The Washington herald., 1909-04-04

Hon. Henry G. Davis. Of West Virginia.
spoke upon the vast resources of the
South and the likelihood OF that portion %
the country becoming the center OF thG
greatest Industrial activity IN future
years. He said:
Less than a century and = half ago our
forefathers were subjects Of and this
lcountry was governed by Great Britain
We are now a great and powerful nation.
equal. Il not superior. 70 Great Britain.
We all know that "a T77s. for causes 50
/, well stated by jefferson IN the Declara-
tion OF Independence. We declared and By
war woa our Independence Since then
we have grown more rapidly in popula-
tion. wealth. intelligence, and eli thai
goes 70 make great nation than any
people. ancient or modern, ever did We
have surpassed all history. Then We wezs
three millions OF people scattered along
the Atlantic coast At present We have
iabout ninety millions, reaching from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Gulf 70
the Lakes. and. as a people. probably none
IN the world are so happy and prosperous
as those Of the United States
We Are the Greatest Nation.
I'VE are. perhaps, the greatest nation
now upon the globe, and why? Il is
probably because the people govern The
country. and the people are generally
night in what they do
When the civil war closed this eoun-
try's national debt was about three bill
ions: to-day il is less Jnan one billion
Nearly two billions OF that debt has been
paid In interest upon the debt there has
been paid two and One-half billion. and IN
pensions since the war closed there has
been paid three and one-hsf billions,
making the enormous sum OF S8.G09.000.0l0
Who paid it, The whole country, OF
course. as It should have done. The South
has paid its proportion of the expenses OF
running the government, as Vel as its
proportion OF this eight billions OF money.
How much has II got back. especially in
Ipensions2 Not much: not much And
yet you have done your duty as you
should have done and as you should con
tinue 70 DO.
Statistics Are Surprising.
7 was somewhat surprised a day OF
two ego when obtained from the sta
tistical bureau OF the Department Of
Commerce and Labor the condition o. the
South as 70 its prosperity compared with
the rest OF the country II shows that the
South Today has about 90 per cent Of the
population and wealth OF the nation. and
that is the proportion n which you pay
the debt and the amount necessary O.
run the government II the figures have
given are correct. the South has paid
g. 900 since the war. and nearly aH
OF IL has gone 20 Northern and Westerl
portions OF the country certainly very Ii
tie 70 the South And vet Il has been
cheerfuIly and properly paid, and you de-
serve great credit
= In addition 10 this. you have taken
care Of your sick and wounded soldiers,
as you should have done Your country
was wasted. your negroes were freed and
yet the statistics show that froIn ls70 %
the present the percentage OF Increase OF
wealth in the South has been greater than
e thar OF the balance OF the country. have
the figures here
south Rapidly Advances.
Statistics show that the South since
1870 has gained IN wealth SSs per CEN.
I that the remainder OF the country has
gained 80 per cent So. you see that
Notwithstanding the payment BY you OF
S2,40,o0ssooo. you have outsTiPped the BAL
ance OF the country IN the increase OF
wealth in Ihe last forty years Gentle
men. 30 on in the course you have chosen:
go on with the work you are doing, aod
you viii reach the results for which you
are striving
= ANOTHER thing IN miles of ralroa6
4 constructed IN the South the percentage
Z OF increase has been So. while il the resi-
- ! Of the country Il was 30 Think cf II,
= The population OF the South has gained
not quite as much as the balance OF The
. country but has done very nearly -
: well have here the statistics OF the
imports and exports Of our country, and.
= 70 my agreeable surprise. for the last
= five years the average OF exports ove-
!, I imports has been about five hundred
milliOns-that Is. our exports have ex-
: ceeded the imports BY about i've hundred
\ millions annually, almost the entire
r amount o. which IS covered BY the ex-
z ports Of Southern cotton, viz, Ss49000O00
= q year SO you have q country down
there which, IL u continues TO progress
and you give L the care and attention
, you have done. win be perhaps the richest
= and most prosperous section OF the
!. Union
e Praises the Movement.
; Mr.. President. you and your distin-
IS guished guests have my hearty good
wishes IN your endeavors. and 7 bespeak
= for the enterprise in which you and your
, associated are engaged the triumph OF
= abundant success and usefulness.
]. 1t occurs 70 me We should adopt The
4 sentiment OF the great commoner, Henry
? Clay. as expressed IN his memorable
q speech on the Missouri Compromise when
y he referred 10 this great country, begeed
our people TO remain with Il. and said IN
3 closing: Let US know no Moth. 10
q South. no East, no West-the Union. In
, separable now and forever"