The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-03-11
PAT. WALSH'S PATRIOTISM
THE MAN WHO HOLDS THE SOUTH'S
INTERESTS so DEAR.
Ho Addresses the General Assem- bly, on the
Subject of the Cotton Exposition at Chi
caeo-. An ELOQUENT Presentation,

Subject of the Cotton Exposition at Chi
cago-. An Eloquent Presentation.
COLUMBIA, s. O., March 5.-The
Hon. Patrick Walsh, formerly the
United States senator from Georgia,
the editor of the Augusta Chronicle
and one OF the most patriotic of South,
ern men, a man always up and doing
for the advancement of the material
interest of the south, arrived in the
city yesterday afternoon and at 6 p.
m. addessed the members of the gen
eral assembly in the hall of the house
OF representatives, by invitation, upon
the scope, aims and purpose of the
great Southern Cotton exposition,
which it is proposed to hold in Chica-
90. There were many outsiders pres
ent to hear the address, which was
an able, eloquent and impressive one.
The audience was thoroughly interest
ed, Notwithstanding Mr.. Walsh spoke
for an hour.
Mr.. Walsh entered the hall on the
arm of Mr.. Weston of Richland, being
accompanied by Messrs. Pollock and
L. J. Williams.
He was introduced by MIR. Weston,
who said that the governor was to
have introduced the distinguished
speaker. He was to speak to them on
vital question. His long service
had endeared him to the whole south.
Mr.. Walsh was profoundly appreci-
ative and grateful for the invitation
which had been extended to him to
address them on the scope and pur-
pose of the Chicago Cotton expositions
They knew that expositions in
in great centres were best means of ad'
vertlsing the resources of any coun-
try. The advanced countries of Eu:
rope realized this. This country had
held several notable expositions. Chi
cago had surpassed in the excellence
of her exposition as compared to the
other notable ones. The exposition in
Atlanta was not to be minimized by
any of those referred to. 1t was
marvellous display of the progress OF
the southern States. 1t would do
great good to the south. He would
not minimize the effect. 1t was rev.
elation to the southerners themselves
that the south possessed such marvel
Gus resources. The only criticism was
that the people of this great country,
whom it was intended to influence,
were not there-the people of the west
and northwest, the farming classes, the
eastern manufacturing and other in
terests. They would have been there
if it had been in one of the great CEN
tres. All could easily see the business
of this criticism. He then gave the
figures, comparing the attendance of
the Atlanta and Chicago expositions.
The purpose of the coming exposi-
ton was to show the people of the
wesl and northwest the wonderful re-
sources of the south. It was also to
show them the marvellous products of
our soil, of our gardens; the diversity
of our agricultural products the city
of Chicago was the place. This was
labor of love with him. He had no
axe to grind-political OF otherwise.
He had reached the conclusion that
there was no area of land anywhere
that God had bestowed upon so many
bounties. No country abounded in
such resources for agricultural and
mechanical pursuits as the south. In
the period following the war, not
withstandfng fer. nearly II years the
southern States Wore oppressed by
1nisgovernment. they had made long
strides, wonderful progress in da#AL-
oping their resources. Inthis respect
no State had accomplished more than
the State of South Carolina. Some
one has said that the south is likely to
overdo this business of manufactur-
ing cotton. All should bear in mind
that the cotton would be manufactur-
ed somewhere, and would compete
with our goods. This argument was a
fallacy. There was no danger OF over
doing this matter. He contrasted the
number of spindles in the mills of
Spartanburg a few years ago with
those of the present time. He pre-
dicted that we would have 10000
spindles ere long.
Mr.. Walsh went on to quote the fig
ures showing the wondrous growth OF
the cotton manufacturing industry IN
the south in the last 10 years. If it
continued at the present rate for 80
years the south would be manufactur-
ing half the cotton crop. We need
more money. They say we owe the
New England capitalists something,
and we should not 60 to Chicago to in
vite those people to come in and COM
pete for our territory. He was above
passion and prejudice, but when it
came to inviting capitalists to aid in
the development of the southern coun-
try he wanted all to come in.
The people of Chicago were doing
all they could. The idea of this ex-
position had taken root in Augusta,
being suggested to some business men
there, and there the movement was
started. They sent to an agent to
Chicago. Then he detailed the pro-
ceedings of the recent conference In
Chicago.
Chicago proposes to furnish the
buildings, the money and manage the
exposition, continuing for 90 days, If
we furnish the exhibits. This was the
personi6cation of generosity.
South Carolina had been most credit
ably-handsomely--r eprese n tie d
among the exhibits at Atlanta. His
purpose here was to ask them to dupli-
cate that exhibit at Chicago. The ex-
position coming on was in his opinion
The greatest thing ever conceived to
bring about a speedy development OF
| the south.