The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-05-06
The Old South and New as Seen in
Northern Eyes.

HOllUS L5GS>
In his last order to the veterans
whom he had led through years Of
varying fortunes, General Lee as
sured them that they could go to
their homes with the consciousness
Of duty we'll and faithfully perform
ed. He e-ihorted them to accept
the results Of their resort to the ar
bitrament Of arms in good faith and
to devote their energies thenceforth
to restoring the waste places in the
South and to developing its resour-
ces. General Lee was not man OF
many words. But what he said
came from his heart, and was
strengthened by a calm judgment
and exalted purpose. His counsel
sank deep into the hearts Of the
Southern people. He was after APP
pomattox, as we'll as in the field, the
most powerful influence for peace
and rehabilitation in the South.
Having demonstrated its progress
in war, the the South has equal cause
for pride in the inhexible determi-
nation with which it labored to re-
pair the havoc wrought by war.
Much has been written of late years
about the New South" The men
who laid the foundations Of the
South's rehabilitation after the civil
conflict were the men who fought
under its flag and surrendered with
Lee and Johnston. IN a certain sense
we have a New South" but the
energy, the grit and resourcefulness
which contributed SO largely to its
upbuilding were the attributes OF
the Confederate veterans of the old
South. Practically every man in
the South who was able to shoulder
musket was a soldier in the Con-
federate service. AS has been grim
ly said, The cradle and the grave
were robbed" to fill the depleted
armies of the South. 1t is estimated
that more than 100000 were killed
in battle, died of wounds or in pris-
on or from disease. Those who sur
vived set to work, after the war, in
The face Of frightful odds and dis
heartening conditions to build up the
South. They are entitled to just and
appreciative recognition for their
iabors in establishing the material
prosperity of the South on solid
foundations.
There is a New South" since APP
pomattox, but it is only new III the
sense that amazing progress has been
made in the development of its re-
sources: The Southern States have
now white population nearly twice
as great as they had in 1865. They
have developed extraordinary indus
trial activity and efficiency. Agri-
culture is fourishing as never be-
fore, because it has been diversified.
The cotton mills of the South have
increased wonderfully in number and
production in the last fifteen years
The iron and steel industry and coal
mining have reached gratifying pro-
portions, and there is promise of i'm
mense expansion in the future
Throughout the South small indus.
tries are multiplying rapidly. The
South is indeed, the 'land of oppor.
tunity." Already one Of the most
prosperous sections of the country
its possibilities of industrial expan
sion, commercial growth and agri
cultural development assure it fu
ture Of tremendous activity and con
stantly accumulating wealth and in
fuence.
This is the South, forty-four year.
after Appomattox. The men of thu
old South went to their homes aftel
the surrender and set to work il
grim earnest. They laid the foun
dations Of restoration firmly ant
deeply. Their sons and grandson
have carried on the work with intel
ligence, energy and efficiency. To
day the South is the most American
part of this Union of forty-six States
Newport Or. ~ Herald.
EpOrOp GliEpp