The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-03-12

today is a new thing. \ study of the
business records of the old south re-
VealS, he said. that there were giants
among the anti-bellum leaders. gifted
with a broad leadership and a strong
! self-reliance of which the present ac-
tivity is only Il revival. The old south
simply lives again in the new. Ere
Quently during the course Of his elO-
quent defense of the old and prophecy
of the splendid possibilities of the
future, was the speaker interrupted
with hearty outbursts of applause. in
part Mr.. Edmonds' spoke as follows:
J FLUSHED with industrial activity OF
! today, we are apt to regard the pros
perity of the present as a new thing
in southern life. We join the world
acclaim about the new couth,' and,
k the world, know little about the
story Of the old south. In fact, We
have accepted the worlds false est
mate Of the old south rs an agricul-
tural region Of easy going planters
who knew but little and cared less
about great business problems.
How often do we hear southern
people, to their own shame, talk Of
the south lacking energy and CT our
dependence upon others for initiative
and energy in business.
If we had studied the business re-
cords Of the cid south as we should
have done, if our teachers had held up
for our edificatiOn the work Of the
leaders in education, in religious work,
an science, and in industry in ante
bellum days, We would have caught
inspiration from the work OF these
men. Then Il thoughts would have
conferred more upOn material pOssibili-
ties and less upon "cross-rOais' poll
tics; more upOn following in the
footsteps Of our great a~nte-bcIlum
leaders in self-r"I.ant development
from within and less upon a pitiful
begging Of help, Taught to initiate
the broad leadership OF the giants in
business in Olden days. taught to be
worthy sOns Of such worthy sires, We
would have developed more initia-
tive and more self-reliance.
You hear much about the New
South and its wonderful progress.
You are told tina this industrial ac-
tivity is an outcome of some new
force born in southern people since
1868. Our W people talk this a
and )Vr press voices this idea. WIZ
sentiment | ave 90 sympathy +
II IS false. Thr best in The south Of
today is but a revival of the old south.
II is no New" South in the ecnse OF
being Il land Of different business ac-
tiPity which We nov see. The old
south simply lives again in the pre-
s"nt, The New South. however,
lacks some 81 the sterling qualities
marked the ~ante-beilum south.
Look for 2 moment at the old south.
In educational work ii matched the
best in America. In finance and bank
it had no superior in any other
In 1860 it had 30 per cent Of
the banking capital Of the entire
country.
In the first half of the last century
he south developed a cotton industrv
was the nos powerful factor 7
- 0-iP-HS ~ O1uiLicIce, the N tIu- I
acturing Interests, the finance. and G
argely he politics, OF the world. In (
he business history of this or any ]
'ther country no greater accomplish q
nent has ever been recorded. The s
:reauon within half a century Of u 3
/ vast industry. representing more G
invested capital than the entire manu- I
acturing capital Of the United States 1
n 1860, requiring q broad business a
.bility and a study OF wo~rld-finance il
Teater than was needed or was Civ c
10 he building OF New Engiand's
manufacturing interests The finite b
mind can never fathom the infnite r
MYSTERY OF the curse Of slavery which
Hs, but We do know that n vsu \