The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-02-23
A DISCUSSION OF DIXIE LAND BY
A SOUTHERNER, j. J. WILL
LETT, OF ALABAMA.
THE PART OF THE SOUTH
The Early Formation of the Country
and the Settlement of the Great
West Largely Due to Southern
Leaders, The South Busy in De-
veiopnq it's Great Resources.

Chicago, Feb 22.-J. J. Willett, o.!
Admission, Alabama, was speaker at
the Washington birthday celebration
of the Union League Club tonight. Mr..
Willett, in his address, discussed the
future of tre South.
The South" said he, has prob
lens to solve, as has every portion OF
our common country, but lis indus
trial and commercial greatness is not
one of then. That has already ibeea
accomplished, and what has been done
is but an earnest of what. is to fol
low There is one problem however,
which weighs upon it more heavily
than upon other portions of the coun-
Try How shall we without sacrificing
our own race, discharge the full meas
ure of our duty towards that inferior
and unfortunate race who are in our
midst without fault ON their part, to
whom this country has SO long been
home and who were falsely taught
for so many years they were wards OF
the government? This is out greatest
problem and nothing but time, pa
tience and a steadfast determination
to do justice to ourselves and them,
can solve a. In this effort, we ex-
pect the generous sympathy of our
friends everywhere, who to know us
and to help us, must understand and
appreciate our ideals and aspirations
In beginning his address, Mr.. Will
lett said: while Washington was
true type of the South, his fame does
not belong to o~her alone, nor does she
so claim him. His part and her part
in the Revolution would have been OF
no avail but for what was so glorious
ly done in council and in arms by bro
theirs in the middle and New England
colonies. Nor does his fame belong
to any nation or age. Wherever hui
man beings throughout the world have
built homes and set up government
dedicated to liberty regulated by law,
these may claim Washington for their
countryman. The majestic story Oh
that life; whether told in the pages of
history, or in the verses of Lowell
and Byron, never grows old and will
never cease to claim the attention OF
the sons of men.
"The South played by far the larg-
est par. in the formation and settle
ment of our great country in furnish
ing leaders, and in acquiring and set
Ting territory. The Southern men
were the ones who went as pioneers
into the West and the great West is
the true daughter of the South. The
times have somewhat re. ersed things
however, and we now see our Presf-
dent-elect, himself a son of the West
going South among the benighted saw
ages of opposing political faith. to do
some blazing and missionary work
He has eaten of our poSsum and
drunk of our 'simmon beer, local sub
stitutes for the oriental SALT and is
now one of us. By his genial frank
ness and whole-heartedness, he has
shown us that he understands our
ideals and aspirations, and personally,
has won our hearts. Whether our
President-elect has won the hearts of
the South-whether he will change
its politics is another question, and
depends upon so many considerations,
we will not discuss them here. The
brains of the South which were once
through self-defense in politics, trying
to preserve it's vested interests, are
now engaged in business. They are
building railroads, cotton factories,
iron industries and all other kinds OF
manufacturing establishments. In com
plete control of it's own affairs at
home, the South is not caring very
much who are holding the offices at
Washington, deeming it best that her
sons be more profitably employed in
building up the home and developing
its matchless resources, than being
mere holders. All We ask is
that our President-elect will stand by
his generous expressions of friendship
uttered at Augusta and Atlanta, and
give us clean, honest and high class
men to hold Offices under him. and
men for whom we have respect and
confidence. We are entitled to this
and we ask for nothing else"
As to the future of the South M.
Wfllett. said: st was apparent to
every thoughtful man, even before the
decision of the United States to dig
the Panama Canal, that cheaper labor
cheaper raw material. unrivalled re
sources, and a God given climate
would soon give, If they had not al
ready given, the supremacy in manu-
featuring. to the South. But with the
Panama Canal decided upon and part
" completed. with every important
railroad system pushing to our Gull
ports to secure the enormous tonnage
soon to be carried to and fro, It needs
no fmaeinafion whatever to see thai
the Guh OF. Mexico will shortly equal
II not exceed in importance the Medit