The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-03
The Alleged pecadence of the seuth

New Orleans Picayune
 The earliest human records disclose the fact that the people of the genera tions whose history they recite were accustomed to speak of the good old times of the past and to deplore the succeeding degeneracy of men ana manners and this sort of thing has been going on down to the present moment.
 The New York Sun has undertaken to play this hackneyed role as to the Southern senators in congress. glortty- ing with deserved praise some or the South's leading men in the past. but seeking to discredit those of the pres ent day with most unworthy and un- merited expressions of depreciation. thus:
 Before the Civil War the South was represented at Washington oy ne finest products of its wealth. It's leisure and It's civilization. Southeners in those days did not go to congress Tor the salary involved. Nine times out of ten they were men of tndepedent means. of assued position ana or pe- cial fitness. not only through proIoneed study of public affairs. but by the in- herited. habit of command Whies ol Democrats, the delegates of those days were men far removed from sor' did cares indifferent to the accidents of fortune and intent only upon hisb statesmanship and incidentally the ex- aItation of their section. They were gentlemen, in fact-gentiemen with generations of leadership and respon- sibility behind them--and bred to conscientious performance of their pub" lie duties. No wonder 6 practically solid body of this kind representing thh South in congress- made the soutn dominant and everything.
 "But we can suggest at this distance from the scene that the present suc- cessors of the old Southern represen- tatives in congress need hardly be ex- pectea to initiate them beyond the point of drawing their salaries. In very large majority of cases they are destitute of the inspirations and tra dftfons that made their predecessors formidable. They are simply good enough men, of no particular conse. ouence and without visible background. who play petty politics, air themselves in The Congressional Record Tor the delectation of red d-shirted constituent cies. Nand exert, either in society or iB public affairs. no more influence tpan ao many insignificant custaceans. II is a fine and prosperous arranSem1ht for them, and they make the most N". if. hut the South has been eliminated from the national equation. ana w'.n exceptions, just numerous enough |" emUnaStL0 NnC huASf AN
 A foreign country.
 .~rhe South is prosperinR financially and industrially. Its "hiR men take the lead in progress and achievement hut in congress the South is aimosf svithout n successor to the strong aud compelling men of forty or more years ago."
 sonth ceased to dominate the Union after foreign immigration had given the Northern and Western States majority of the population. Gen. Tnv- ior was the last of the Southern presis dents, and he was elected rather through the ponularitv gained by him tn the war with Mexfcn than hy sec. tinnal influence. He was chosen ir 1s48, and after that the sceptre of mower was transferred to the section north of the Potomac and Ohio rivers there to remain until the South shall fu up with population and have de. veIoned the great material prospAritv which Is it's due.
 The fact that the South was once represented ny sort Of edursted landed aristocracv gave this section cils of the nation. in contrast nth the commercial and industrial leaders Of the North and New Fngiand particu- larlv. Manbood sufrraRp did not nh- tain in Virein'a until 1t was granted Tn the constitution of 1850. The ballot un to that time was reserved for land holders. Much the sane conditions existed in the other Southern States.
 When we look through a lonR per spective we see onlv the greatest h@- ures. all the lesser objects heing hlend- ed Tn the general mass Not all the rublic men of the past were giants. Some we're pvgmies It Is so in every age, and there is no evidence of de- eracy In this.