The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-16

silver IS that for lack OF money the coun-
try does not prosper as 1t is entitled to
prosper. and with it the Inevitable cry
that under the gold standard the rich
are growing richer and the poor are grow
ing poorer Free silver was potent In
1886 because times were dull and laboring
men were walking around the country
looking for work. The very meat that
free silver feeds upon Is calamity, and In
order 10 get the people interested in Il,
il is necessary to convince them that the
country is going to ruin under the gold
standard.
This Is a matter of concern to the peo-
pie of the South. The South is now pros
pering as never before in its history, and
all the newspapers Of the South are VIE
ing with one another in advertising the ad-
vantages OF their respective sections. The
editor Of the Charleston News and Cour-
Ter and prominent merchant of Charles
ton were in Richmond the other day to
interest the people OF this city in the
forthcoming exposition to be held in
,
these gentlemen as to the business condi-
lions in the South, and both replied that
they were excellent. AT least, said Ed
tor Hemphill, chat Is true of Charleston.
We have made distinct gains during the
past two years, and our prospects are
brighter than ever before in the history
of our city" The Atlanta papers, the
Birmingham papers, the Jacksonville pa
pers, indeed. all the representative South
ern newspapers that come to this office
tell the same story of prosperity ana
progress and a bright future.
If any additional evidence be needed 1t
is found in the increased and constantly
increasing earnings of the railroads of the
South. The earnings of last year were
phenomenal, yet the reports this year show
increased earnings week by week over last
year. This is true of the Louisville and
Nashville, the Norfolk and Western, the
Seaboard Air Line, the Southern Railway,
the Chesapeake and Ohio, the Atlantic
Coast Line, and, indeed, all the great rail-
road systems which penetrate the South
ern country. There has been wonderful
development in the cotton industry, in the
iron industry, in all branches of Industry
contemporaries generally are telling the
people on The outside that the South is the
land of promise, and offers greater induce
;ments than any other section to home
seekers and investors.
Is it possible that these newspapers are
going 10 join in the calamity cry for po-
litical effect? Is ii possible that the sub
stantial man who are as busy as they
can be developing the resources of the
South and extending their business. are
going to declare that the South is going
TO the dogs ard that disaster will I'M
doubtedly overtake it unless the mints of
the country shall be OPENED to the free
coinage of silver? We do not believe il.
II calamity is TO be the campaign cry of
the Democratic party this year. it will
only excite the disgust Of these men. and
they will nave nothing to do with it. The
Democratic party must be a progressive
party Ii must build up and not tear
down. 1t stands for liberty and manhood
and local self-government. and all that.
but it must stand also for business and
industrial progress, Or it must fall. This
is practical question. and the Democrats
who meet in Kansas City to make plat
form for the Democratic party must deal
with it in a practical way. The people of
the South. at least, are in no humor for
another calamity campaign.