The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-30

cidi SoutneTH states DOIn white and
black will be Above to qualify them
selves for suffrage. Any statute that
might be enacted by congress with
reference te III matter would neces-
sarily appfS TO all states Whatever
effect new legislation in the southern
states may have had towards abridg-
ing the suffrage of the negro. one Of
the best evidences of friendship on
the part OF the white people, and
their desire TO see the condition Of the
negro improved. is that there has been
spent In the southern states up to his
time shout $I35, 900. 00e for negro ed
ucaticn, and these appropriations will
be Increased from a to year ac-
cording to the increased revenue ot
the different states. 1t is
abte to think, as has appeared in the
pat. that the intelligent people Of the
south have the same views on all pub
Tic questions, and 1t is, therefore, not
well that any conditions should exist
Tnat might prevent the expression of
any diversity OF opinion. 1t is time
Nor the south TO be understood, and
mot misrepreSented. a. il a been in
many instances by so-called leaders.
And those politicians who expect to
continue to make capital for them
selves by contfnu ed agitation OF the
negro question or in the advocacy
of questions which the people more
than once have declared a snare and
a delusion and obstacles to the pros
perity of this country, will find some
bright day that they have been re-
tired to private life. We cannot afford
to have the prosperity of the south
retarded by n man or set of men.
but it must be known and understood
that the southern people are for prog
ress, for assound n stable currency,
for ALI governmental measures pro-
tecting the rights of every class of
citizens, cor the enforcement of the
laws andt1or the sacredness OF human
life. kf{d taking such a stand. let
the south throw wide open rs gates
to all wno may appreciate It's attrac-
tions and desire to cast their lot in
our suTny CLINE. The south. with its
vast resources, with its production Of
two-thffds of the worlds cotton, with
spindle to consume 2,000.0H0 bales
OF Gotten per annum possessing more
than half of the standing Timber sof
the United States, with Alabama nam
ing the price of foundry and basic iron
for the world. with $4,000 miles, or
nearly one-tbird of the railroad mil
cage v6i the country, viii at no distant
day attract the world with its marvel
Gus development and rapid growth in
every way.
The late Abram S. Hewitt, one of
h greatest ironmasters which. Amer
lea has produced, a year or more be-
fore his death predicted tina Alabama
would dominate the ~basicSteel indus
try Of the world President RoOse-
welt, with a lively appreciation of the
latest coal and. iron wealth of the
SOuth-the development OF which is.
only in it's infancy as compared with
what the future is to show, and with
its other great and advant-
ages for manufacturing must of ne
ceSsfty become the center cOf vast in
dustrial activities such as have Great
ed the enormous wealth OF Pennsyl-
wanna and other eastern states and
New England-hopes to see his term
of etfice signalized by sue business
development in the south as will make
that section an equal siIarar in the
prosperity of the whole country. As
I have already said, when President
Roosevelt was working out the Pana-
ma canal situation he fully realized
that it's construction would prove of
untold value to this section in help
ing 10 bring about the fulffilment of
Commodore Maury's prediction. made
nearly so years ago., when he said
that the cutting of an isthnfian canal
would break down the barrier which
separated the south from the trade OF
the Orient, with it's $780, 100000 people,
and would max the Gulf of Mexico
the ~eenter of the worlds shipping.
The motto of the Manufacturers Re-
cord-''the development Of south
means the enrichment Of the nation
lis a thought which 1 am sure IS
fully appreciated by President Roose-
welt. who recognises that the hroadest
business development of tins section
not only means the enrichment of tn"
nation from the material peint of
but its enrichment in a broader
spirit, uniting all sectiens In
closer social and business ties
Many unfair criticisms have been
made by the people of the north
against the southern people With ref
erence to- their treatment of the ne
gro. due largely to ignorance and pref
udice; bat 1 believe this number is
comparatively small. The business
men of the south and the north un-
each other, and eventually
it will be through them that a more
perfect ana satisfactory understand
will ONE. Those who are famii-
lar with this so-called great negro
problem are rapidly concluding that n
will be fSoorer and better solved by
southern people if no obstacles
are put in their way. 1 do not be-
ieve that there is anyone who is more
to be spent in this good work
President Roosevelt, as he is
having better opportunities of learn
from time 10 time the true spirit
the large majority of the southern
Yoa cannot taak with President
Roosevelt without feeling thar he APP