The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-04-24

government, at all times in exact COD
formisy to the technical requirements
Of written constitution, but whether
With the spirit rather than the letter of
that constitution, We are making the
most Of our national opportunities and
meeting the political economic condi-
tious growing ont Of the constantly
changing needs of the people. 1t is
historically true that 90 form of govern
nept ever did result from deliberate
choice; it has always been the logical
result of conditions.
The uatiou is oothing but the type
Of individual life. sDd as from child.
hood to manhood We outgrow garments
and duties these are put aside, SO it is
in the evolutionary development OF
patton. social. political. and industrial
systems that have their day are thrust
aside for new methods and new systems
to meet changed and higher state OF
existence. We have reached a stage
Of development 10 the south where it is
Improbable to rake the dead ashes and
charred embers of the past and where
We must look forward rather than back
ward True craftsmanship, while vigi-
lans as TO the present, looks With pro.
phetic eye to the future.
The people have right to expect
their lesders to be 10 advance of the
Thought of the age, and not tamely
drift with the current 10 an era of
transition and change, like this. with
out some such forecast, political parties
will cling to dead issues, and finally
founder 10 the maelstrom Of iactiooal
divisions aud greed for Office
When Louisana, Florida, Texas and
California we're acquired the great
leaders of the democracy acted upon
this doctrine, and 80 when this war
with Spaiu produced certain results it
would have been the part of wisdom to
have mace party platforms and policies
correspond With existing conditions
and their natural and inevitable conse-
ouences.
We are now 10 the commercial arena,
consesting with the other nations for
the trade of the world So far we have
built up oar foreign trade by Intense
absorption in she internal development
of our domestic industries. We Dow
produce sufficient for the needs of twice
our population, ard not to 6nd market
for our surplus is to invite stsgDaiion
and decay
The most striking feature 10 cur
export development is the remarkable
snd constantly increasing demand for
our iron aud steel Within six years We
have advanced to the position where
American iron and steel caters into the
construction of every bridge aud rail
road 10 the world or fixes the price
therefor.
| saw 10 the papers few days ago
that the Baldwin locomotive works 10
Philadelphia we're supplying the Rus
sian government with 15G locomotives
for the Traus siberiao Railroad. The
facts surrounding this sale are of pecu
liar interest. The Russian government
owns its railroads and maintains large
shops It puts duty of 4 cents per
pound on Imports, bot when it came to
supplying the equipment for this giant
road of 5000 miles, it wss found that
they had to come TO the United States
And get, seven years ago the first iron
shipment abroad was from Birmingham,
Ala
Another feature of American iD6a.
ence is our suddenly acquired foaDclal
independence For years We have been
borrowers, but during the two years
past ve have become lenders of money.
Three of the largest European govern
ueots. Eogland, Germany and Russia,
have found /. necessary to come to New
York for important loans. thus showing
that the centre of the financial world
has been transferred from Lombard to
Wall Street It is folly for the political
leaders of the south to close their eyes
to the truth that the commercial ezpao
sious of the United States is fact Of
constantly eDlargiDg proportions, de
mandiog changed governmental policies
to meet new conditions
10 spite of higher wages. with labor
saving machinery, the superior skill
aDd intelligence of our operatives. under
a factory system better organized than
any 10 the world. is giving US Ddus
trial ssoeDdaucy It needs, however,
to support it broad craftsmanship. not
handicapped by sectional prejudices.
We can difer about domestic matters
and divide upon party lines. but when
it comes to utilizing national opportuni-
ties, north. south. east and west should
unite 10 maintaining the supremacy of