Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-08-30

ADGEA fight and whendt was over went
back to build up new interests on blOOd-drenched
ground, in the midst OF poverty and devastation,
their hearts with soreness Inevitable as the re-
suit OF one of the most memorable struggles In the
history OF the AngOSGaxOn race.
It il true chat northern INTERESTS northern capital
and nOTthern men have aided Ia building the New
South. They are part OF it now, and the bon9d-
ary line between the North and South is growing
DINNER evey yday. Bat not to the North belongs the
cledit OF laying the foundation for present greatness
in the staes for rearing the Tst sections OF the
solid walls which support the pretenbiOus arch
tecture of the whole. The men to whom credit is
due are those who wore the gray Rniforms and sur
rendered thedg swords to Grants armies April y,
1866.
"You saw confederate general" said SO1thern
man with emphasis on the word confederate and a
aauery in his tone as be replied to question had
asked him. 1--WE don't say "cOOfederate' down
here. We say simply general"
j felt rebuked.
sWou nOltheuners don't yet understand US down
here" said anothern Southern gentleman to me.
This man was Hen. CyrUs B. Watson, native born
southerner and One Of the most prOmnent and in
ueneial attorneys Of North Carolina, authority on
all points Of law ia question, canditate for gov
ernOr OF the told north state, and aamOst chosen
United States senator at one time.
tsYOu need(tO come down here and get acquainted
with us'' continned Mr. Watson. "EOst OF yon
think that we are still lighting for 'the solid SOuth.'
m1BLaK0DS'
confederate army and fought under Lee as hard as
could Gght. But when laid down my arms at
ADpomattOx and tutaed homeward put the past
behind me, all bitterness out oil my heart and am
one in spirit with the northeEn people today as l
have been ever since the war ended"
This ie the spirit you meet with all through the
South. There are times when finger is Hncen-
sciOusly laid upon old wound and 1t breaks open
for time, but this is seldom. And what wonder
il it should occur Ofteni Not half century has
passed since the North and the South met on the
battlefield Tt takes time to heal heartaches and
cure animOsities such az those engaged byNwar and
blOOdshed. The only wonder to me is that the
southern men and women had the heart to take ZIP
the thread OF existence at all amid scenes constantly
recalling the bitter struggle.
seThis is the coming country" is an expression
have heard on every hand since Icrossed Mason and
Dixon's line several weeks ago. 1t is the predic-
fiOn Of Of the North and Of the South indiscrm-
inately. Neither is it an idle dream. The New
South is more than q name. 1t is reality IL will
be revelation to future generations not far removed
You feel the truth Of this nstinctv6ly you ride
along the system Of the Southern railway, lts
branches like 80 many great arteries with trains
pulsng to and rO carrying the productaOf farm and
factory OF almost every known industrial enterprise
to places of export.
Towns are epringing into being like magic. Those
which have existed for years are taking on new fe
Even those which date back to revolutionary days,
y and there are "a number Of these, have caught the
spirit Of the times. Capital ID being invested in
thousands in hundreds Of thousands and in millions
OF dollars, az the case may be. Development q
water power IL encouraging. the establishment Of
many Industries hitherto unknown to this section of
the country. It is aiding those already established.
Agriculture has received an impetus which may
even carry suggestion TO the farming communities Of
the North.
Money il plentiful People are enjoying pros
perity and they look it. Instead Of 3 few wealthy
individuals, who perhaps carried their fortunes
over the war period and we're able to conserve them
the money Of this section Of the country s now more
evenly divided. Everybody seems to have little.
Many have more than little, while the millionaire
il found in the South 90 we'll as the North mar
veled at the large number Cf people have seen
travelling over the lines Of the Southern railway day
after day Atvery small stations crowds get on and
of the trains daily.
WGOod times,D is the explanation given me-
s.The people down here ere prosperous. They are
making money and they ere enjoying ~.
This does not look aa though the manifestations
81 apprehension and dependency current during The
slnmp Ii The price d cotton some aiontha ago were