The Atlanta constitution., 1900-04-09

I,d;tor Consfitution-That the south is MAXINE
rapid progress in material way. no one VINO
has made even cursory examination VI ~
resources and industries can possibly deny ~" :
TO the careful student OF southern clNll@d'ioii
there comes a deep sadness along WIN 'io
conviction that the life of the great HiaSSeS
of the people, including nearly all of the farm
ing classes. is dulier and dr.er and harde''
than 1t once was or should be. in land where
nature is so bright and beautiful and the peo-
pie are deserving.
All of our south 2rn .,eoDle-and this IS es-
pecially true of farmers-have worF'i
harder during the last ten years than tAey
have ever worked before. They appreciated
the gifts of nature 20 The south and the OPP
Tortunties Of the times. and they felt most
keenly the necessities of their situation. for
them during recent years 1t was wcrH. steads
and hard work, all was lost. They nave
accomplished much in the general developments
of the south. in the building OF numerous towns
and factories. in the construction Of railways.
In he utlization-and. alas, too often the
w2nton lestruction-of the forests, in the open
ing OF mines. and. best Of all. in the iniroduc-
tion of new crops and the great diversification
or agriculture. A vast work mas been ac-
complished in the op ming and preparing the
| country for the development OF the highest
arts and industries Our wealth-producing re
sources have been scarcely more than touched,
but enough has been done show that they
exist TO IN almost boundless extent for the
use of every art
While this has been acc mplished. the south
erner has not failed entirely. either. of his
pecuniary rewards. He received fair prices
for his agricultural products. and in most de
partments Of manufacture the earnings have
been as good as I'm any country. Considerable
money has come into the south to be Invested
In ratlro2 Is. mines. forests. farms. town lots
and manufactures. The southerner has not
been idle; he has improved his opportunities and
used t'is resources where he could He has
earned some money and reinvcsted il. In
| sEort his situation is greatly improved In a
material way. but the thing which disappoints
| and saddens the thoughtful student OF the
southern society at the present time IS that
| the intellectual and spiritual life Of the peo-
pie comprising all those things which make
life higher. hoier and happier. has not i'm
proved in proportion to the improvement in ma
terial conditions. This is especially true Of
the social life all those things which mako
| home attractive to young people.
This fact must be recognized by all who are
| OLD enough to be able to compare country life
| in the south in the old times with the life of
| the same people at the present time. Doubtless
great Improvement has been made in soma
| ons, as in the mountain regions and other
| srarsely settled neighborhoods. but in the old
| farming sections. which represented the best
/ there was of southern life in $3.50. all that
| belongs to the higher civ ilization has stood
| stil or gone back. The charming. hospitable
| old homes are abandoned, the classical acad-
ernies are closed ana the churches where once
| a cultivated audience assembled each Sunday
| to hear learned discourse from a scholarly
| minister are now opened TO very different
| congregation only once a month: this is es-
| pecially true of the cotton country. The de-
| scendants Of the lordly old planters have re
1 moved to the cities and towns, and. to a great
| degree, these sections. once the most civilized
/ VF-rN..4
| TO small farmers newcomers and negroes. who,
! though fairly industrious live very hard ami
have very little desire hope for anything bet
ter. 1t as 10 this condition that / would call
attention. introductory tc a plea fer the er-
couras N mt in the south Of the things which
/ support the int -llectual life aad the improve
ment of co Intry life.
| X is easy to accol nj for this sad change.
| The civil war oytrthrew the industrial system
of the south and started a series of revolutions
| in every departm aat of business life which have
| only recently wrought their complete work. To
/ a lesser degree the south has suffered from the
/ great changes in the methods of CONNIE rec and
trade which have so pr0=trat,d the western
/ farmers ana reduced the earnings Of agri-
/ culture all old countries the world over.
Along with our western states. the south has
| suffered greyousy from vicious and selfish
| legislation adopted in the interest of other
/ classes. we uni rstaad the causes. Trough We
may not all agree as To the relative effect Of
each one. 1t is not proposed at this time to
| discuss any remedies of political character.
/ This is a strictly industrial article. and il IS
/ the purpose Of the writer 10 urge the iutroluc
/ tion Of edu sational ana il dustrial agencies TO:
making brighter. better ana happier the lift
OF the country people of the south. The means
/ to bc used are Of a wholly different character
I and lie closer to the lives Of tha people than
I any mere political or financial scheme how
! ever important and true it may be, and must
/ form a part of every plan ii social develop
ment under whatsoever government and ecouo-
/ mic system il may be projected This w0rF