The age-herald., 1898-05-15
THE WAR AND THE SOUTH.
Mr. N. E. Thompson, of Pennsylvania, Writes
 on This Important Question.
o the Editor of The Age-Herald.

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 During the past few days this question has been most frequently propounded to me by friends whom met all over Ala bama: What effect will the war have on the south?", and to all have given this answer: "In my judgment the tenn porary effect will be felt injuriously, in the checking of enterprises or movements, par ticularly matured for the souths advant- age, but in the end the results will be greatly to the south's benefit. It is to emphasize this fact that ask indulgence from your readers, absorbed as I know they are at this time by the stirring events in which our country finds itself. The. one great and only danger, in my judgment. is that these events may lead the south to neglect the opportunities that are before her. otherwise there is no cause to feel that there will be other than good to the south from the war. Ordinarily the patri- otic impulses of the southern people are so strong that they may oyereap the bounds of conservative judgment regarding her material interests, but if we presrve this in the present emergency, we will the earlier recover from any injury which in a general way may effect us from the war. That it will remove the lost cause on which sectional animosities have heretofore ex- isted, there can be no question, and viewed in that light alone, it is a result cheaply purchased no matter what of sorrow or suffring it may entail on our brave sons who are in the field of action. 1t is a spec tacle, that has perhaps started the entire world to see the United States so suddenly and so completely united to face common foe, when bitter sectional animosities were known so recently to exist among us. But now the party or section that would in any hot C16 f.nIf fr should be justly regarded with distrust and disfavor, because so manifestly un-Ameri- can.
 From this the south cannot fail in reaping a richer harvest of material blessings than would have been possible under the old status for years to come. Provided or course, that the south realizes the value of this condition and avails herself of it. This renders 1t imperative, therefore, that there should not only be no cessation of effort on the part of the south inindustrial lines, but a redoubling of energy in that direction Herein lies the field of the souths greatest possibilities of wealth and prosperity, and no one who aspires to lead the people of the south should fail to take this into their foremost thought and actions.
 That we are in the midst of an epoch- making era no thinking person can doubt, and that it will bring changes in the policy of our country is equally true, but it is for these very reasons that every loyal son of the south, and of Alabama especially, be- cause her star is the brightest in possibili- ties of any of her sisters, for these reasons we should cling closer than ever to the duties and claims of higher citizenship. and follow the dictates of a loftier patriotism.
 I am impressed with the belief that day is coming when a graver danger will beset our country than what now imperils 1t, and to the south will the notion turn for guid- ance. because here will be found strongest the ties and claims of purest Americanism. I hope our people will see this trend of their higher destiny and resoutely push forward in every channel that may tend to it's fullest attainment.
 N. F. THOMPSON.
 Birmingham, May 14.