The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-12-09

ne GrO"tn or the South
But times change and men change
with them in any community, however
fixed its thoughts or habits. and many
circumstances have blessed US with
their influence in this matter. The
growth of the South since 1890 has
been marvellous The manufacturing
capital in 1850 was $250,000, 900: in
1890, s650,6O0.O00; in 1900. s1,150, O0O,-
900 and in 1908, $4,000, 100000. while
in values Of the manufactures increase
from S450.000.000 in 1850 to 100000
900 in 1890, to s1.45O. 600. 900 in 1900.
and to $4,000, 100000 in 1905
The farm products in 1850 Were
60,OO0,OOO; in 1890, $770.OOO,O 900: in
1900, $1.270, 100000 and in 1908. 81
0.000,0 900.
THE exports from the South in 1880
were $3.50 900: in 1890. 1905. 900, 900;
in 1900, S4S4O00,000, and in 1905, $648,-
0O0, 900.
I'm this marvellous growth the man
ufactures of the South now exceed
the agricultural products and thus a
complete change has come over the
character of her industries. The South
has become rich and only the surface
of her wealth has been scratched Her
growth has exceeded that Of the rest
of the country and she is now in ev-
cry way sharing in its prosperity.
Votes Against Opinion
Again, the democratic party has
not preserved inviolate its traditional
doctrines as TO states rights and 9TH
er issues and has for the time adopt
ed new doctrines of possibly doubtful
economic truth and wisdom. Southern
men adhering to the party and the
name find themselves through the in
fiuence of tradition and the fear of a
restoration of conditions which are
now impossible, supporting a plat
form and candidate whose political
and economic theories they distrust.
Under conditions there was in the
last campaign and there is through
out the South among many of it's
most intelligent citizens an impa-
thence, nervousness and restless
ness in voting for one ticket and re-
jOicing in the success Of another
Now, 1 am not one of those who
are disposed to criticise or emphasize
the inconsistency of the position in
which these gentlemen frd them
selves.
Il believe it would be wiser if all
who sympathize with one party and
it's principles were to vote it's ticket,
but l can readily understand the
weight the inertia of tradition and
the social considerations that make
them hesitate.
Movement Has Started
Il believe that the movement away
from political solidity has started and
ought.so be encouraged. and l think
one way to encourage it is to have
the South understand the attitude of
the North and the republican party to-
ward it is not one of hostility or crit
icism or opposition, political or other
wise; that they believe in the main
tenance of the fifteenth amendment,
but that as already explained, they
do not deem that amendment to be
inconsistent with the SOuth's obtain
ing and maintaining what it regards
as its political safety from domino
ton Of an ignorant electorate; that
the North yearns for closer association
with the South; that it's citizens de-
precate that reserve on the subject of
politics which so long has been main
tanned in the otherwise delightful So
cial relations between Southerners
and Northerners as they are more and
more frequently thrown together.
In welcoming to a change of party
affiliation many Southerners who have
been democrats. We are brought face
to face with a delicate situation which
We can only meet with frankness and
justice. In our anxiety 70 bring the
democratic Southerner into new poll
itical relations we should have and
can have no desire to pass by or ig-
more the comparatively few white
Southerners who from principle have
consistently stood for our views in the
South when it cost social ostracism
and loss of all prestige. Nor can
We sympathize with an effort to ex-
clude from the support of republican
ism in the South or to read out of the
party those colored voters who by
their education and thrift have made
themselves eligible to exercise the
electoral franchise.
Education the Solution
I'VE believe that the solution of the
race question in the South is largely
matter of industrial and thorough
education. Some Southerners who