The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-02-26
A MARVELLOUS CONVERSION.
Prosperity I'm the south IL Working
Wonders,

Wonders.
During the national campaign of
1896, and before the triumph of the
republican party. the popocratic free
silver newspapers, and especially those
of the south and west, insisted that
national distress and calamity would
follow the election of William McKin-
ley. During the same period the re-
publican newspapers of the country
maintained and declared their firm be-
lief that republican success would
mean the creation of new industries,
the disappearance of hard times, and
the beginning of new era of national
prosperity.
After the election of President Nc
Hinley, and until a few month ago,
me popocratic newspapers of the south
and west still insisted that no revival
of prosperity was apparent, nor could
good times be hoped for under repub-
lican policy. simultaneously the re-
publican press Of the country was adj
vising the skeptics to watch the prog
ress of events in the Industrial world,
and was predicting the speedy discom-
future of the croakers and calamity
howlers.
Which was right, the free silver
press, with its lugubrious wall of woe,
or the republican press, with its conf
dence and good cheer?
To-day the free silver newspapers are
recording every day the marvellous re-
vival of business now in progress, and
no papers exceed the former Bryanite
journals of the south and west in the
exuberance of their joy at the new era
of prosperity.
Never has there been more COM
plete vindication of political party
and its policy than the present condi-
ton of the commercial world accords
to-day to republicanism and its ad-
herents.
Among those free silver newspapers
which were most vehement in their
declarations, during the campaign OF
1896, that calamity would follow re-
publican success, was the Atlanta Con-
stitution. And after the election of
President Mckinley the Constitution
still maintained, as long as possible,
that prosperity was not in sight. But
our friend, the Constitution, is singing
another song just now. 1t is basking
in the sunshine of that prosperity al
whose coming it scoffed, and is shout
ing hozannas at the marvellous business
revival of the south.
In recent article the Constitution
proudly announced that no less than
400 new industrial enterprises had
sprung into life in the southern states
between October, 1897, and January
1898. We here quote the precise Ian
guage of our former free silver contem
porary.
Altogether the number of industries
which have sprung into existence in thu
south since October /, 1897, aggregate 1853
divided among the various states Of thi
section in the following manner: Ala
bama. So; Arkansas, 80; Florida, 80; Geor
gia, 81; Kentucky, 49,; Louisiana, 16: Mis-
sissippi, II; North Carolina, 80; South Car
DINA, "a; Tennessee, 40; Texas. 60: Yves
Virginia. Al. and Virginia, s5'.
Verify, this is a notable Journalistic
conversion to the paths of righteous
ness and truth. 1t is marvel com
parable only with the advance in thu
south's activity, which is so graphical
ly set forth in the above quotation.
1t will be strange thing if the les
son which the south has learned since
November, 1896, does not impel tina
great, rich, and fertile section of ou
common country to indorse and adop
the political and economic principle
which have resulted in it's recen. prog
ress. The south, by its own expert
ence, has discovered at last that tn
principles of republicanism are thu
principles which underly nationa
prosperity, and its own self-interes
should henceforth impel the south II
adopt those principles as its own.
Meanwhile the whole north, and Gin
cinnati in particular, sends fraterna
greeting to the south, and best wishes
for a long continuance of the blessings
bestowed upon it by the policy of re
publicanism.-Cinci Commercial
Tribune