Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-15
A Great Future for the South.

A Great Future for the South.
IMPRESSIONS OF NORTHERN MAN
GAINED FROM A FEW WEEKS STAY
IN THAT SECTION.
LYNcHBURG, VA.
Editor Democrat:
Thinking that possibly the following
may prove of some interest to the read.
ers of your paper, venture to send you
this short sketch of the South as seen
through the eyes of q northern man.
A few weeks ago the writer left his
home in the North to make his first visit
to the Southland, and confesses that he
came possessed with many of the
prejudices which control many of our
northern people against this part of the
country-prejudices born of his early
memories of the horrors of slavery and
the resultant civil war; but after few
weeks journey down the Atlantic coast
and back through the central part OF
Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas into
Virginia, he finds many of the old preju-
dices very much modified, and his fears
regarding the political influences of the
South for evil almost entirely dissipated.
We feel sure that the progress made by
this section of our country, politically,
socially, and along commercial lines
since the period of reconstruction is
known and appreciated by but few OF
our people in the North. This part Of
the country has natural advantages that
are going to bring It into the front rank
commercially. Its large resources OF
lumber, the mildness of the climate, and
fertility of the soil are features that are
going to help bring about this condition.
As we have passed through the country
we have been very much impressed by
the very large acreage of land that is
under cultivation. Mile after mile along
the railroads and back as far as the eye
can reach, are ploughed fields. A large
part of this is to be sown to cotton, and
the increased price of this staple article
during the past two or three years has
rendered this part of farming very re-
munerative; and many of the farmers
are now holding quite large part of last
years production, waiting for still
further advance in price.
The production of oranges in Florida,
peaches in Georgia, strawberries and
other small fruits in the Carolinas, and
tobacco in Virginia, are fast adding to
the wealth of this section. The large
plantations that were owned by COM
paratively a small number OF the popula-
tion before the war, and worked In an
way by slave labor, have
been within the last few years divided up
into small farms, and either sold or let
out to farmers to be worked on shares,
so the result has been, very much more
land is cultivated and worked to much
greater advantage and profit than under
the old order of things; and what Is
still better, the land is much better cared
for now than then. The people realize
all this and say that nothing could posi-
bly, force the institution of slavery back
in the South.
During the last fifteen years large
of cotton factories have been
built, so, I am told, nearly as much cot
ton is now converted into cloth here as
in the cotton mills of the North. In
this branch of industry this section has
decided advantages over any other, In
the saving of a large part of the cost OF
ability to secure cheaper
labor, and in the mildness of the climate.
Consequently more and more of this
business must of necessity be transferred
from the North to the South in years to
come.
These factories have given employ
ment to a large portion of the popula-
ton that years ago we're worse than use
less. To my inquiry of prominent
citizen what had become OF that class
formerly known as the ''poor whites, "
he made answer that great many of
them were now employed in the cotton
and other factories, this class of labor
having proved much more reliable than
that of the Negro. So, as far as the
writer has been able to see, this class,
necessarily made and kept poor by the
institution of slavery, has about passed
away, and given place to class of work
men that are fast becoming as indus
trious and prosperous as those OF the
North.
But what of the Negro9 some may ask,
and in answer to this question, as far as
the writer's observation has extended,
the condition of the Negro is very much
better than he had been led to believe.
That the Negro race in the South has
presented aud still continues to present
d very difficult political and social
problem there can be no doubt, but one
that is finally going to work itself out to
the elevation of the race, and the good
of the country, we believe. That the
Negro is socially ostracised, and that he
has scarcely any voice or vote in political
affairs, there can be no doubt. 1t is
equally obvious that as whole the race
are not yet fitted by education or In any
other way to influence safely political
affairs. They seem to have accepted the
and I am told that in large
part of the country only a small part
make any attempt to vote or take any
interest in political affairs. Consequent
" there is but little clashing between
the whites and the blacks, and they
laugh at the idea of race war.
The Negro is doing large part OF the
the work on the streets, high
ways and railroads, trucking in the
cities, also hotel and household service.
1t requires but little to support their
families and they seem able to get that
little, and with that there is at least
degree of contentment. Have seen less
Of evident suffering due from poverty
and destitution among these people than
one sees among the poorer classes in our
cities.
That the Negro is fast improving his
condition we believe, and even with the
limited advantages he now has to edu-
cate his children and to acquire e1-
perience and competence, there Is going
to be much greater improvement In the
years to come. A generation has only
Just passed since the race were liberated
from bondage, and the gain they have
made during this time gives hope for the
future. We meet Negro men and women
on the street who are as we'll dressed
and have as good manners and make as
good appearance as the whites, and they
are not only employed in the rougher
and harder pursuits, but In those voca-
tions that require skill, as carpenters,
masons and plumbers. As class they
are not called entirely reliable, have not
overcome their natural tendency to steal,
are not provident to the extent Of saving
their earnings; but in all these things
there is an improvement, and that 10
time they will make useful citizens Is
the expectation of many Of the whites
here.
As we said in the beginning OF this
article, we leave the South with a very
strong belief in the future growth and