The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-04-24
ly measured, parts all to exist perma-

pigmy. For . nation the century has
been content to grspple with questions
OF internal dew .lopment, but suddenly
iu the evolution of our natio nal destiny,
We have become one of the great pow
ers OF the world, and can no longer
move in circumscribed orbit. If We
would maintain our supremacy or even
quality among the nations of the world,
the shackles forged by narrow, Sec
tional rsjudices must be broken.
The question of the hour is not
who ther this ReI ublic is what it's fouu-
dors with the light before them) in.
tended to make it; not who ther this is
theo! etically an ideal Democratic gov
erpment, at all times in exact conformi-
ty to the teohnical requirements of
written constitution, but whether with
the spirit rather than the letter OF that
constitution, we are making the m ost
Of our natl )nal opportunities and meet
ing the political economic conditions
growing CUT OF the constantly changing
needs Of the people. 1t is historically
true that Io form Of government ev,r
did result from deliberate choice; it
has always been the Logical result of
conditions.
The nation is nothing but the type
of Individual life, and as from child
hood to manhood We outgrow garments
and duties these are put aside, 80 il Is
in the evolutionary development of q
nation, social, political, and industrial
systems that have their day are thrust
aside for new methods and new sys-
tens to meet a change and higher
1f ,.tN
stage of development in the south
where it is uoproftable to rake the
dead ashes and chsrred embers OF the
past and where we must look forward
ralh1r than backward. Tue states
manship, while vigilant as to the prec
ent, looks with prophetic eye to the
future.
The people have q right to expect
their leaders to be in advance of the
thought Of the age, and not tameIy
drift with the current. In an era of
transition and change like this, with
out some such forecast, political parties
will cling to dead issues, and finally
founder in the mselstrom of factional
divisions aud greed for Office. When
Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Califor
mis- were acquired the great leaders of
the Democracy acted upon this doc
trine, and SO when this war with Spain
produced certain results it would have
been the part of wisdom to hAvs made
party platforms and policies CORE
spond with existing conditions and
their natural and inevitable conse-
quence..
We are now in the commercial arena
contesting with the other nations for
the trade OF the world. So far we have
built up our foreign trade by intense
absorption in tho internal development
Of our domestic industries. We now
produce sufficient for the needs Of
twics our population, and not to find
market for our Surplus is to invite
Decay? The most strlk
(eoloin our export development
is the remarkable and constantly in
creasing demand for our iron aud steel
Within six years we have advanced to
to the position where American iron
and steel enterl into the construction
of eve, Srldge and railroad in the world
, or fixes the price the orefor.
saw in the papers few days ago
that the Baldwin locomotive works in
Philadelphia were supplying the Rus.
sian government with $50 locomotives
for the Trans Siberian railroad. The
facts surrounding this sale are of pc.
culIar interest. The Russian govern,
ment owns it's railroads and maintains
large shops. 1t pats duty Of cents
per pound on imports, but when il
came to supplying the equipment fol
this giant road of 5000 miles, it was
found that they had to come to the
United States. And yet, seven years
ago Il o first iron shipment abroad wa:
from Birmingham, Ala.
Another feature of American in
fuence is our suddenly acquired fnan
cial indepeud snce. For years we hav,
been borrowers, but during the tw,
years past we have become lenders o
money. Three of the largest EuropeiI
governments, England, Germany AIT
Russia, have found it necessary t.
come to New York for important loans
thus showing that the centre of TIL
financial word has been transferred
f,om Lombard to Wall street. 1t
folly for the political leaders of til
south to close their eyes to the trut
that the c3mme; eiAl expansions of tn
United Ststes is fact of CONSTANT
enlarging proportions, demsndin
changed governmental policies to mee
new conditions.
la spite Of higher wages, with labor
saving machinery, the superior ski
and intelligence of our operatives, III
der factory system better organize
: than any in the world, is giving us il
duslrial ascendancy. 1t peeds, hoV
ever, to support it bIold Statesman
: ship, not handicapped by sections
prejudices. We can differ about d.
. mesti, matters and divide upon pari
lines, but when it comes to utiliz I
a national opportunities, north, sOutl
east and west should unite In msintay
ing the supremacy of the United Stat
@ in the great struggle among the nt
t tious for the commerce of the world.
Q The south must play an importa
:. psrt in our country's future For
i third of q century she has been hal
J. pered by q struggle for mere existenc
n forced to devote all Of her energy al
n craftsmanship to the maintenance
Il white supremacy. Thank God, this
;; permanent and assured beyond pers
.s venture of doubt. At last she h
% emerged from her for!orn and pre-
d trste condition; freed from her c
l. thTallment, she can put herself in tou
with the best thought Of the age, a
r again exercise an influence in natioI
y lifo. | believe the tins will come VIII
al the south will be the hope and salV
rs ton of this nation. Her marvelo
IL growth in manufacturing enterprise
10 her development of national resource
d and her rapid advance in pIogressi
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