Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-12-14
THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE
SOUTH.
Communicated.

"Great Britain and Europe are not
the only countries in the world with
which CONNER cia intercourse is desir-
able; ror are they The only ones who's
trade can enrich and make prosperous.
S wrote Mathew F. Maury in 1853,
and he proceed, to show The import
ance Of the t:ade of the islands of the
SEA, aud tn t of South America; and
more specially the opportunity thus
offered to The people of the South to
re ain muyh of that commercial SUI
premacy which she once had, but has
now lost forever, with England and
Europe.
1t is a most remarkable fact that the
waters of the Mississippi and those of
the Amazon with their numerous
tributaries draining the North and
South American continents, mingle
their waters in The Caribbean Sea.
Commodore Maury says, mature has
scooped out the land in Central America
and cut the continent nearly in two
there that she might plant between the
mouth OF the King OF Rivers (Missis-
sippi) and of the Father Of Waters
(Amazon) an arm Of the sea capable OF
receiving The surplus produce Which
the two grandest river basins on the
face of the earth are some day to pour
out into the Gulf of Mexico and the
Caribbean Sea"
Words Of prophecy, which are ON
the eve of fulfllment, if the results Ct
our negotiations at Paris are such as 10
awaken the American people to their
opportunity and their duty.
The Caribbean Sea and the Gulf OF
Mexico are twin basins and are destin-
ed by natu be the greai est COM
mercial lece t.cles in the world.
Commodore aury says, '1n conse-
quence lie winds and currents of
sea the cou' Sc o. navi cation from l. q
mouths of the Mississippi and of the
Amazon, as well as from all parts of the
Cult and Caribbean Sea, is such as to
compel every VI ssel that trides in their
llarkets whether it be with the pro-
duoe of the great Amazonian valley at
the south or the mighty valley of the |
West, 50 freight d for Europe, for
Africa, for India, nay, R de Janeiro
and for South America itself to pass
the very ofings of our Southern ports
on their way to market And when
there shall be established o DINNER cial
thoroughfare across the Isthnes the
trade win Is of the Pacific viii pace
China and India and all the islands Of
hat Deem down hill alo fr' m t,is
,ea of ours. In that ase the whole
If Europe must pass by our very d ors
IN the great highway to the arLet
OTIS of the East and West Indies
is it important then for the Une
states to hold ports on this
Highway of the sea for the protection
nd encouragement of her commerce!
Ye n W rank as the third commercial
over in tie world and are fast out
tripping Germany in the race tor
scond lace in The volume Of her for
gn trade.
England and Anne icL, two Anglo
axons, seem destined to control he q
ade of the world. TIE result OF the s
ar with Spain has served a useful pur- b
,se in emphasizing and determinging "
@ close relations of these two peo- i
es, and foreshalowing the work,
cir concerted and harmonious en- II
avors must accomplish for the civil
alton of the world. There is no
eater factor in civilization than con- 3
,rce. How are England and the 10
nted States to be collectors in this II
rki Upon first view it might be r,
opposed that they would be rivals
her than co-workers 1t is true that
gland and America have both swept
oss the continent with their Canad-
and Pacific railways and rest upon an
Pacific. But not as rivals, rather II
co-workers, they now stand for the M
-elopment of their trade relations. ke
ssia and England are in the highest "a ".
rec antagonistic, and England has pb
ye interest at stake in the East. She tu
lid, 40 doubt, be glad to have Ameri- tri
support in the face OF coalition of SUI SUI
tinental powers to obstruct and for
rthrow her power in the East, and ma
xchonge guarantee to America her rol
poit in our trade relations with the No