The gold leaf., 1910-08-25
Future of The South.
Former President Roosevelt Pic
lures 1t in Roseate Colors.


lures 1t in Roseate Colors.
Thinks From Now on the South
Will Share with the West
in Rapidly of Growth and
Progress--A Greater South
Means a Greater Nation
Letter to Chairman Davis, of
the Southern Commercial
Congress, in Reply to lnvi-
tation to Address that Body
in Atlanta Next Spring.
New York, Aug. 16.-In response
to an invitation to address the
Southern Commercial Congress at
Atlanta in the spring OF 1911, Theo-
dore Roosevelt has just sent letter
to Mr.. Charles Hall Davis, chairman
OF the congress, at Petersburg, Va,
in part as follows:
August 16, 1910.
"My dear sir:
at is not possible as yet for me to
answer definitely; but believe that,
on my trip to California next March,
l shall pass through the Southern
States; and hope that it can be ar
ranged that the Southern CONNER
cial Congress then hold its meeting
in one OF the cities through which |
am able to pass. II so, it will be a
very real pleasure to me to be pres
ent and to say all that | can In be-
half OF this admirable movement.
ANEW FORCE IN MOTION.
"More and more, the former mis-
understanding about the South is
tending to disappear; and you and
your associates have set in motion u
force that will have much to do with
the complete dissipation of this mis-
understanding. You are working for
a stronger South; and you show your
wisdom and foresightedness in the
way you realize that this movement
for stronger South, to be effective,
must really mean stronger national
cohesion, for the other South OF yes
terday is being changed into the
Young American of today. Every
good American must hope to see a
real solid South, in the sense Of solid
business prosperity in the South; for
all good Americans now realize that
the prosperity OF any part of the
country helps the prosperity of the
whole and the prosperity OF the
whole will grow faster and stand on
the most durable foundations only
when we effectively realize that the
words South North East and
West have only geographical sig
nificance. earnestly hope that the
young men of the South will never
forget the past glories OF the South
because / earnestly hope that the
young men all over America today
will keep ever in mind these glorious
memories of every section of our
common country; and that the men
of the North and OF the West will
remember the South's past with the
same pride that the South itself does
for the undying glory, won by the
men who SO valiantly and with such
sincerity fought for their covictions
whether they wore the blue or the
grey. is now a common heritage OF
all of us, wherever we dwell.
THRILLING WITH IDEALS.
'This nation is thrilling with ideals
at this very moment and these ideals
relate to constructive work In the
future. The South must do its full
, share in realizing it; and from now
, on it must participate in full in the
, solution of all the national problems.
, All OF US alike must turn to the spe-
cial problems of this age with the
, courage that our fathers showed in
= those heroic days to which we look
back with mournful pride.
"The statue OF General Lee in Con-
3 federate uniform stands 10 the halls
of Congress today and his memory Is
: honored no more by the South than
it is by the North and in the North
as in the South alike, [ think we are
now learning to apply absolutely In
good faith the great words OF Grant,
Let us have peace
"The part played by the South in
: the constructive craftsmanship OF our
nation during all our early years was
: of incalculable weight and value.
firmly believe that the time has now
: come when the South's influence will
again be felt, not only In constructive
: craftsmanship, but in the enormous
field OF constructive business en-
r deavor. No part OF our country has
seen such progress as the South has
: made in thelast twenty years along
material lines; and believe the next
twenty years will see a greater prog
: ress. For long the eyes ofthis nation
} have been set steadily westward to
watch its great and typical growth.
, From now on / think the South will
share with the West in rapidity ol
growth. This leadership will be has
tened by the completion OF the
Panama canal; the East has the At
: lantic and the West the Pacific, the
!. South even more than the East and