The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-21
SITTING IN THE ASHES.
CharIestOn's Closed Doors Has Pre-
vented PrOEress-The Open Door
Has Made Spartanburg u Live and
Hustling City-A True Statement
AN 10 the Folly of One City and the
wisdom Of the Other.
Carolina Spartan

II seems passing strange that business peo'
pie who have had an opportunity OF LOOKING
a little beyond the reach Of their noses should
advocate closed doors in our commercial reia'
tions with the balance Of the world would in-
sist on closed doors. Any provincial popula-
tion, who believe that they are the best peo-
pie on earth, would be opposed 10 tne con, con
policy. But 1t Is singular that Leading men,
or those who assume leadership, should OPP
pose the progress the State is making and
look will suspicion at any one who advocates cate
ex pansion OF any sort, whether social, politi'
cal religious or commercial. The word eX-
pansion gives them cold ohills.
The way in which the doors swing makes a
difference in community. The first decade
after the civil war there was only one cotton
mill In the county and that was very
shoddy affair. Taking out real estate, the
value Of which was very uncertain, mere was
perhaps not man in the county worth
$4,000 But the people concluded to open
wide the doors and keep them propped 30
they could not close. They voted subsidies 10
railways and to cotton mills until the pollti.
com mercial relations with the people North
and West who had adopted the open door
policy and who believed in expansion. The
Spartanburg doors have never been closed
since they were thrown open thirty years
ago. We are not ashamed OF the policy. 1t
hes done US good. OF course, IT costs some
thing, All good and valuable things come
high. But we do not regret the price. The
doors are still open.
It strikes US up In these foothills ag strange
that Charleston should afford striking ex-
ample of the opposite course. In the old days
before the war our merchants all went TO
Charleston for their goods. 1t was the me.
tropolis OF the State In name and fact. But
how changed! There she sits, the Niooe OF
the State Solitary by the sea. Our NJ mercha D Is
nave forgotten the road to the old city. The
old high ways that were worn by thousand
wheels bearing their burdens TO the busy
marts have groWn up ID pranoes: S, All ,Iied aeat
20 long that the hinges are rusty and the
doors will not open again. The grass.covered
alleys leading down TO the decaylng wharves,
the shipless harbor, the empty warehouses,
all indicate that the closed door and CONNER:
cial contraction are very dear to the good and
venerable people OF Charleston.
About the time when Spartanburg opened
her doors and few men Without capital pro-
Iected the Air Line road from Atlanta 10
Charlotte, business men Of the county went
TO the president OF the old South Carolina
ton people that the opportunity had come for
the old city 10 open door to the West by way
of Asheville. The only reply they got was
about this: Gentlemen. you see Charleston
South Carolina and Western North Carolina.
The people are obliged to come here" With
that the door was slammed and 1t has been
closed to the up country for thirty years.
Charleston drummerS never annoy our
merchants Charleston goods do not come
this way. They seem TO prefer TO 90 where
the doors are open and where warm vel.
come awaits them. That being Charleston's
plan, it may be expected that there will be
opposition TO all progressive and aggressive
movements unless they emanate from Char.
lesion.
We like the old city for its history. for Its
patriotism in the past. for It's ST. Michaers
chimes, for the unique and picturesque vir-
tues and peculiariteS OF the old Charleston
families, for their exalted virtues and highly
refined natures, for their exclusive ST. Cscilia
Society, tor the sweet intouations of their
musical voices, but we regret that they are SO
satisfied with the bay and battery and Isle OF
forgotten 10 open their commercial doors and
exp pand in all directions and fall In line with
the great business and commercial procession
that Is beginning 10 move forward In the
South.