
1t knows it's friends. 1t sometimes en-
counters difficulties, but 1t never seeks
any. 1t is constantly on the alert for in
vestments. but it wants hem to be safe.
1t is controlled by the laws of business
and when those laws are respected it goes.
When they are Set aside. or but lightly re-
gardeG, it remains away, or leaves, if it
happens to be on the ground Capital
cares noting about how attractive or
biameless on purely personal grounds po-
ntical leaders may he. If the policies they
advocate are in contravention of we'll es-
tablished laws of business, capital de-
clines TO put itself in their power. 1t does
not feel safe when they make and con-
troll public sentiment.
Gov. Oates Turned Down..
Gov. Oates of Alabama recently discov-
cred the truth of all this He went to New
York to negotiate for money for his state.
but was unable to secure any. The men
with money, who in other circumstances
would have been glad to accommodate him.
felt Obliged to tell him that they were
afraid to place their money in a state
where the sentiment of the majority ia
vored a iftythree-cert dollar. They de-
clined mis- proposition purely on business
grounds They must know before putting
out their money that they would receive it
back in value the same as when it left
them.
Virginia, Delaware, Missouri and Kentucky
invitation to capital is growing more and
more tempting all the time. They are get
ting to he great mining and manufacturing
states Their growth in the last decade
has been surprising. But, so enormous are
their resources, that what has been DONE
gratifying as II Is, has simply served to
show how great the opportunities presented
are But of course the full development
OF those resources calls for business conf
derce and stability and the prevalence of
d SOUND local business sentiment. If the
existence of such sentiment there is ex-
niblted next month, the material interests
OF those states, there is every reason to
believe, Will be greatly advanced. But it,
on the other hand, states, with so much to
expect from the business world, go against
the plainest dictates of business sagacity
they may be sure of paying a heavy pen
atty Tor 1t in the markets seeking openings
Tor their surplus capital.
One Democrats Views.
In a conversation with a representative
OF The Star today, a prominent man, a
democrat, from one of the states named
said:
If sound money wins next month. as
now seems certain, and three or four south
ern states help to achieve the triumph, 1t
Will be blessing of incalculable benefit to
all the SOUTH but particularly to the states
assisting. Their flag will go up for public,
as well as private, integrity. for business
sense. as well as patriotic sentiment, and
they VIII forge ahead like swift horses in
the home stretch"