The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-25
PEOPLE AND POLITICS.
BY AN OBSERVER.


Mr.. Mckinley has been finding out his
country. He has been down into the
land OF Robert Toombs Ben Hin and
Henry Grady. lie has been making
some very patriotic speeches down there
and saying some very gracious ana
predetermined things. Even let him be
as ''chaste as ice, yet he will not "cs-
cape caiumny." and already some people
are saying that 1t is an electiOneerlng
tour. This Is all wrong. Mr. Mckinney
has spoken from his heart IL is true
that IL has only recently neon brought
homo TO him and many other leading
men OF tbe North Just how loyal and
true Southern people are IN this respect
the South has had distinct advantage
over the North for many years. The
Southern people have known that the
North was loyal to the Union, am they
have known that the South was equally
loyal 10 the Union. People living IN The
South have known the condition OF TINS
whole country better than people living
IN the North The North is the home OF
provincialism now. The wide. catholic
view OF things exists much more IN the
Southern States than in any other part
of our Union. The South knows us own
affairs thorouchly and by ana through
the great newspapers OF the North, and
because OF the fact that most OF our
public men come from the North, it has
been able TO read with nice dtscrimlna-
ton every shade Of public sentiment ana
every Doutical situation that has exist
% in the North since the civil war On
the contrary unless a Northern man ac-
Az, -
for years a very perverted and false I'M
preston of things down orr way In
his youth he begins 10 hear tales OF the
fever-smitten South, OF the pine woods
and swamps, mosquitoes ana malaria,
he is told tales about the Southern pe0-
pies carrying pistols ana knives ana OF
their shooting down men on the hughl-
est provocation. This is followed up with
tho usual and old ami wcl-wOrn tales
Of the oppression OF the poor negro
Then comes the dialect writer. VINO To-
Gates in our mountains MS Impossible
characters and their miserable lWadole
and iargon, which is Manufactured I'M
der the smell 81 the lamp IN some Norlh-
ern library. No wonder, then. the Nofih
has mtlrlv notions about this great part
Of the Union. Mr. McKinleys VISIT TO
gefher with that of ais Cabinet, VIII 90
much to remove these impressions. il
not only shows him that the hearts oil
these people hang In the right place. thar
their vision Is unclouded by prejudice
but Il also shows him how prosperous,
how progressive. how vigorous life Is IN
our Southern states.
While Mr.. Mckinley Is making his
journey and shaking the hands OF the
warm-hearted Southerners, where great
crowds can assemble I'm the open air IN
midwinter to hear his masterful short
speeches, 1t Is a very good time 20 call
attention 10 the South ITSELF. Our beau
tiful valleys and mountains. our bright
waters. orr abundant and snelterins har-
bors, our atmosphere that knows no eH-
tremes Of heat or cold, or morality as a
community our settled society. our uni
versities colleges and schoOis-aH THESE
things make up a tale that is httle
known outside of the South itself Every
thing IS in the South 10 invite peoplo
to make it their home. the trouble is u
Is not sufficiently known. The agents OF
Western towns and States swarm around
the young Englishman, the German OF
tho Frenchman and invite him 10 their
broad praires. The South should take
steps 70 make herself known Inc Visit
Of Our President and his cabinet cannot
fail 10 call TO the attention Of mankind
everywhere the pleasant nature not only
Of the Southern people bat of the south
ern climate and lands We read con-
stantly I'm the newspapers such headlines
as these: Sixty Killed in Kansas! WORK
OF the storm King Reports from the
scene Of the Great Tornado. From the
St0rm-Swept Regions Of the Vest, ana
The like while beneath such headlines
we read in the body of the articles OF
households being wiped out Of existence
Of men killed by falling houses ana ny
ing debris. children being snatched from
their fathers arms and hurled to DEAN
bv the raging winds. Just as soon as the
frightened and revived inhabitants coll
lect the remnants OF their property news
comes OF another cyclone and DNzzard
sweeping down upon them-bloW aiter
blow. storm after storm, death aiter
death; trans are blocked, wires aye
down a feeling OF des0auon prevalent.
Contrast this with our Quie1, ieftle am
beautiful Virginia. Think or our great
Blue Mountains that keep watch around
our borders 10 ward of the blizzard, me
cyclone or tornado. Think Of our blue
grass pastures and happy homesteads'
and bright. running water. Think OF our
great fields Of coal on one side am rlcn
maintains of ore on the other-teedlns
the great furnaces and loading the ocean
steamers. Think of our seascoast with
its harboring arms stretched out 10 re-
ceive the worlds commerce. THINK OF tne
iuicv and luscious bivalVes that heslle
ON thousands Of acres OF natural rock.
mink Of our famous mineral springs
and health resorts-from old Point Com
fort ana Virginia Beach TO the sulphur
and lithia springs OF the Southwest ana
valley. Think OF all these Things anu
thank the Lord lie has cast your lot
sin green PASTURES and besides stu wa
tors" and stay at home. If you are
western man. crouching In your 500
house from the cyclone rage, ireezins
and shivering in the blizzards breath,
,icl, n, the pieces OF your household ana
titchon furniture. gather up the frag-
,nents OF your wife and chiliren ana
come to Virginia.
va have been a united country ever
s,nce General Lee gave up the struggle
~ Apn.matttx. The South has known
this au these years. Christmas, isss has
,,rouoht a complete realization OF II 70 |
tho northern people. Mr.. Mckinley IN
his trip through the South ms forever
set the seal upon a reopening OF the
stormy pas sions OF the civil war. Being |
4 Union veteran himself member Of |
the Grand Army OF the Republic Camp. |
the leader of the Republican party IN the /
naticn. he can afford % say what he |
has said. and all OF his people Will fol- |