The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-14
EIGHT GOVERNORS OF ALABAMA
1874-t901
No. 42-Administrat ion of Governor Cobb
Senator Morgan: Happy Changes
1874-19O1

country. Il throws new light upon ne
Red mans history and the character of
his race
Returning to Washington disabled by an
f, accident in his journeyings. Senator Nor
gan found there an invitation from tie
PRESIDENT of the Georgia Agricultural as
sociation to deliver an address at their
state fair He was not physically able to
accept but sent n long letter of remark
able force in explanation.
He referred to his recent opportunity to
study the vast trans Mississippi region and
in view of his observations there declared
the southern people have no occasion to
/ be downhearted." No part of that coun-
| try which he had seen equals the cotton
states for successful agriculture he
wrote. We are strong, Industrious and
progressive in our industries" said the
letter. Every inch of the ground we are
gaining is gained TO be held forever. we
are not specializing but we are working
and winning. Our heritage is in the soil,
the climate, the rivers, the highlands the
plains with their forests the sea coast
In their wonderful combination and adj
Justment there Is found the monopoly OF
the production of cotton, and this will give
to an Industrious, generous and brave peo-
pie all the power and influence they may
desire"
Cobb was an employer of state convicts
as head of an iron manufacturing cor
poration. To this slander the president
OF the university, B. B. Lewis, a stock
holder. replied In the press, saying: We
have the only iron works that have never
been run on Sunday, . We are the
only public works in Alabama that have
run through the entire panic (of 1879
without incurring any debt, and this has
been owing in great measure to that fidel-
ity, practical wisdom and sagacty of
Rufus w. Cobb, which characetrizes his
administration as chief executive of the
state"
The industrial character of the state was
undoubtedly greatly strengthened by the
political reform now well underway. There
We're "strangulated" counties, several in
the eastern section hopelessly in debt but
the others We're rapidly recuperating un-
der the protection of the new constitution
of 1870. The Montgomery Advertiser sent
out in 1879 a circular to all the counties
making inquiry. The reports were uni
form that debts had been liquidated
Among the black belt counties, Autauga
reported no debt with cash ON hand to
meet all obligations. Greene and Hale
owed each $4,000 to $50 600 of railroad con-
struction debt, but were not in distress.
Lowndes owed nothing and had a surplus
on hand. Madison owed $4,000. Mont
gomery county owed $4,000 s per cent
bonds. Among the white counties, Talla-
dega owed nothing and had a surplus cash
on hand; Marshall had no debt; Bibb had
no debt; Calhoun owed nothing and had
several thousand dollars cash on hand.
In the case of the cities. the standing
was different The city of Montgomery,
then about 15,0OO population. owed $4,000;
Mobile $2,0O0.000; Eufaula. S2l1 900; Selma,
with about 5000 population. owed $372,94
.
velous. The craftsmanship which direct
ed affairs was never surpassed in its quail
ty The leaders, Clanton, Morgan, Pet
tus, Shelley, Johnston. Thomas G. JONES'
Holtzcaw, Pugh, Baker. Kolb. Shorter.
Langdon, Bragg, Pope Walker, Percy
Walker, Herndon, Pryor, Lyon, James
Taylor Jones. Watts, multitude more.
of course were leaders only. The host
behind them determined the things done
The press, always working under strain
of doubtful resources of support, never
wavered. John Forsyth, W. w. Screws,
Joseph Hodgson, Robert Mckee. Robert
Tyler, Ryland Randolph. Joseph W. Tay-
lor and scores of others equally devoted
counted no obstacles, reckoned with no
dangers.
In 10 years from the overthrow of the
Patton government, the state had over
thrown the constitution of 1868. set up by
Congress; the state had nullified the race
equality laws of Congress, the state had
released itself from the debt fastened on
it by a fraudulent legislature. In 10
years Morgan had been placed in the
Senate, the charter of Birmingham was
granted, the relation of the negro to the
white race finally settled in harmony and
the broad way to restored prosperity
opened. The Ladies' Monument society
was chartered, legislative recognition of
confederate veterans was made. There
was not breath of reeantation, no ap-
proach to repentance.
JOHN WITHERSPOON DUBOSE.