The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-14
rHE soUTH IN PHILADELPHIA.

a x 81 A@A
home TO hold a meeting, the object
OF which. it is stated, being to adver-
tise the products of the south. The
south for a decade has been doing no
little advertising of its resources,
products and opportunities. New Eng
land and other sections in the north
have long since found out about this,
course it is all right for southern bust
ness men to accept Philadelphia's in
vitation to visit that great city, es-
pecially as it has no selfish axe to
grind of it's own. We hope it will be
in every way profitable and interest
ing, and that every southern state will
be we'll represented. 1t is already
large, over 1000 representatives being
on hand. The south is learning to
take care of itself, and by meeting
in a northern city, it may really make
better known the remarkable ad-
vantages possessed by it. The sections
may be better drawn together by such
commercial intercourse. But all along
the south has been greatly tributary
~ liz vast "SdIlu VI the HOTlQ, lie
yet that did not soften prejudices,
stifie Vituperation and eliminate sec
tional ~antagonisms. as it should have
o 1t is never too late to mend.
1t is to be hoped that only good will
come of this unique gathering. While
the south has much more of invested
capital han the north has understood.
n it's progress has been mainly of
its own investment and toll, still there
are left manifold advantages and OPP
~portunities for men of the north to
come in and invest, and help to de-
-yelop more rapidly the most inviting
section of this vast country.
The pictures of the visitors are
amusing. They look like caricatures,
and they are SO happy at being in the
city Of Brotherly Love-" They are
rushing for a handshake with some
one.
The scheme of discussion is extern
sive. embracing cotton. canalling
n s. on. Texas sends most dele
gates. while louisiana, Mississippi and
Alabama are largely represented.
Colonel n. f. Thompson is secretary
OF this convention. n he is reported
in The North American. that has been
industrious and active in trying to
make it a splendid success, as saying:
W lave many inducements to of
fer. Compared with the west, our
climate is perfect From an agricul-
tural standpoint, there is nothing left
to be desired. In the southern states
fhprp iC hardly n dow in tho nntira
year when it is necessary to house or
feed cattle. In the west the cattle
raisers are forced to furnish shelter
and food for their cattle during the
winter months. South we have no
winter. One may plow at any season
of h year. From an Industrial
standpoint our advantages are just as
great. We have all the raw materials
at hand. Also we have cheaper b
than can be secured elsewhere in this
country. The section is ready to &C
cept modern improvements, and is
anxious to those who will
bring them to US"
OF course all this is old to southern
readers of newspapers. The papers of
all the states have from decade to de-
cade spread before it's readers the re-
sources of the south. North Carolina
has been so written up that it is a
very old story to retell it and revamp
the facts. But it is a necessity that
there shall be line upon line. 1t is a
mistake to tell the north that it is
only but yesterday that the south
learned of it's own u and be-
gan to use them. The population in
the south is sparse as compared with
overcrowded New England and the
Middle states, but the work of up
building has been steadily pursued for
a score of years. a vast field remains
to be cultivated. and great riches
await development. But it is no
longer RIP Van Wrinkle" as to North
Carolina Before the war she led her
sisters in important fields of endeavor
and enterprise. and she is not behind
many of them now. Having a large
negro population and over-plus of
unlettered whites, h ranks low in
education. and still she has a great
school development, and is doing a
work Of unusual interest n utility.
The Philadelphia Press, a Simon
pure republican paper, has this in a
recent editorial and it shows intelli-
gent observation and insight:
1.-The industrial development in the
south during the past few years has
been marvellous. Only those who have
kept themselves closely acquainted
with the progress made have an AIDE
ouate idea Of its character. This &C
tivity has extended to all branches OF
agriculture and manufacturing. 1t has
brought prosperity to many neighoor-
hoods and transformed cities and
towns into hives Of industry. The CEN
sus statistics gathered In fsV VIII give
MANY striking proofs of this change.
but the progress has been SO RAPID
that even these figures will fail TO 90
justice to the situation"
One of the things which the south
has already dom for Philadelphia
alone is to send $4,000 negroes to dwell
among the whites. Whether or not